HUMMER - LITTLE TRUCK COMPANY THAT HIT THE BIG TIME

How a little truck company hit the big time, thanks for Saddam, Schwarzenegger and GM.

What is it about the Hummer that attracts and inflames so many people as it plows through America's suburban streets and backwater hideaways?  Where did it come from?  How did it evolve from the sand dunes of Kuwait on the nightly news to the driveways of America?  And what did Arnold Schwarzenegger have to do with it?

This is what author and noted automotive journalist Marty Padgett explores in this book.

The story of the civilian Hummer begins before World War II and the Willys-Overland vehicles, the Jeeps, and up through the growth of AM General and its military contracts for unique transport vehicles through the 1970s and 80s.  Worldwide notoriety came as the High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Humvee, by its requisite military acronym) beamed into our homes during the broadcasts of Operation Desert Storm via brand new 24-hour cable news networks.  Soon after, a certain action movie star personally encouraged a civilian market for what would become known as the Hummer, built and sold by General Motors as the ultimate in suburban safety, comfort, style and "beat the Joneses" prestige.

Filled with thorough research, detailed interviews, and the author's own insight, it's a tale of business, automotive innovation, and military history.  And the tale gets even more interesting along the way, with environmentalists, politics, and a second Gulf war giving this powerful vehicle a reputation its creators never dreamed of.

This 255 page hardcover is illustrated with black and white and colour photographs.  This book is ex-library and as such has all the usual stamps and stickers, however the only external marking is a barcode sticker to front of dustjacket.  There are some very light creases to dustjacket.  Internally there is a corner crease to two pages, but it is otherwise in a very good, tight, clean condition.  This book has had very little use and there are none of the finger marks usually associated with ex-library books.  A great read at a great price! 

Postage quoted is for within Australia. Overseas customer are more than welcome to email me for a postage quote.

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