Differences Are Few Between HUMVEE and H1
Posted 4/1/03 9:05 a.m. CST
By Richard Truett
Automotive News
Parked side by side, a military HUMVEE and its civilian cousin, the Hummer H1, look radically different.
But take them both out for test rides, and many of the differences disappear faster than a mirage in the Iraqi desert.
Under the skin, the vehicles are nearly indistinguishable. They use the same rugged chassis, powertrain, suspension and brakes, which enable the H1 to meet military specifications for fording streams and climbing steep grades.
The real differences between the military and civilian models come down to trim and electronics. Like other civilian vehicles, the H1 features a regular 12-volt automotive electrical system. The military version carries a 24-volt system, which is standard for NATO vehicles.
The civilian H1 is loaded with creature comforts such as CD players, power windows and air conditioning. It also carries the requisite safety equipment, such as lights, bumpers and a locking steering wheel needed to make it street-legal.
By contrast, military versions are stripped of nonessential equipment. Most military HUMVEEs don
