| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | Ocala, Florida,United States (1999 (1999)) |
| Headquarters | |
Number of locations | 4 |
| Products | Automobiles |
| Website | www |
Growler Manufacturing and Engineering, formerlyAmerican Growler, Inc., is an automotive manufacturing firm producing light tactical vehicles, originally based inOcala, Florida, then inRobbins, North Carolina, and now in theHUBZone inStar, North Carolina. For over ten years, it has built a line ofmilitary light utility vehicles partly derived fromdrivetrains fromM151 Jeeps.[1] Versions range from $7,000 in price kit form, a $15,500 tacticaldune buggy, and a $33,000 version sold to theDominican Republic's military.
Growler Manufacturing and Engineering started as Utility Vehicles Inc. in 1999[2] who designed new frames and bodies and remanufactured drive trains from military vehicles, primarilyM151 jeeps, purchased through surplus sales. Through several acquisitions and renamings they ended up based in Star NC where Growler produces light tactical vehicle and equipment trailers for theUnited States Marine Corps.
Growler's most expensive model at over $200,000 each, is theGrowler Light Strike vehicle.[3] It was specially designed to be transported in the small cargo hold of theV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft along with theExpeditionary Fire Support System towed mortar.[4]
The V-22 cargo compartment is five feet wide, five feet tall and less than 17 feet in length. In 2005, the Marines planned to buy 400 of the vehicles in a contract that combined with the mortar system was expected to total $296 million.
