Vehicle Description
History isn't through with the Hummer yet. A monument to excess,
sure, but isn't that what icons are all about? They aren't building
them like they used to anymore (in fact, they're only offered as
electric vehicles now, which quite frankly we consider sacrilege to
the Hummer name), and it's highly unlikely that the world will ever
see its equal again. This 2008 Hummer H3 Alpha is one of the more
'reserved' Hummer models ever made, but that's an extremely
relative term that we certainly use loosely. Compared to the H1 and
H2, it's a bit 'suburbanized', but when up against other comparable
model in its class, well, there aren't really any comparable models
in its class (although the new Bronco has followed the script,
assuming you get it decked out for $100K). This beefed-up Alpha
submodel offers bigger horsepower numbers pumping out of the 5.3L
V8 under the hood, along with a bulletproof cast-iron locking
differential case and retuned suspension underneath, and it sports
a gorgeous exterior Chrome Appearance Package and roomier, luxury
interior inside. Babied since new, this 2-owner, lifelong Texas H3
is the last of a dying breed, but they certainly didn't go out with
a whimper.
If you're going to live large, do it in style, which means slick
silver paint, a whole lot of chrome, and big 'ol tires are the
right choice. With an SUV this big, you don't have to beat folks
over the head with a loud color, because it speaks just fine, and
although there's plenty of chrome it's not at all overbearing. And
despite the rugged off-road look, it's pretty obvious that this one
has never tackled anything rougher than a railroad crossing or
gravel driveway in its day. The Bolder Gray Metallic paint is still
shiny, it shows very few signs of use, and clearly the two people
who owned it (original owner had it up until 2020) were proud of
the way it looked, so they washed and waxed it fanatically. Part of
that heavy-duty look comes from a chrome brush guard up front, plus
a bunch of chrome upgrades in the Chrome Appearance Package like
the grille, step-bars, mirrors, handles, and gas door. Utility
comes from a giant front bumper with incorporated tow hooks, a
louvered hood, an adjustable roof rack, and a heavy-duty, 6000lb
tow-rated trailer hitch that'll pull your toys effortlessly.
There's also a huge bumper out back with another gigantic tow hook,
a full-sized spare tire covered with a hard shell, and the dark
tinted windows and special Alpha badging really punctuate this
Hummer's killer looks.
GM did a nice job of making the H3's interior forget the
utilitarian design of the military H1's, and even though luxury was
the goal, ruggedness wasn't completely abandoned. All the creature
comforts are there, and the combined redesign of the 2008 model and
Alpha upgrades really make this one of the nicest H3's ever made.
Ebony leather buckets are supportive and remain in great condition
with only minor wear-and-tear (mostly found on the driver's seat),
the door panels are simple, functional and super-clean just like
the wide, expansive dash, and the leather-trimmed center console
and steering wheel separate this beauty from the rugged trucks of
yore. Just about everything was standard on the H3, including power
windows, locks, mirrors, a tilt wheel, and climate control, and the
Alpha package adds 8-way power and heated front seats, a leather
shift knob and boot, oversized floor mats and cargo covers, and a
kickin' stereo system that's now managed by a Pioneer multimedia
head unit in the dash. Everything is in great shape inside, better
than you'd expect in a rugged truck with this kind of mileage, and
the white piping on the seats and Alpha embroidery in the headrests
are a killer added touch.
The H3 is big, and quite frankly the standard Inline-5 in the base
model just doesn't perform with such a lopsided weight-to-power
ratio. Therefore, this Alpha received GM's vaunted, all-aluminum
5.3L-liter Vortec V8, which provides effortless performance and the
ability to climb mountains (it even features a unique oil pan
specifically designed to constantly lubricate the engine, even on
steep grades) and haul just about anything you can throw at it.
With complete service/maintenance records from new, this
bulletproof machine still runs like new with a muscular hum from
the exhaust and shockingly potent acceleration in any weather
thanks to standard all-wheel-drive. The upgraded 4-speed automatic
transmission bangs off flawless shifts, and the beefy suspension
feels robust enough to do the Baja 1000, punctuated by the
Alpha-specific 4.10:1 rear axle ratio. It's very clean underneath,
too, with no signs of off-road abuse in its past (9.1 inches of
ground clearance has certainly helped with that as well), and
certainly not recently with those glamorous 16-inch chrome wheels
wearing giant 265/75/16 front and 275/65/16 rear Goodyear Wrangler
off-road radials.
I foresee a day when clean H3s are collector's items, just like the
1959 Cadillacs and 1962 Imperials which were also considered
excessive, even in their prime. And special edition units like this
Alpha will be leading the pack, just like they did when they were
new. Call today!
