| The truck you are
about to see started life as BIGFOOT III. It was built by
Midwest Four Wheel Drive Center in St. Louis,
Missouri during the fall of 1983. It made its debut at
the Pontiac Silverdome January 1984 sporting 8 tires. The
truck has been in numerous TV & Movie appearances,
magazines and advertisements. It is the third in a
line of trucks built by Bob Chandler. |
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| Here after we
will call the truck LEGEND, so any reference to LEGEND
will include its former names. Legend was known as
BIGFOOT III from 1983-2000 and Dixie Thumper from
2005-2006. |
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| In 2000 BIGFOOT
4X4 inc. donated this truck to the E.M.T. financial fund.
The truck made its way to a storage facility in Orlando,
Florida where it sat unloved for 4 1/2 years until it was
rebodied and named Dixie Thumper. In 2006 Jodi & BIG
Stevo found this truck and purchased it sight unseen
bringing to an end a long 6 year search, and the LEGEND
was born. |
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| The above
pictures were taken during the trucks debut, January
1984. Our truck started life as a 1983 Ford F-250 regular
cab longbed pick up. Many of the first monster trucks had
the tilt hood as a unique feature, along with roll bars,
winch's and hundreds of products off the shelf made for
pick up trucks. LEGEND also had a stock interior,
power windows and working lights. The first monster
trucks had real truck bodies and beefed up truck
frames. |
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Military
5 Ton Axle Hub |
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Planetary
Heavy Equipment Type Hub |
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| When
built our truck did not have planetaries (the
bigger black "hubs" in the center of
the wheel). Because of this and the body changes,
many people think they are looking at different
trucks, when in fact it is all one truck.
LEGEND has had only two cabs in its life.
When updating its look, they changed the front
clip and bed. The only other cab ever on this
truck is the current 1991 extended cab along with
new bed and front clip. |
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| In this black and
white photo you can see the tilt hood. Many of the first
monster trucks had the tilt hood as a unique feature.
Also our truck had a stock interior, power windows and
working lights. The first monster trucks had real truck
bodies and beefed up frames. You can also see clearly
that when built our truck did not have planetaries (big
black thing in the center of the wheel) as seen in
the photos below. |
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| Here "The
Man" is seen playing with his new toy in the snow. |
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| On location in
California, our truck was used in the closing shots of
Police Academy II. |
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| Look close and
you can see LEGEND and his brothers. Taken sometime in
1984? In order from right to left- I, II, III, and IV. |
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| When built our
truck had a 429 Boss in it. LEGEND was the only one
to run a 429. |
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| In 1987 Ford
changed the truck bodies to the F-series line and our
truck was the first to see this change with his brothers
following later. Sometime after 1988 LEGEND had the
planetaries added and the original dual wheels were cut
and welded to fit on the new hubs. |
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| When LEGEND made
its debut it had 8 tires. Bigfoot II as seen above has
the exact wheels used on the inside during the debut.
Notice the bolt ring. The other wheels were attached to
this "bolt ring". These same wheels as seen
above are what sits on LEGEND today. |
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| Below: 1989 saw a
gathering of our truck and his brothers for the families
5000th show. Our truck is seen between V
& IV (III is leaning on V's left side tires). |
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| Click Here To see the above image in
Full Size |
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| Above: We know
LEGEND is in here somewhere? Your guess is as good as
ours? |
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| Below: Legend
spent its later years with BIGFOOT as a ride truck. One
of two trucks (II & III) known as Safarifoot. Here
LEGEND is seen with its third body style-- A 1992 Ford
F-250. Look close and you will see Monster Photos' own
Dennis Taft climbing aboard for a ride. |
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| This is one of
the last known pictures taken of LEGEND as BIGFOOT III. |
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| Above: After
being rescued, here our truck is seen as the Dixie
Thumper. |
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| Fun
facts about LEGEND. |
| It was
built in a then record setting pace of 66 days. |
| It was
the first monster truck to use 8 tires. |
| It was
the first monster truck to drive into Lake
Pontchartrain. |
| The whole
time at BIGFOOT, LEGEND only had one cab,
replacing the front clip and bed. |
| It was in
a music video for U.T.F.O. |
| It was
the last of the Feet to be just a BIG truck. His
baby brothers were built for racing. |
| Please
check back as we will be adding photos, adding
facts and updating information. |
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| We will also be
adding a BIGFOOT III spotters guide. It is not well known
but, slight differences can be found by the trained eye. |
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| LEGEND IS
LOOKING FOR ITEM'S RELATED TO BIGFOOT III.
SOUVENIRS, PICTURES, VIDEO OR? SO, IF YOU HAVE
ANYTHING LET US KNOW! |
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