The Chandler family, which now included three children, spent their weekends at off road events and running the gravel bottom rivers in southern Missouri. “BIGFOOT”® and “The Original Monster Truck”® are all registered trademarks of BIGFOOT 4×4, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri USA © 2009 All rights reserved. Pacific, MO 63069 U.S.A. $4.50 shipping. He eventually agreed to perform the stunt at live events, a decision that would prove to be the catalyst that ignited the monster truck industry’s meteoric rise in popularity. All total, the 36 on-board batteries weigh a staggering combined 1,375 pounds. To date, Team BIGFOOT has amassed 50 championships! 3 talking about this. BIGFOOT #2 was born in 1982, and debuted at the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, MI late in that year. It fueled an explosion of fan interest and led to a legion of imitators. A few months later, he duplicated the stunt in a stadium show. Back in the '80s, tank track monster trucks were a common sight. In addition, inspired by the success of BIGFOOT, numerous imitators came forth and the “monster truck” name was coined and an industry was born. Bigfoot 4×4, Inc. – Monster Truck Racing Team, Chandler piloted BIGFOOT over a pair of junk cars, world’s first and only battery-powered monster truck. BIGFOOT is “The Original Monster Truck”. It was a former airplane hanger converted over to accommodate the off road shop. Racing eventually lead to freestyle where drivers get a specified amount of time on the clock to do whatever they want to impress the crowd. Feb 15, 2019 - Explore Lynn Fingers's board "The Original Monster Truck BIGFOOT" on Pinterest. So what is the history of this famous Ford pickup? Despite their heavy weight, the high-horsepower engines that teams were using in the trucks were propelling them to speeds in excess of 60mph. Rear steering was another especially popular innovation, and soon BIGFOOT was attracting attention wherever it went! In 1983, BIGFOOT began a sponsorship association with Ford Motor Company. Bigfoot 2, 3, East Beast, Super Monster, and several other Monster Trucks were completed here. As the monster truck industry began to establish itself, the performance of the trucks themselves seems quite modest in contrast to the high-flying, high-speed events of today. Bigfoot trucks sometimes appear at more than 20 different monster-truck events monthly. Chandler not only achieved unparalleled success in the monster truck industry, but actually fathered the industry itself. Traxxas faithfully … In 1979, BIGFOOT performed at its first paid event, a Denver car show. The industry had reached a point where the trucks could dish out more than the drivers could take, and Chandler decided something needed to be done. The list of accomplishments compiled by the BIGFOOT team over the last 44 years is quite remarkable, and seems to nearly be unending. This is the truck that started the monster truck phenomenon and brought car-crushing fun and excitement to fairgrounds and arenas everywhere. The backflipping madness of modern-day Monster Jam can be traced back to one beloved Ford truck, aptly named Bigfoot. With over four decades of history-making behind them, Chandler and Team BIGFOOT show no signs of slowing down. CLICK HERE for a more detailed biography of BIGFOOT owners/creators Bob and Marilyn Chandler. Snake Bite featured a custom fiberglass front end that was shaped to look like a menacing snake. or Best Offer. The well known monster trucks is created and owned by Bob Chandler, a former construction worker from the St. … The truck and Midwest Four Wheel Drive began to garner a local following and a strong customer base, helped in part by the fact that Chandler and his family spent many a weekend at local off-road events and running the gravel-bottom rivers of southern Missouri. In 1987, Chandler helped co-found the Monster Truck Racing Association (MTRA), an organization dedicated to maintaining a complete monster truck rule book in an effort to promote safety, industry-wide. 21 talking about this. Original Bigfoot Monster Truck Paint Information You couldn’t even get close to it because of the tons of people trying to get a closer look. It has surely had an influence on millions of people and caused many of them to become die hard Ford truck fans. Standing taller and mightier than any pickup ever seen, the … As the parts bills increased and the F-250 grew bigger and bigger, Chandler was soon nicknamed “Bigfoot” by one of his shop employees due to his heavy-right-foot driving style. Furthermore, in 2012, BIGFOOT #20 was completed and is the world’s first and only battery-powered monster truck! Never one to rest on his laurels, Chandler then tried something that really caught the public’s imagination. BIGFOOT is “The Original Monster Truck”. The monster truck that started it all belongs in the Smithsonian StarSun Depot New 1974 Ford F-250 Monster Truck Bigfoot #1 Blue The Original Monster Truck (1979) Hobby Exclusive 1/64 Diecast Model Car by Greenlight 4.6 out of 5 … Today, BIGFOOT #5 mainly sets on display at BIGFOOT 4×4, Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri. This allows a truck’s ignition system to be remotely disabled by a team member or track official on the sidelines, should a driver lose control of the vehicle or should a situation on-track that the driver is unaware of dictate such action. But beyond the film appearance, the hills topped and the mud bogs conquered, 1981 is known as the year that BIGFOOT and Bob Chandler became the first monster truck to do what monster trucks are now best known for: crushing cars. It was built using chromoly steel tubing in an effort to save weight. 709 sold. … Kramer’s cool hand behind the wheel and professional speaking ability in front of the cameras and fans helped him become one of the sport’s most recognizable personalities. The BIGFOOT is “The Original Monster Truck”. Existing monster truck designs were not exactly prime examples of high technology at the time. © 2020 All Rights Reserved. In 1994 the team completed a sweep of the top three spots in points. At some events Chandler would simply parade the truck around, showing off its rear-steering capability and its custom tilt hood; at other events, BIGFOOT would hook to the pulling sled and prove to the crowd that despite its show-quality looks, BIGFOOT was indeed a working truck. History had been made. BIGFOOT #17 is owned and driven by Nigel Morris, who has claimed three championships since 2003. After a stint in the US Navy, Chandler returned to St. Louis to take up the family vocation as a construction site manager and carpenter, and in 1965 he married his wife Marilyn. In 1983, BIGFOOT beg, First monster truck in the world – Bob & Marilyn Chandler – St. Louis, MO – 1975, First monster truck at SEMA – Las Vegas, NV – 1977. Original Monster Truck. Feb 11, 2019 - Explore Bart McKinnon's board "Bigfoot the original monster truck" on Pinterest. Other trucks with the name "Bigfoot" have been introduced in the years since, and it remains a well-known monster truck moniker in the United States. Everett Jasmer’s USA-1 trucks are still crushing cars. Driver Jerry Dalton and BIGFOOT #11 are currently doing shows throughout the US. Bigfoot created the ‘Monster Truck’ craze that now has a huge following all over the world. now just to get it through our shop door we had to take it off its giant and heavy 66 inch tall monster truck tires and put it on these relatively small tires. The creation of BIGFOOT began as a brand new 1974 F250 Ford Pickup that was purchased by Bob Chandler and his wife so that they would have a vehicle with more … And while Chandler and his BIGFOOT team now enjoy international recognition and a great deal of success each year, their path to greatness began with a very humble start. Bigfoot4x4.com offers a history, pictures, videos, an online store, and much more about The Original Monster Truck®, BIGFOOT® It's a Ford built by Bigfoot 4X4 in 1988. Since the inception of Snake Bite, dozens of monster truck teams have copied the idea and developed 3-D bodies of their own. At its core, it was a Ford F-250 modified by its original owner, Bob Chandler. Starting as a Ford F-250 4x4 pickup truck bought new by Bob in 1974... later updated with the 1979 body design. The BIGFOOT is “The Original Monster Truck”. Big Fun was formerly known as Bigfoot 7, a name recognized even by those with no interest in monster trucks. Bigfoot is a monster truck. But by 1987, car crushing was no longer the hot new thing. In addition to enjoying great success at various off road events, Chandler and his BIGFOOT truck (now dubbed a “monster truck” by the press) appeared in their first Hollywood film, “Take This Job and Shove It.” BIGFOOT’s debut on the silver screen caused the nation’s awareness of the truck to skyrocket. In 1973, a motorcycle accident put an end to Bob’s construction career. Traxxas faithfully … The next year, he ordered a 1975 F250 pick-up truck, and soon Midwest Four Wheel Drive & Performance Center was born in the family garage. In 1983, Ford Motor Company became BIGFOOT’s first major sponsor, a partnership that would last for nearly a quarter of a century. It means a pickup truck … By 1979, the modifications were so extensive, the truck came to be regarded as the first monster truck. Due to Bob’s lead foot, the truck was christened “BIGFOOT”, and to keep down on breakage and to show off 4 wheel drive products, Bob added bigger axles and made his truck bigger and stronger. Magazines came calling and BIGFOOT’s popularity continued to grow. Car crushing became a staple of major truck pulling and mud racing events. Traxxas faithfully captures the spirit and classic look of BIGFOOT No. As the monster truck industry continues to grow beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, you can rest assure that Team BIGFOOT will continue to set a high standard of class, performance, and innovation. BIGFOOT also has a licensed BIGFOOT team in the United Kingdom that operates BIGFOOT #17. $29.99. GREENLIGHT 30054 1:64 1974 FORD F-250 BIGFOOT #1 MONSTER TRUCK GOOSENECK TRAILER For a sizable number of Americans, "Bigfoot" does not mean a hairy bipedal humanoid. we were told by an excited family, leaning out their car windows, as we pulled into the Bigfoot 4x4 parking lot. In 1999, Dave Harkey drove BIGFOOT #11 to a wheelie record of 217 feet, 3 inches! Soon thereafter, event promoters were booking the truck as a half-time act at truck & tractor pulls nation-wide. I even made it a point to stop in St. Louis Missouri on my way from Ohio to New Mexico for a chance to visit the home of Bigfoot. Exhibition truck pulls in arenas and stadiums soon followed. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Bigfoot die-cast 1:24 Scale Vehicle with Giant Wheels for Kids Age 3 to … In 1991, the BIGFOOT team debuted the first 3-D character-bodied monster truck, “Snake Bite®”. At its core, it was a Ford F-250 modified by its original owner, Bob Chandler. In 1995, Eric Tack drove it to a then world record monster truck distance jump, with a leap of 117 feet. The first of these new trucks was BIGFOOT #8, which was completed in mid-1989. This style of truck combines speed, light weight, and agility with an extensive roll cage and fiberglass body that makes for a safer, better performing, and easier to fix monster truck. The result was BIGFOOT #5, the tallest & widest pickup truck in the world (as noted by the Guinness Book of World Records). This is the truck that started the monster truck phenomenon and brought car-crushing fun and excitement to fairgrounds and arenas everywhere. 1981 would prove to be a watershed year for BIGFOOT. The team continues to investigate new ways to incorporate sponsors into their program, both automotive and non-automotive related. The Bigfoot monster truck is no ordinary pickup truck. In 1979, it did its first paid event, a Denver car show. In 1979, Chandler and BIGFOOT made their first paid public appearance at a car show in Denver, CO. The fanged monster also proved to be a merchandising powerhouse. Since that time, Team BIGFOOT has gone on to finish in first or second place nearly every year. Since his introduction of BIGFOOT #1, Bob Chandler has not only been a successful team owner and innovator, but also one of the leaders in pioneering advancements in monster truck safety. BIGFOOT #2 was the first monster truck to utilize the now industry-standard 66″x43″x25″ terra tires, more commonly referred to as “monster truck tires.” These tires immediately became the industry standard, and today help define what a “monster truck” is. As BIGFOOT’s popularity on the live event circuit grew, national four wheel drive magazines took notice and soon BIGFOOT was a featured vehicle in a number of publications. BIGFOOT has visited more than 26 countries and has appeared in seven Hollywood films, ranging from “Take This Job and Shove It” to “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle”. The BIGFOOT moniker soon became something of a household name in much of the Midwest. This is the truck that started the monster truck phenomenon and brought car-crushing fun and excitement to fairgrounds and arenas everywhere. The Truck That Started it All. They looked mean and did a great job at crushing cars.… $10.75 shipping. It was a major hit with fans. BIGFOOT #5, #14 and #18 have all held or hold Guinness World Records, the most recent of which was #18’s astonishing long jump of 214’8″. The original Bigfoot was still a regular truck using leaf spring suspension which meant for a pretty rough ride especially with 48 inch tires. BIGFOOT #8 quickly leapt to the forefront of the monster truck world, and in its first full year of competition became the 1990 World Champion. This afforded the BIGFOOT team the opportunity to campaign multiple vehicles at an event without using two identical-looking vehicles. With the assistance of European BIGFOOT owner/ driver Nigel Morris, the MTRA’s European division (MTRAE) was formed in 2001. Bob Chandler's original creation, BIGFOOT, the FIRST and BEST monster truck ever. Bob was an offroader that found ways to break even the toughest of trucks, and that led to the discovery that there was no place in the Midwest to get 4×4 parts and service. A promoter saw a taped copy of the aptly named “car crush,” and a few months later Bob duplicated the stunt in a stadium show. There are now monster trucks throughout the world. Most trucks at the time also utilized steel pickup truck bodies, mounted atop heavy steel frames. … Corporate America was quick to take note of the marketability and positive public perception of BIGFOOT, and today the team counts a “who’s who” of automotive and aftermarket companies as their sponsors, including Firestone, Summit Racing Equipment, Odyssey Battery, Lucas Oil Products and many more. Inspired by the success of BIGFOOT, numerous imitators came forth in the middle 1980s. Neighbor and good friend, Jim Kramer, became Vice President and business was good, but they all still took time to go four wheeling. I would later see Bigfoot up close, and on numerous occasions at truck shows. Soon the truck itself became an attraction. The original Bigfoot was still a regular truck using leaf spring suspension which meant for a pretty rough ride especially with 48 inch tires. This is the truck that started the monster truck phenomenon and brought car-crushing fun and excitement to fairgrounds and arenas everywhere. In lieu of that, Bob and Marilyn partnered with neighbor and long-time friend Jim Kramer to form Midwest Four Wheel Drive, which had its grand-opening in 1975. Business quickly took off, and within a couple of years Midwest Four Wheel Drive had out-grown its facility in Ferguson, MO, eventually re-locating to nearby Hazelwood. BIGFOOT ® is “The Original Monster Truck”. 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