One Heavy-Hitting H1 Built to Dominate

Some builds turn heads. Others stop traffic. But Anthony Petrone’s 1996 Hummer H1—nicknamed “High Pressure”—does both and then some. This isn’t your typical offroad rig with a new paint job. This is a seven-year, ground-up, fully custom reinvention of one of the baddest off-road platforms ever built. And Anthony didn’t just bolt on some goodies and call it a day—he re-engineered nearly everything, from frame to roofline, to make this one-off beast stand in a league of its own.

It all started like most dream builds do—with a good base and a bad experience. Anthony handed the truck off to two different shops that couldn’t deliver. So he did what any real gearhead would do: tore it all down himself and built it back up the way it should’ve been done from the jump.

Sitting in the frame rails now is a built 2006 Duramax diesel, wrenched on by the team at Pela Motorsports in Jupiter, FL. This thing’s got all the right stuff: a high-flow Y-bridge, upgraded turbo and intercooler, pusher intakes, and a full 3-inch side-exit exhaust that barks louder than a guard dog with something to prove. It’s paired to a built Allison trans with billet internals and a Goerend ML HD torque converter. Shifts are handled by a custom shifter, and power goes through a standalone transfer case setup. The drivetrain alone is a monster—capable of towing, crawling, or hauling hard, all without breaking a sweat.

For suspension, King coilovers hold it down with smooth travel and full adjustability. The chassis was tweaked and refitted to make it all work together like clockwork. Wilwood brakes handle stopping duties, but even that wasn’t plug-and-play. Anthony had custom CNC brackets fabbed up to relocate the calipers from the axle to the hub, boosting clearance and performance. It’s this kind of attention to detail that separates a good build from a great one.

The outside is coated in Destroyer Gray with a heavy-duty Raptor liner finish—rugged, easy to clean, and mean-looking in any light. Harley Laprade handled the paint and bodywork, and the result is a finish that looks as tough as the truck really is. Rigid lights are tucked in everywhere: underbody, roofline, front bumper, and rear corners—because whether you’re deep in the backcountry or showing off at night, this truck stays lit.

Inside, the cab is nothing short of custom. Pela Motorsports built a full aluminum dash and Avant Garde in West Palm Beach, went all out by 3D-scanning the interior to make new, exact-fit panels. A full JL Audio and MMATs sound system cranks out tunes while Revel components keep the sound crisp. Add in an Edge CTS monitor, Momo wheel, and stitched custom leather touches, and you’ve got a cockpit that feels as good as it looks.

Anthony’s not new to builds, but this one hits different. He did it not for trophies, but for the love of trucks, tech, and tearing up pavement on his terms.

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1996 Hummer H1

Owner
Anthony Petrone
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Engine  

• Installation Shop: Pela Motorsports
• Engine: 2006 Duramax LBZ Diesel
• Turbo: Upgraded high-flow with Pusher intake and intercooler
• Add-ons: Edge CTS monitor, Y-bridge, custom 3-inch side exit exhaust
• Cooling: Mishimoto radiator and trans cooler
• Fuel System: PPE lift pump and upgraded lines
• Transmission: Built Allison with billet internals
• Converter: Goerend ML HD
• Transfer Case: Standalone with custom setup
• Shifter: Custom billet assembly

CHASSIS & SUSPENSION

• Frame Work: Custom-fabbed and reinforced
• Suspension: King coilovers
• Brakes: Wilwood with custom CNC brackets
• Caliper Positioning: Relocated from axle to hub for improved clearance
• Axles: Stock H1 units with upgrades

WHEELS & TIRES

• Wheels: 20×10 Fuel Forged
• Tires: 38×13.50R20 Nitto Trail Grapplers
• Spare Setup: Frame-mounted

BODY & PAINT

• Paint Shop: Harley Laprade Custom Paint
• Color: Destroyer Gray Raptor Liner
• Lighting: Rigid LED (roof, underbody, bumper, corners)
• Front Bumper: Custom steel with flush-mount pods
• Grille: Mesh with behind-grille lighting
• Hinges & Handles: Powdercoated black

INTERIOR & AUDIO

• Interior Shop: Avante Garde Designs
• Seats: Reupholstered factory buckets
• Dash: Custom aluminum with full 3D-scan fitment
• Audio: JL Audio & MMATs amps and speakers
• Screen: Edge CTS Display
• Steering Wheel: Momo
• Sound Deadening: Full cab
• Other: Custom mount panels, flush switches, billet details