Though popularized immensely by General Schwarzkopf’s Desert Storm operation, the Hummvee has seen only limited action as a road warrior on America’s highways. That’s partly because it’s big, ugly, and slow—ironically the very things that make it so appealing in the first place. Its $100,000 price tag doesn’t help things much either.
That’s where the kit car industry has come charging to the rescue with a number of cheap-’n’-cheerful, para-military knockoffs of this GI Joe of the SUV world. The Hummbug in particular is a good example of how a replica can actually improve on the original (as many Cobras do as well, at least in terms of more modern mechanicals).
The Hummbug’s name alone is deserving of some special recognition for sheer cleverness (and no, you won’t see any bad Bob Cratchet puns here). The real appeal is found in a well-worn yet still-effective formula of the kit world—build an expensive-looking imitation for far less money using simple, off-the-shelf parts. And take a few liberties with the design, too, to keep costs down and the legal beagles at bay. In this case, instead of using a space frame that’s stouter than an M1 tank, begin with that undying favorite of the kit world, the VW Type 1 pan. There’s a good historical precedent, by the way, for creating a war wagon from this simple platform. The Kubelwagen, Germany’s version of the Jeep, was essentially a rebodied Beetle. (Who would have ever guessed that the pioneers of the dune-buggy business were found in the Blitzkriegs of World War II?) Speaking of dune buggys, when we checked out the basic-black sample of this Hummbug, we wondered how it would look with a more festive color scheme. Not Bahamas Barbie Pink, mind you, but how about a Baywatch-style beach rig in utility yellow, with a surfboard rack and maybe a winch on the front bumper? We also feel an upgraded exhaust system would be a cool option to get rid of the telltale Beetle’s braapping, and to clean up the look of the rear as well. Karl Kanthak of Hummbug nodded in agreement at our suggestions, so you may see a followup feature at a later date. Our only criticism of this otherwise-compelling conversion is the stoutness of the soft door frames. Although your average Jeep probably offers the same-level side-impact protection, we’d still like to see larger-diameter tubing here, something Kanthak said he’d consider.
Although Hummbug do-it-yourself kits are actually less in demand than the company’s partially built and turnkey vehicles, Kanthak nevertheless offers a basic kit for a relatively reasonable $5,150. Happily, the fiberglass body is a bolt-on replacement for the stock Beetle body, with no frame modifications required. That doesn’t mean the project is a weekend no-brainer. You have to reinstall the steering column, drill mounting holes for the windshield frame and other hardware, and put in a new wiring harness. Other assembly steps include cutting and inserting safety glass in the windshield frame, hooking up a fuel tank (not provided), and mounting the hood, the headlights, and the seats. For upholstery, you can install an optional carpet kit ($250) or take it to a shop for a custom job. In all, Kanthak estimates a build time of 80-120 hours.
Given the legwork, labor, mate-rials, and tools required to assemble a bare-bones kit, we can understand why the $15,000 turnkeys are more popular. We’re not trying to discourage anyone from taking on a buildup project, but it never hurts to compare the value of your time with that of the finished vehicle. Also, the cost of shipping the kit alone ($500-$1,300 on average, according to Kanthak) would almost pay for a decent donor car. Consider, too, that Hummbug turnkeys use a refurbished chassis with either new or remanufactured mechanicals, including a rebuilt 4.37 RP tranny. This package also rolls out the door with an off-road wheel-and-tire package, bucket seats (bench in the rear), a custom steering wheel, single-stage paint, a soft top, carpeting, a brush guard, and a tire rack with a covered spare.
In the upgrade department, a two-stage paint is optional ($600), as is a 1,776cc, dual-carb performance engine ($800), powdercoated hardware ($250), and disc brakes ($200). You can also order a rear-deck luggage rack, a premium sound system, custom gauges, and even air conditioning. Can you imagine a Kubelwagen with these sorts of creature comforts?
Better yet, think of the savings for the U.S. Department of Defense. For the price of one mil-spec Hummer, it could afford almost a whole battalion of Hummbugs!