In 1974 Bob Chandler ordered a new 1974 Ford F-250 4×4 and began modifying it to improve its ability off-road. Frustrated with the lack of parts and service in the St Louis, Missouri area, Bob, his wife Marilyn and their friend Jim Kramer formed Midwest Four Wheel Drive, which had its grand opening in 1975. Bob used the F-250 to showcase the shops work and products.
Bob continued modifying that 1974 Ford F-250 making it bigger and better until it became the Bigfoot Monster Truck. The truck appeared at SEMA in 1977 and finally moved up to 48-inch tires in 1978. In 1979 Bigfoot appeared at a car show in Denver, Colorado and for the first time was paid for its appearance. In 1981 Bigfoot appeared in the film ‘Take this job and shove it’ and performed the world’s first monster truck car crush that same year.
I personally remember seeing Bigfoot at the Cleveland Autorama for the first time in the 1980’s. The demand for Bigfoot’s appearance was so great, that they had to build multiple trucks. There have been over 2-dozen Bigfoot trucks, but Bob Chandler still has the original 1974 Ford F-250 Bigfoot.
I’ve seen Bigfoot many times over the years and have even been to their shop. My kids grew-up seeing the Bigfoot monster truck at the 4Wheel Jamboree Nationals. For a while I had become a fan of the Monster Jam series and always wondered why Bigfoot didn’t race in it. Then I learned that those teams on Monster Jam had sold their monster truck teams to Pace Motorsports (now Feld Entertainment). This seems insane to me. I don’t know of any other racing organization that owns the teams that compete. Needless to say, the Godfather of monster trucks wasn’t about to sell the Bigfoot team, so they aren’t part of Monster Jam.
Bob Chandler doesn’t need Monster jam. They continue to stay busy doing shows and races and you can see them at Hot Wheels Monster Truck Live.
It’s been 50-years since Bob, Marilyn and Jim opened their shop, and they’re celebrating those 50-years with this 50th Anniversary Bigfoot Monster Truck. Be sure to check out Bigfoots Live Event Schedule, see this truck in person, and be part of the 50th Anniversary.
Links:
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live
Video
Gallery
About The Author
Growing up, my father always believed that every family needed a truck—there’s just something about having a vehicle capable of hauling anything at a moment’s notice. That philosophy stuck with me, and it’s been the foundation of my lifelong passion for Ford trucks.
While I’m best known for my work with Ford Rangers, I’ve owned a wide variety of Ford trucks over the years—including F-150s, F-250s, F-350s, and even larger rigs like the Ford Excursion, Ford Expedition, and a 1982 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile camper van. I’ve used these vehicles for everything from family transportation to towing car trailers and campers, and each one has fueled my love for Ford’s versatility and durability.
I especially enjoy the styling of 1970s and 1980s Ford trucks—the bold designs, rugged presence, and classic charm are timeless. Sharing my passion for Ford trucks, vans, and SUVs with other enthusiasts online brings me a great deal of joy, and it’s why I created Blue Oval Trucks.
This website is dedicated to helping Ford truck enthusiasts explore, learn about, and celebrate these incredible vehicles. While I share my expertise and experiences here, Blue Oval Trucks is an independent enthusiast site and is not affiliated with Ford Motor Company.
