As an automotive enthusiast in this day and age, enjoying an SUV is something that not many of us will admit to, but this wasn't always the case.
The Hummer H1 is a perfect example of an SUV done right when your scoring is just based on badassery. City driving and fuel economy weren't considered when Hummer first threw the H1 together for the military use.
These days, the behemoth is arguably considered to be more of a classic than a workhorse, but this sentiment hasn't stopped a Detroit-based company from pulling it apart and building something even cooler.
Mil-Spec specialises in overhauling these beasts and have gained popularity for their extreme attention to detail over the years.
The pictured vehicle is called "#006" and is the sixth H1 that they have built — make sense. It is based on a 1996 slant-back H1 and has been modified with a tactical theme in mind.
The whole vehicle has been completely disassembled and the seamed-sealed floor was replaced with a fully welded aluminum unit that makes things quieter as well as keeping the weight down.
“Six really is the culmination of everything our company has learned over the past four years restoring both the military and civilian model Hummers down to the smallest detail,” said CEO Adam Mitchell. “These trucks offer so much potential and really are amazing platforms for a company like ours to come in and re-engineer as well as redesign them as bespoke builds for enthusiasts looking for something completely different.”
Under the hood now sits a 6.6-litre Duramax diesel engine that produces a whopping 500hp and is mated to a six-speed Allison automatic gearbox.
Looking at the suspension, the H1 now sits on adjustable Air-Ride suspension that can increase ground clearance when needed. Stopping power comes from the Wilwood 12.25-inch drilled rotors and single piston calipers.
A completely redone interior features in the cabin and a Prototipo steering wheel takes pride of place.
An interesting Deep Sky Black textured spray-on polyurethane material that's infused with Kevlar finishes the exterior of the H1 off, and protects against scratches.
If you've now got your wallet out in anticipation of buy one of these bad boys, you may instead need your checkbook. Barce yourself - a cool NZ$444,000 price tag has been slapped on the Launch Edition model that is going to be sold in the US.
