To paraphrase Mark Twain, rumors of Lynch Hummer’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. But the tremendously successful Chesterfield dealership was rocked earlier this year when GM disclosed it was considering selling off or even shutting down its Hummer line of SUVs in light of rising gas prices and changing customer demands.
Owner Jim Lynch, who says he’s sold more H1 (first-generation) Hummers to civilians than anyone else in the world, admits the road may get bumpy, but somehow he’ll keep selling the rugged four-wheel-drive vehicles. “I’ll always be dealing Hummers, whether they’re new or used, plus parts and accessories, too,” he says. “I understand the market is shifting a bit to smaller vehicles, but we’ve got a niche product that appeals strongly to a certain segment of the population.”
That certain segment is, of course, folks with serious disposable income, many of whom enjoy off-roading in their Hummers over the 66 acres of hilly terrain behind Lynch’s dealership. After the mud washes off, the SUV becomes a luxury ride favored by celebrities. Lynch has sold vehicles once owned by noted Hummer aficionado and “Governator” Arnold Schwarzenegger. “We’ve sold a lot of cars to rap stars,” adds the discreet dealer, “but I can’t tell any of those stories.” And though the general public may be angling for four-cylinder hybrids, what’s cool has never been beholden to what’s appropriate; anyone driving a muscle car, a boat-sized Cadillac or a beefy H1, H2 or H3 worships at the altar of cars—and Lynch is the high priest of the Hummer.
So while he did confess to Bloomberg TV earlier this year that sales at the dealership were down a dismal 50 percent, Lynch feels confident that Hummers will roll on, in one form or another. He sold them before GM bought the brand, and should the company abandon Hummers, Lynch says he’ll regroup and soldier on.
