2003 Hummer H2 Base Sport Utility 4-door 6.0l on 2040-cars

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Luxury carmakers make way more than just cars

Whether it's as simple as Ferrari offering model cars or as opulent as Bugatti with an $84,000-belt buckle, practically every automaker does more than just sell cars to keep their brands visible. The profits from these ventures might not be enough to keep the lights on, but in such a competitive industry, any extra cash is welcome. For the automakers that get licensing just right, there is a ton of profit to be made. According to a recent story examining the practice by The New York Times, Ferrari makes around $2.6 billion from merchandising each year, and General Motors tops that at $3.5 billion. Beyond just a profit center, merchandising can also protect an automaker's name. Take Hummer for example. The GM division shut down years ago, but it has continued to produce licensed cologne on sale around the world. "Because we still have the active fragrance, we're protecting the brand if we ever decide to bring it back," Gene Reamer, a GM licensing senior manager, told the Times. The whole piece is a fascinating look into this often ignored, but quite lucrative facet of the auto business. Read it for yourself, here. Related Video: News Source: The New York TimesImage Credit: Luca Bruno / AP Photo Design/Style Earnings/Financials Marketing/Advertising Read This Ferrari GM Hummer branding

Tupac Shakur's 1996 Hummer H1 is for sale

Tupac Shakur purchased this 1996 Hummer H1 on August 13,1996. This was just one month before the singer's death. It was his personal vehicle for a brief time and the last vehicle the rapper ever purchased. Now it's up for auction to the highest bidder. It comes with a 6.5-liter turbodiesel V8 engine, an automatic transmission, and only 10,101 miles on the odometer. There are also 38-inch Dick Cepek off-road lights, a 360-degree spotlight, grille guard, and diamond-plate bumpers. An external PA system with three sirens and 12-disc Clarion sound system are also part of the package. RELATED: See Images of the 2004 Hummer H1 There are two copies of the registration listing Tupac as the owner as well as an affidavit listing his mother, Afeni Shakur, as the property successor. The car was held in storage after Tupac's death, and eventually became a prize in a 2003 BET raffle. It is currently sitting in storage again in Vancouver, Canada awaiting the right buyer. RR Auction estimates its value at over $100,000 so it'll take some serious cash to put this car in your driveway. RELATED: See Images of the 2006 Hummer H1 Alpha Related Video: This article originally appeared on Boldride.com. Celebrities Hummer Auctions SUV hummer h1

GeigerCars Hummer H2 Bomber is ready for winter...now that it's spring

GeigerCars Hummer H2 Bomber - Click above for high-res image gallery
GiegerCars has a love affair with American cars, and a particularly strange affection for Hummers. The German tuner has created all sorts of strange variants like a Christmas-themed H2, a 700-horsepower H2 built for a Texas sheriff or any number of racing-liveried Hummers like the "Gulf Wing" or this Martini Racing inspired H3.
GiegerCars' latest creation is the Hummer H2 Bomber. The most notable modification is the addition of four Mattracks 88M1-A1 rubber tracks that replace the twenty inch wheels. The rest of the vehicle features a military design theme as well as a roof box with lighting and a silver matte paint finish. Now all we need is a race on a snow-covered drag strip between this and Ken Block's Subaru TRAX STI. Follow the jump for the press release from GeigerCars.