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Humvee reborn on the battlefield... with a chimney?!

The military's High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), better known to most of us as the Humvee, has already served a long and distinguished career in the battlefield, and there have been a number of replacements waiting in the wings to take over where the HMMWV left off. Or, should we say, leaves off... assuming that ever happens.
It seems that the Humvee is set to get a new lease on life as military budget constraints are forcing the government to reconsider its replacement. But there are still some pesky safety issues to work out before American soldiers will feel comfortable inside the confines of the off-road box on wheels.
As you're likely aware, improvised explosive devices are an ever-increasing threat to the lives of American troops serving overseas. The Humvee, which traces its design all the way back to the year 1984 when it first saw duty as a replacement for the long-running series of military Jeeps, has seen a number of incarnations over the years that added armor and improved safety, but the latest version may feature something hitherto unseen: a chimney.

Mil-Spec 003 First Drive Review | The ultimate Hummer H1

We're in something of a golden age for automotive restomodding, and into a heady mix that includes Singer's reimagined 911s, Icon's fancy off-roaders, and lots of updated Land Rovers. The latest company with ambitions to become a top-tier custom car brand is Mil-Spec, which aims to do what the aforementioned companies do, but with the big, brash, blunt Hummer H1. And in particular, the company is aiming to make its Hummers a compelling alternative to a used Hummer H1 Alpha. The Alpha is generally considered to be the best of the breed with the most powerful diesel engine offered, larger brakes, and a nicer interior compared with its predecessors. To find out whether the company's early efforts live up to that ambition, Mil-Spec invited us to drive their third completed vehicle, Mil-Spec 003. It started life as a 1995 Hummer H1, and as with all of Mil-Spec's vehicles, it was completely disassembled, and the body and frame media-blasted down to metal. The frame and related components are then powder-coated with a black gloss finish. The truck's aluminum body, in this case a four-door hardtop pickup variant, but is coated in a resilient bedliner-like material designed for easy care. Bits of Kevlar are mixed in with the material for strength, and it can be tinted different colors and have rougher or finer textures. Underneath the body, one of the five different engines that were available on the H1, usually a diesel V8, is replaced with a 6.6-liter Duramax LBZ turbodiesel V8. This engine was available on heavy duty Chevy and GMC pickup trucks, and a related engine was used in the Hummer H1 Alpha. Whereas the engine in the H1 Alpha made 300 horsepower and 520 pound-feet of torque mated to a 5-speed automatic, the Mil-Spec's LBZ has had turbo upgrades and a different ECU tune allowing it to produce 500 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet of torque. It's also coupled to an Allison 1000 6-speed automatic transmission. The mechanical upgrades don't stop with the engine and transmission. The inboard brakes are given drilled and vented discs, and an ARB Air Locker locking rear differential fitted. Dual auxiliary transmission coolers also make an appearance and can be switched on as needed. The 003 received 20-inch wheels with 38-inch mud terrain tires, but larger tires can be added if desired.

Picture yourself rolling in Tupac Shakur's 1996 Hummer

UPDATE: Tupac Shakur's Hummer blew away estimates, selling for $337,114 according to the auction site. It's been nearly 20 years since the renowned rapper Tupac Shakur was gunned down at the height of his fame. One of the last vehicles he ever purchased, this 1996 AM General Hummer in a four-door pickup configuration, is now being sold by RR Auctions. Since 1996, it hasn't covered much ground. The odometer reads just 10,101 miles. A bunch of upgrades, like driving lights, a sound system and external PA, and diamond-plate bumpers, are present and were allegedly added by Shakur. The Hummer has a 6.5-liter turbodiesel V8 and automatic transmission. According to the seller, after being owned by Shakur and then, after his death, his mother Afeni Shakur, the Hummer went through a variety of owners. This includes BET, which gave the car away during a raffle in 2003, the owners of Havenotz Entertainment, and the mother of the rapper Yaki "Prince" Kadafi who was a "godbrother" of Shakur. The included vanity plate reads "YAKNPAK", a nod to both Kadafi and Shakur. The vehicle is currently in Canada. Bidding opens on May 12th and ends on May 19th, and RR Auctions estimates it'll sell for more than $100,000. Related Video: News Source: RR Auctions Celebrities GM Hummer Auctions SUV Diesel Vehicles Off-Road Vehicles