I seem to remember Monster Trucks from way back in my youth, and that’s been a long time ago now so they’ve been around for quite some time. Probably the most well-known example is Bigfoot, a 1974 Ford F-250 created by off-road racer Bob Chandler, which got lots of attention and is often credited as getting the monster truck craze rolling in full force, a phenomenon where the bigger is always better concept reigns supreme. This 1976 Ford F-250 here on eBay is definitely an honorable mention, plus it’s got an additional feature on the bottom side that kind of makes it unusual. If you’re in the market for something with a large footprint, this one’s located in Paola, Kansas, where bidding has now reached $4,600.
The truck started life as a Highboy, a non-official Ford term that truck enthusiasts use to refer to the F-250 trucks made with the four-wheel drive option between 1967 and 1977. The truck had already been transformed into a monster before the seller acquired it, and he believes the pickup has been in its current state since the early to mid-eighties. The body is overall in decent shape, with some corrosion around the rear window pointed out, but some good news is that the seller is providing another rust-free cab as part of the sale.
Much of the interior seems to still be stock, with a few goodies added such as an aftermarket steering wheel, tach, and a fire extinguisher just in case. But what is that contraption with a wire attached to it sitting on the seat? The truck used components underneath from a 5-ton military truck which were fabricated to the frame, including 2 five-ton front ends, so the truck also steers from the rear! The toggle switch on the seat controls the back steering using a system the seller likens to a car lift, utilizing an oil tank under the bed.
Sadly, the truck has been out of commission for a few years, and the motor has a small crack on the passenger side. The seller thinks it’s a 390, and while the engine will fire if you pour some gas down the carb, I’m guessing it’s probably going to need quite a bit more attention in addition to the fracture repair, or perhaps it would make better sense to just replace if you happen to have a good Ford big block around. This one’s a pretty cool novelty and if monster trucks are your thing it may be worth considering. What are your thoughts?
CONS:Busted motor, illegal height and width in most states out our way, the cab is rusted badly enough that the seller will include another, no underside photos.
PROS: The body appears to be straight, though no closeups.
CONCLUSION: As a side show at the county fair for mud bogs, tractor pulls, etc., here’s your start. Bring lots of money and/or a motor plus the talent to go with it, plus body repair. Other than that the best end result may be to swap the suspension, axles etc to someone wanting to build one of these and wrangle a motor in the deal..
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy watching these put on their how sometimes but as for owning one?
Pass.
Before we get all bent out of shape,( who me?) it’s just for fun. Remember fun? For under $5grand? 1st, it’s a poor rendition of a monster truck, with no safety equipment, it’s just some good ol’ boys( and maybe a girl) that had no intention of ever racing it, just slobberin’ around in the back 40, and nothing wrong with that. I find it comical, they put “BOSS” on the bug deflector, and “5 TON”( in cheesy hardware store letters) on the axle, as if that’s supposed to impress someone. To be honest, I bet it breaks loading it on the trailer,,,
Point taken, Howard. You’ve right in that it’s all in good fun and thank you. It just hit a nerve in that I’ve always liked this year F250. Another example of the differences we all have in vehicle perspectives.
Especially before the 1st morning cuppa Joe..
I hope the back 40 is pancake flat.
Actually, Howard, my dad named it the Behemoth originally when it was a stock mud truck back in the late 70’s. He named it Boss when he went deuce and a half. He was a man and his name was Clove Sanderson and he was the best man I ever knew!!!!! He passed away a few months ago and we spent years looking for this truck and here it is!!! Also, those 5TON stickers were cool back then. I was there when he bought them when he converted it. My name is Anthony Sanderson and I’m wanting to buy our truck back here. Please, have some respect for my father and his build.
Don’t think you will ever break an axle.
It’s cool if you can get at decent price and have fun…
Hard pass….
Oh I see value in this at the tractor pulls easy ! Slap a blown 460 with headers sticking straight up thru the torch cut hood & yes some safety equipment & that wiggling rear end would have to go but a budget runner at the local tractor pulls I see winner, winner , chicken dinner!
Actually, my dad had a 460 for this back in the day, but he never put it in. He rebuilt that 390 that you see in it in this ad. I wish I knew where it was so I can buy our truck back.
I don’t know where the dude day this is too wide for the road. Maybe it is, let’s get a tape out and see ! Cause many of those duce and a half and 5,6,10 ton axles aren’t any wide then a semi 🤔 the wheels may be off-set to far is all. It’s a toy or it will get you back to your off-grid cabin in bad weather
Does it come with a ladder to get in the beast.
There were numerous trucks like this around back in the glory days of mud bogging in the mid ’80s. We had quite a few here in AZ. The stick shift won’t work very well getting through the bog but a C6 could be swapped in.
Bigfoot swapped to the 5 ton steerable axles when it went to 66″ tires so they can easily handle these tires.
Todd, here is dad with Bob Chandler and Bigfoot back in the day at Kemper Arena in KC. This is when it was white and deuce and a half, but it is the same truck in this ad for sale. I’m trying to find where it is. I’ve spent years looking for this truck. Dick Ray never wanted to sell it back to dad. Dad just passed away and now I see our truck here!! I’m speechless!! I wish somebody would reach out to me so I can buy it back.
That is my father’s truck that I grew up in!!!! Clove Sanderson, my father just passed away and I’ve been looking for that truck for years!!! He sold it years ago to a man by the name of Dick Ray in Louisburg, Kansas. My dad built that truck with his bare hands in our back yard in Ottawa, KS. He ran with Bigfoot back in the day with it. I’m in tears right now. I have a ton of pictures on my phone, especially when it was white and 2 1/2 ton before he converted it. Please contact me: Anthony Sanderson 870-421-8702.
Here is it in 1987 after he painted it from white to red. This is in front of my childhood home in Ottawa, Kansas. Behind him was my dad’s 86 F250 diesel that he drove every day to Santa Fe in KC.