Big Boys’ toy

Boys don’t grow up; their toys only get bigger — and pricier. Now here comes something perfect for those Arnold Schwar-zenegger wannabe boys who crave for Arnie’s toys but doesn’t have the movie star wallet to strut around with.

It’s called the AMC Hammer, and it’s a big, bad, bitchin’ AM General Hummer lookalike.

Built by Alana Motors Corporation, the Hammer is a reasonably faithful replica of the original. Launched at the 11th Motorshow International in Manila in November 2000, AMC produces two variants of the Hammer: the sport-ute Hammer Wagon and the sport truck Hammer Pick-up. Presently, three Hammers roll off the AMC factory floors in Lucena, Quezon, every month, though four units is its target.

Jasper Alana, one of the latest Alana boys in the family vehicle manufacturing business and whose father and grandfather built jeeps, jeepneys and Land Cruiser and Wrangler knockoffs in the past, said they fashioned the Hammer from measurements taken from a Hummer unit loaned from a nearby military camp in Lucena. Armed only with tape measures, they painstakingly jotted down every conceivable dimension of the original Hummer. "But my father also bought a Hummer scale model to make sure we got all the details necessary to build a replica," he said.

Unlike the original, which teems with high-tech goodies like traction control and central tire inflation system, the Hammer is pretty much basic. After AMC’s craftsmen build the body from galvanized iron sheets, it is then mounted to either a Nissan Patrol or Patrol Safari chassis. This ensures costs are kept down. The company sources the chassis from local surplus parts yards, and it already comes complete with all the suspension parts, the steering system, the engine, four-wheel drivetrain, and brakes. A Hyundai steering wheel is used, so that the wiper and signal lights control stalks are in the "proper" left-hand drive locations. (The Nissan’s come in right-hand drive setting.).

Also, AMC manufactures most of the parts needed for the vehicle’s interior. Stuff like the plastic dashboard and consoles, door panels, headliners and other bits and pieces. Gauges, switches, door handles, window raisers, air-conditioning system and vents, and lights are bought from suppliers.

Alana said that only a few modifications were necessary to mount the body to the Nissan platform. To begin with, the Hammer body is already about eight to 10 inches narrower than the original’s, a deliberate move to ensure it becomes more maneuverable on Metro Manila roads. AMC then lengthens the chassis a few inches more, since the Hammer’s length — which is faithful to the Hummer — is longer than the Nissan Patrol’s.

Paint color schemes are also kept close to those offered on the Hummer, such as white, black, dark green or bright yellow. Of course, customers can specify any paint job they please — funky stripes or polka dots included.

Actually, customers can customize and spec their Hammers to their taste while its being built. Sort of like making your own salad in a restaurant. The vehicle comes standard only with power steering, air-conditioning and central locking system. No audio units are included. Whatever lights, switches, gauges, steering wheel, shift knobs, or foglamps one prefers can be specified according to budget and the general level of tackiness one is willing to achieve.

In most cases, the result is something that is expected from a product that can be suited up by the customer on a whim as it is being built. Large lights appear in abundance everywhere, as are huge chrome wheels, tough off-road tires, roof racks, and the rudimentary bull bars.

Which is not to say the thing looks bad — at least if the three examples we checked out were anything to go by. From a distance, the Hammer is indeed a deadringer of the original, albeit a noticeably narrower one. Inside, the vehicle mimics the real McCoy’s four-compartment passenger seating arrangement. The ride is also pliant enough, thanks to the Nissan platform, which should discard any notion that the Hammer rides like a jeepney. Driving it is quite one would best expect driving a 10-year-old Nissan Patrol from which it is based on. Don’t look forward to any Expedition-like plush handling.

But to whine about the Hammer’s handling and driving characteristics is to miss the point. The purpose of the Hammer — even the original Hummer — is to appear tough and look good doing it. After all, these may well be the ultimate big toys for bullies and boys.

The Hammer, though, costs just a fraction of the original’s multi-million peso price tag, or almost half of new sport-utes. The standard wagon variant sells for P685,000 while the pickup costs P645,000. For interested Schwarzenegger wannabes, call AMC at (042)3730538 or email [email protected].