Description

1985 AM General HUMVEE (M998) – After the Vietnam War the U.S. Army underwent a modernization program, which included finding an all-terrain replacement for its tactical vehicles—from the ¼-ton M151 Mutt through the 1½-ton M561 Gama Goat—with the added capacity to carry the new TOW anti-tank missile. AM General, Chrysler Defense and Teledyne Continental all submitted prototypes, and in late 1982 the Army selected AM General’s design for production as the M998 high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle, or HMMWV (universally referred to by service members as the Humvee). Production kicked off in April 1984 at AM General’s plant in Mishawaka, Ind., and the first Humvees entered service in October 1985. To offset their relative high cost ($20,410 for the basic vehicle to $28,382 for the weapons carrier), the Army relied on beefed-up Chevrolet Blazers as M1008/9 CUCVs (commercial utility cargo vehicles) in logistics and support roles for which the Humvee’s off-road abilities were not needed. Both vehicles used the same General Motors 6.2-liter V8 diesel engine.

In any city, you can find a few of these former military HUMVEEs on the street. Many are straight from the government surplus auction, have unknown history, and come with “off-road only” titles. We mention this so you realize that when you seek to buy the cheapest M998 on the market, don’t be surprised when you end up with a huge headache on your driveway. What we are offering here is a solid, well maintained, and very early example. The first Humvee was VIN number 100 and this example is number 185. As you will see in the photos, this M998 is fitted with the seldom seen Helmet Top, Four “X” Doors, Steel Rear Bumper and Winch (which actually makes this model a M1038). The interior features the original high back seats both front and rear. The powerful diesel motor fires up easily and does great on the road. Although you obviously won’t see the best gas mileage, we wouldn’t hesitate to drive this Humvee any distance. A complete list of features include; 6.2L Diesel, Auto, 4WD, Power Steering, Power Brakes, Factory Winch, Steel Bumper, Tow Package, Helmet Top, Side Storage Boxes, Hard Doors, 16.5″ Steel Wheels, and Thick Goodyear Wrangler MT 37×12.5 R16.5LT Tires! This Humvee comes with a clear Texas “On Road” title! Do some research and you’ll see how much of a plus that is over others on the market. If you are looking for the strong running, great looking, very original early HMMWV, you found it!