"I grew up playing with figures like Action Man and not video games, so to own a Humvee like the one he drove is a dream come true," says Samuel Ogunlana.
Note, it's a Humvee, the US military vehicle – full name High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle that first saw action in 1989 in Operation Just Cause, when the US invaded Panama, and not a Hummer, the popular civilian utility vehicle that looks a lot like it. Both were built by AM General, although the Hummer was marketed by General Motors.
At 2160mm wide (7ft lin in old money), finished in khaki green and sitting on 37in wheels shod with tractor-like tyres, it's impossible to miss among the pristine Ferraris and Porsches gathered at Samuel's local car meet.
"It's a proper military vehicle with no comforts," explains Samuel. "No sound deadening, no air-con and no power assistance. Because much of it extends into the cabin, you may get some heat from the engine on a cold day, but that's your lot."
Said engine is a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V8 diesel. Samuel says: "It makes 170bhp, but it's the torque – 290lb ft – that matters. There are two batteries, each weighing 75kg, and it has a 48V electrical system to power all the ancillaries, when they're fitted. The alternator is humongous – about the size of a Ford Pinto engine."
His Humvee looks seriously heavy, but in fact it weighs 'only' 2300kg. "When they're not on operations, Humvees have their armoured bodies swapped for glassfibre panels on an aluminium body," says Samuel.
"This one is a third-generation model that entered US service in 2010. It has done only 2000 miles, most of them shuttling around a base, I suspect." Sadly, then, it's seen no action – unless, of course, you count its present-day trips into London.
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I've been driven around a town in one of these, not this one. We had AC/DC blasting out and traffic at all the roundabouts and junctions just got out your way. Considering how busy this town is, and how everybody is desperate to where they're going, that's quite something!
It's loud. When they start they're really loud. Inside you're thankful someone put in a massive speaker (running off an inverter). The seat is surprisingly comforatable, but you can't imagine how someone gets in and out with all the army gear on. Windows drop on a latch. Centre is a transmission tunnel, taking up a lot of space inside.
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It's a diesel - wonder why it's got such an enormous fuel consumption. Sounds like it can be massively improved by simple engine change -- say an old Toyota Landcruicer 4l. 6 cyl. diesel, plenty enough power as it's designed for a car of about equal weight - but its consumption is enormously better + being turbo diesel it provider somewhat more power and tourqe to boot. Meaning, the vehicle wouldn't any more be so slow.
The drivetrain is built tough. Even the hubs have gears in them, reducing 2:1. This also improves ground clearance too as the drive shafts are higher off the ground too.
Right from the off it's not been designed to be efficient, but purposeful. Look at that near vertical windshield! Even the width is design to ride in the tracks of a Abrams tank!
Later models are turbo charged I believe, giving a massive fuel economy boost to about 12. According to my friend that owns one.
Apparently driving it through McDonalds is a laugh too.