Originally
built for use in the military, the Hummer is
incredibly well known and easy to recognize.
Characterized by it’s unusually large
size and boxy design, the exotic car rental
only comes in sport utility models and looks
more like a tank that your traditional automobile.
The
history of the Hummer traces back to another
SUV - the Jeep. As the Jeep became more
popular and the company expanded, it eventually
split in to two different divisions: the Commercial
Products division and the Government Products
division, which was responsible for creating
the Hummer car rental we’re more familiar
with today.
In
the early 1970’s the division, now known
as AM General, was hired by the United States
Army to create a High Mobility Multi-Purpose
Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) which became known
as the Humvee. Hardly a luxury car rental,
the Humvee was used by the military as a light
tactical vehicle and saw combat during the
Persian Gulf War before it was ever seen cruising
down the streets of Hollywood.
The
Humvee was popular amongst those in the military,
so AM General decided to expand production
and create a model that could be used by civilians.
In 1992 the first Hummer, the H1, was released
to an eager crowd. Since then the company
has expanded and released several new and
upgraded models, all of which feature the
distinct Hummer body style and a powerful,
military-based engine. And, while some may
assume a gas shortage may have stunted the
company’s growth, the Hummer’s
target market, those who can afford such a
luxury, are still buying up a storm.
