Some people want to own a Hummer without the look or smell of a normal Hummer owner. Because of this, cars like the GMC Hummer EV and old H1s that have been converted to run on electricity are now available. Of course, some people still like their off-road cars to have gas engines. The Toyota Mega Cruiser, a long-lost cousin of the H1 that is currently for sale on Bring a Trailer, will cost these people a lot of money. It looks like the Mega Cruiser is an off-road car that was made for the military but is now sold to civilians. The Toyota is about the same size as an H1, even though it is taller, longer, and slightly thinner than the H1 and weighs a lot less (6,283 pounds). Both have diesel engines that are connected to four-wheel-drive transfer cases, but this is also where they are different. The 4.1-liter, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine in this Toyota makes 152 horsepower and 282 lb-ft of torque. It might not look like much, but this will help the Mega Cruiser get up to 22 mpg and reach a top speed of at least 81 mph. It has a two-speed transfer case and a four-speed automatic gearbox, but it only drives in low gear to make the most of its 17-inch ground clearance. (There are also different locks.) 37-inch tires and portal wheels give it all that clearance. These can be connected to a central inflation system, which may or may not come with this model. A four-wheel double-wishbone suspension gives you so much more movement and better off-road performance than rigid axles. Mega Cruisers also have four-wheel drive, which lets them make very tight turns. According to its Bring a Trailer page, this 1996 model used to be green but has since had some rust fixed, a new windshield put in, and some minor damage from an accident fixed. This, along with the truck’s high miles and the Mega Cruiser stickers that were added, make it look like it was in the military before. That might explain why the inside doesn’t have the leather and (fake?) wood that civilian Mega Cruisers do, which makes it a cheap choice. Also, it doesn’t look like it has a vehicle phone, which some people have brought back lately. But it’s a better family car than a Jeep Wrangler because it has room for six people and four wide seats in the back. Most people won’t care that it’s not a “real” Mega Cruiser, and those who really want one probably can’t bother to fuss over the little things anyway. A total of 3,000 military versions were made, but only 133 private trucks were sold. That being said, this sample is already worth $22,250, and it has until next Wednesday at 5 p.m. Eastern to go up. So don’t be shocked if the GMC Hummer EV goes for that much. I’d rather have it.
