2003 Hummer H2 on 2040-cars

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Why didn't GM recall fire-prone Hummers earlier?

As early as 2009, motorists reported fires in the Hummer H3. In a complaint filed that March with the regulatory agency in charge of vehicle safety, one motorist said they leaped into a smoldering vehicle and drove it away from gas pumps moments before it was engulfed in flames. Three months later, another motorist described how a fire spread from behind the glove box and consumed their H3. Dozens of car owners filed similar complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the six years that followed, detailing car fires of varying severity that originated in the HVAC systems of their Hummer H3s. But General Motors didn't issue a recall for any of the affected cars until last week, prompting fresh questions about how the company treats safety concerns in the wake of an ignition-switch flaw that went unaddressed for years and, at latest count, is responsible for killing at least 124 motorists. In recall documents filed with NHTSA last week, GM initially said it knew of three fires associated with the defect. Within hours, the company said it knew of 42 fires associated with the problem and three injuries sustained by vehicle occupants. A company spokesperson attributed the inconsistency to a "misstated" number in the original documents and that the higher number comes from NHTSA complaints, reports to GM and TREAD data. Beyond that discrepancy, the documents show General Motors, which has touted a revitalized attitude toward safety concerns since the ignition-switch recalls, did nothing upon determining there was a problem with the H3s. Prompted by two complaints the company received in September 2014, General Motors says it launched an internal investigation related to melting blowers in the HVAC system on December 8, 2014. In that investigation, the company says it confirmed a problem existed, finding that "mismatched electrical conductivity could result in overheating and melting of the blower motor connector module." But even with that conclusion, the company opted to close its internal investigation on April 29, 2015, without taking any action. It wasn't until NHTSA officials met with GM representatives in a meeting on June 18, 2015, that General Motors was prompted to reconsider.

SEMA 2010: Zero South Biodiesel Electric Hummer shows its guts

Zero South Biodiesel Electric Hummer - Click above for high-res image gallery
Zero South, a company that popped up at SEMA in 2008, is back again with its Biodiesel Electric Hummer. The heavily modified H1 rides on tracks at all four corners - a necessary modification, since this Hummer is designed for an expedition to the South Pole.
The trip is going to be documented by Chris Paine, who's best known for the film Who Killed the Electric Car? It was reported back in 2008 that the vehicle was going to be driven by Buzz Aldrin and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. The film is called Drive Around the World and was shot in 3D. Drive Around the World is also the name of an organization that works to inspire an urge to explore while raising money for various charities. The H1 shown above is Zero South's vehicle for participating in these expeditions.

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