Monster Truck Photo Album

BIGFOOT

Bob Chandler

Jim Kramer

I scanned this shot from Bill Holder's book "The Ultimate Book Of Monster Trucks". Photography by John D. Farquhar.

Bob & Marilyn Chandler's BIGFOOT 4, built in the summer of 1984, debuted at the New Orleans Superdome in 1985. It was the first monster truck to use planetary axles and the first to perform a wheel-standing sled pull. It was featured in a series of Ford Trucks TV commercials in 1985. Converted to a race truck in 1988, it finished second on the TNT Motorsports racing circuit, and was the 1990 champion of the Special Events Monster Truck Triple Crown Series. Bigfoot 4 also toured as Snake Bite.

VEHICLE: 1999 Super Duty F-Series Extended Cab Fiberglass FORD Pickup body, a custom chassis and DuPont paint, originally fabricated and assembled by BIGFOOT 4X4, Inc.(formerly Midwest Four Wheel Drive, Inc.) in St. Louis, Missouri in 1984.

ENGINE: 540 CI FORD, with an 871 BDS blower, 8 port injection, Wiseco pistons, Total Seal piston rings, Isky Cams, ARP fasteners, MSD ignition, K&N air filters, and RJS fire system

TRANSMISSION: FORD C6 automatic with Alabama Bands, a Hurst shifter, a BTE race converter and an aluminum transfer case with quick change gears

AXLES: 5 ton military with planetaries and Detroit lockers.

SHOCKS: 4 Trailmaster Nitrogen Charged Racing Shocks

TIRES: 66X43X25 Firestone Flotation Tires

FUEL TYPE: Methanol - Jaz fuel cell

HEIGHT: 10'6"

WIDTH: 11'4"

WEIGHT: 12,400 lbs.

BIGFOOT 6, built in fall, 1986, was featured in the movie "Police Academy 6"; and set a record in 1987 by jumping over 13 cars at a Jamboree event in Indianapolis. In 1992 and 1993, the truck toured extensively in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Iceland and other countries. The 1993 tour of the UK was a true "iron man" marathon. Driver Jim Greco put the truck through 160 performances in 164 days. In 1994 the truck toured Thailand. It was then sold to an English promoter, and now tours under a new name

BIGFOOT 7 was built in May, 1988, specifically for the filming of the movie, "Roadhouse" with Patrick Swayze and Sam Elliott. In a key scene, driver (now BIGFOOT president) Jim Kramer blasted the truck through a new car showroom, destroying four new cars in the process. The scene cost $500,000 to stage, and was filmed in one take with seven cameras. In 1989, with creator/owner Bob Chandler at the wheel, BIGFOOT 7 was featured in the movie, "Tango and Cash", starring Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell. The truck toured Australia for four months in 1991, and New Zealand in 1992 and 1993. In 1995, BIGFOOT 7 underwent several months of major mechanical surgery to become a 10-foot-tire twin to BIGFOOT 5. Number 7 was sold to and now resides at the famous "Race Rock" motorsports theme restaurant in Orlando, FL.