Umm

UMM (Uniao Metalo Mecanica) is a metal works factory and a former Portuguese automobile manufacturer. It was founded in 1977 with the purpose of manufacturing 4wd vehicles for agricultural, industrial and utility applications.

History.
The UMM four wheel drive design is derived from a prototype created by the French engineering firm Cournil. The entrepreneur's building rights were acquired by the Portuguese company Uni?o Metalo-Mec?nica, part of the Mocar group.

They became known for their reliability, especially when in a Paris-Dakar rally the team was able to finish with all the cars that started. Many UMMs are still in use by utilities in Spain and Portugal and also by the "Guarda Nacional Republicana" (Portuguese Gendarmerie), fire service and military, although the majority of their customers were private individuals. They are also popular in France and Angola.

UMM stopped building cars for private customers in 1993, but kept on taking large orders from military and utility services until 1996. Custom orders are still accepted. The most famous UMM is probably the one who transported Pope John Paul II in one of his visits to Portugal.

The car has been updated in 2000 to take a new 2.1L Turbo Diesel engine. This engine is less noisy and has more torque at low speed. Several fancy options can be ordered from the factory now, including ar conditioning and GPS. It costs about the same as a Land Rover with similar equipment.