AM General can trace their roots back to 1971 when American Motors Corporation spun off the subsidiary to handle production of military and contract vehicle manufacturing. About a decade later in 1983, AM General would win a five-year U.S. Army contract to produce a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) after beating out numerous competitors to deliver some 55,000 examples to the U.S. military.

Jump again to the next decade, in 1992 after tons of visibility courtesy of the Operation Desert Storm and outspoken advocate Arnold Schwarzenegger, AM General offered the HMMWV under a new marque - Hummer - for civilians. This, of course, helped spurn hyper-realistic Hollywood chase scenes, like this one from the cinematic masterpiece The Rock (earmuffs warning):

By 1999, GM earned the rights to the Hummer brand and, while AM General continued production, GM offered sales, marketing, and distribution. After a successful start to the relationship and a time where bigger, bolder SUVs were dominating the market, GM and AM General released the Hummer H2 - a new Hummer that blended the same military-inspired ruggedness with better on-road comfort and handling.

The Hummer H2 was offered from the 2003-2009 model years with approximately 153,026 sold in the U.S. But while it remains a symbol of excess and glitz, but this was a serious off-roader built by a serious off-road outfitter in AM General. It features independent front suspension, solid-axle rear with 5-link coil suspension, a 6.0L V8 capable of 317 hp. and 365 lb.-ft., full-time dual-range transfer case, 10 in. of ground clearance, and a tow rating of 7,000 lbs.

Inside, the Hummer H2 featured seating for 5, tri-zone climate control, 8-way power leather front seats, BOSE sound system,  and more. And, the 2003 H2 boasts an estimated 9.2 MPG.