GRAVE DIGGER

That's Dennis' father and crew member.

OWNER: Dennis Anderson VEHICLE: 1951 Ford panel truck ENGINE: Chevy 427 cu.in. bored to 432 cu.in. CARBURETION: two 930 cfm. Predators atop a BDS blower TRANSMISSION: TH400 RUNNING GEAR: V-drive gear box allowed for 24 forward gears and 24 reverse, and a Temkin 2 1/2 ton transfer case. 1961 15 ton Federal axles TIRES: 66X50X26 inch Firestone Flotation 23's SUSPENSION: 10 element leafs with 16 Rugged Trail Nitro Cell shocks

Alex and me with the shirts Dennis Anderson gave us.

Trading Cards

The next 9 pictures are the ones I took in 1988 in Raleigh, NC.

My Wife Ann.

This happened the day after I met Dennis.

I scanned these shots from Bill Holder's book "Monstrous Trucks". Photography by Harry Dunn.

I scanned these pictures from Magazines that I purchased.

GIF file

The run in the 1st GIF file above happened the weekend I met Dennis Anderson in Raleigh, NC. Fall of 1988. At the end of the run the front tire broke a light pole which came down on the roof of the truck causing a dent about six inches deep.

These 2 are from Mike Fussa. It's sad to see my old hero in such a state of disrepair. The pictures were taken in 1998. Someone please restore it and put it in a museum.

S. Fuentes Los Angeles, CA 2007 Monster Jam World Finals, Las Vegas, NV.

Jason Lloyd and his sister Niki sent me these 4 shots.

Mr. Taft,  I just wanted to send you a quick email showing my appreciation for your website and all the work you've put into it. It really is a great site and I find myself getting lost in your photos all the time. I attached a few photos from an event I went to at Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, CT. back in August of 1988. I dont remember who won the event for I was only 3 at the time. The ticket stub says TNT Renegades Monster Truck challenge, and you can see all the rigs in the background of the more famous trucks (USA-1, King Crunch, Bigfoot, Stomper, etc.) Hope these pictures are helpful, keep up the great work, and let me know if youd like some more, for I've been going to the events at stafford for the last 4 years, including the upcoming show this Saturday the 28th. Thanks.  Bernie Nasser Mystic, CT

Luis Vera from Puerto Rico. I reside in Orlando, FL. Love your site. Keep it up.

It pains me to see my old hero so hurt. Gone, but never forgotten!!! If I had the money I would redo grandma so she won't look so bad. This was taken on Saturday.  Matt Hall "Big Daddy" Truer words have never been spoken!

This was my first attempt at building a Grave Digger model. I know it isn't very good. Anyway I went to a show in Raleigh, NC. in 1988 and met Dennis Anderson. He was in a mini-van leaving to get some engine parts. I stopped him to ask for his autograph. As he was signing my book he saw this picture. He shut off the van and took me to his crew to show it to them. He then got pit passes for Ann and I and asked us to spend the weekend with them. He asked me to build a model for him and the next one down is the one I built. I think it turned out alot better than this one did.

1st. model I built for Dennis using a 1954 Ford Panel Truck, a Chevy Chevelle, and a Krusher model. Cost to build;$30.oo Time to build; 54 hours Scale; 1/25th Features; Hand fabricated frame, exhaust, front and rear bumpers, roll cage, firewall behind the front seat, engine Shields, runner boards and the grill was carved out of a wax candle. The Chevelle engine was mounted in the rear. Completely hand painted. It takes about 8 hours to paint one side of the truck.

2nd. the bottom truck was built for Dennis' son Adam when he was about 3 yrs old, using a 1954 Ford Panel Truck, and the Krusher models. Cost to build;$20.oo Time to build; 32 hours Scale; 1/25th Being that Adam was only about 3 years old, Dennis asked me to build one as strong as I could. Features; Hand fabricated frame made of a hard plastic that goes down to the axles behind the springs. The axles were reinforced with nails near the tires. Hand made rear bumper and runner boards. Completely hand painted.

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