The Creation, History and Development of the Hummer

Willys Overland Motors/Jeep

U.S. Army asked for a brand new vehicle in 1979, and AM General answered with a few prototype Humvees in the 1980s. Production began in 1985 for the military. Source: Full Throttle Hummer

Hummer engines and transmissions

Until the 1990s, Hummers were only powered by a 6.2 NA diesel V-8, the famed and larger 6.5 turbodiesel V-8 did not appear until around 1995.

-Power: 130 horsepower, 230 lb ft torque (6.2-liter). Weak Detroit diesel engine. Edmunds also suggests that some 1995-97 H1s were saddled with gasoline-fed 350-cubic inch 5.7-liter V-8 engines, borrowed from GM trucks. The smallest engine ever to be put into an H1, power for the gas V-8 was similar to other models but torque was not, rated at 190 hp, yet only 332 lb-ft for these models. It faded away after 1997 because of its low torque output and lack of diesel-supplied torque, which was a soldier-like 430 pound-feet for 6.5 TD H1s. That is usually a good enough figure, but almost all H1s were taxed with excessive weight, and the 5.7-liter was scrapped from H1s after 1997.

H1 later received the famous 6.5-liter turbodiesel V-8 that would eventually rated for 195 hp and 430 pound feet of torque (edmunds.com)

Largest engine ever put in was 6.6-liter Chevrolet Silverado Duramax turbodiesel V-8 that was rated at a Hummer high of 300 hp and 520 lb-ft of torque. Also received Silverado’s Allison 1000 5-speed automatic. Dubbed H1 Alpha, only saw 1 year of production (2006). It was part of new Alpha line of Hummer trucks.

Additional engines for Hummer lineup: H2 received gas only engines, producing 316 from Silverado 2500’s 6.0-liter Vortec V-8. Later bumped slightly to 325, it still was underpowered for a large truck. H2s also were connected to a 4-speed automatic, same as many GM vehicles.

H2 was discontinued after around 2007, and H3 was launched.

H3 engines included 2006 Hummer H3: 3.5-liter inline 5-cylinder GM modular engine. Bumped to 3.7 liters for 2007. 225 horsepower for 2006, bumped to 242 for 2007 until discontinuation in 2010. Alpha V-8s: 5.3-liter GM Vortec pushrod 16-valve V-8. 300 horsepower, 320 pound feet. Also a major engine from the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra light duty trucks, in addition to the Chevrolet Tahoe./GMC Yukon engines.

The Hummer brand really has developed into a legacy, and will likely never be forgotten. The truck brand’s state of being forgotten is not likely to occur because of its unforgettable, tough-guy image.