Believe it or not, Honda didn’t invent the ATV. The first widely recognized All-Terrain Vehicle was made in Toronto, Canada, and was called the Jiger. It was somewhat similar to this 1971 McKee Roughrider 6×6, made by McKee Bros., LTD out of Ontario. This go-anywhere ATV can be found here on Facebook Marketplace in Demorest, Georgia. The seller is asking $2,800 for this nice example of a rare six-wheel ATV. Here is the original listing, and thanks to PRA4SNW for the tip!
In the late 1950s, JGR Gunsport, a company specializing in outdoor gear, came up with a vehicle they called the Jiger, and they were ready to go by 1961. They were incredible machines and invented a whole new market. If you have three minutes to spare, you won’t regret checking out these two short videos on YouTube here and here. If you aren’t cringing at the 1:10 and 1:18 marks on the second one, you have more guts than I do. The first video has no sound, by the way.
The Jiger had tires with just 2 psi in them, so they gave an incredibly soft ride and could even drive over a human, as shown here. They were made until 1968. Meanwhile, in Elmira, Ontario, the McKee Bros. LTD, the world’s leading maker of intermediate two-stage snow throwers and forage harvesting equipment, started selling the new Roughrider 6×6 ATV a couple of years later. I would never recommend driving over anyone with one of these, despite your strong urges while witnessing everyone else’s driving style on the roads these days.
You can see how nice this example is. A lot of the ATVs that we see here on Barn Finds, especially 6x6s, tend to be on the needs-work side of things, with cosmetic and mechanical needs. This one looks like it’s a quick detail away from show duties. Maybe painting the rims/wheels, but otherwise, it appears to be in great condition. In November of 1970, McKee Bros. announced that they would buy out Eskimo Snowmobiles, a smaller maker of snowmobiles, and their lineup included just about everything related to having fun outdoors.
The engine in the fiberglass body, two-seat Roughrider would have been a 230-cc JLO 14-horsepower two-stroke with electric start. Power is sent through an automatic torque converter setup, and it’ll float, go through mud or sand, and you can put rubber tracks on it for going through the snow. The seller says it runs but seems to lose spark after a few seconds. I’m guessing that’s an easy fix by filing/sanding the points or maybe a bad coil. Three of the tires eventually lose air, but they have three tubes for the buyer that go with the sale. Have any of you heard of this 6×6 maker?
That 2nd video is especially awesome SG 👌 👏 👍 wow what great footage, and a wild and capable little vehicle. I’d want a seat belt and a rollbar✔️ We lived in Ontario 🍁 for many yrs, never heard of this company, or these vehicles.. but I know a couple fellas that may have 🤔 #Wisconsin, #geo.
Talk about throwing a fella under the bus!!! Litterally!!! I wouldn’t have volunteered for that stunt. The first video in the beginning I almost thought the young lady face planted herself on the dash ( or where a dash wouls be). But it seems quite thankfully she didnt. And I agree Scotty that other video, thankfully for him he was quick on his feet and got outta there. I seem to remember either these or something like these advertised in the back of Popular Mechanics magazines from back in the 70’s ( my Grandpa subscribed to that and When he was done we got it. ) These little 6 wheeled vehicles are Billy Goats, its amazing where they can go. I really like this find!!! PRA4SNW, thank you for finding this, and Scotty, you definitely did not disappoint!! Great find!!!
I am so glad when I find something like this that I don’t know too much about. Scotty, and the rest of the BF writers, always do a great job with the research that goes into these articles – so much to learn!
My high school was in the suburbs, just north of Toronto. One of the students brought a Jigger to the auto mechanics class around 1977-1978. I remember that they took it out across the football field for a test run. Seatbelts, roll bars and helmets, nope, we did fine without them back then!
Right on Pat 👍
3 minutes,,,I’m a busy man( at 3:00am?)Canada, eh? Did you see the comments on the 2nd one, it was that persons dad that designed these. The very 1st machine I remember that was touted as a “go anywhere” vehicle, was the 6×6. It was marketed to hunters or farmers and strictly a utilitarian device. Amazing no helmets, ROPS or restraints of any kind. That gal riding I imagine could be our own Ms. Rand,,,,type. :)
Cool find, but I’d think horribly underpowered. The drive system is made up of long chains( that flew off) and steering clutches(?), and take a lot of power. ATVs sure have come a long ways since these humble beginnings.
When i was young i had a few of these, not this make, many company’s made them. I belonged to a club where we would all go out and meet at a place and ride around, tons of fun!! Yes the only suspension was the soft tires that would pop or go flat all the time, they even made some with 8 wheels. Most had two sticks that you would operate like a tank. Posted 4 weeks ago.
In about 1970, after my parents bought a farm as a weekend getaway place, Dad began shopping for an ATV. There were many Canadian companies building ATVs at the time, but like snowmobile manufacturers, most (including Jiger) were gone after about 10 years. After considering a Jiger, we got a new Argo 6×6 from the factory, west of Toronto. Over the years, Dad owned several, and I continued the tradition. I had my Argo (track-equipped) on the snowmobile trails 2 days ago. In about 1980, while was visiting a body shop in an industrial area of Toronto, I spied a bunch of Jigers and related parts including body molds in an overgrown adjacent storage lot. As I approached the fence to get a better look, an angry bearded man in rumpled clothes began yelling for me to stay away. I tried to engage him, but he was not responding. The body shop owner told me that the man was the founder of Jiger, and the owner of the yard had let him stay there in an old camper after Jiger went bankrupt.
Ontario Drive Gear in Kitchener (my hometown) is where the Argo was built starting in 1962. And they continue to build them today!
Also, they have been working since 2008 on a lunar version:
http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/rovers/rover-fleet/lrpdp.asp
best
bt
Those were sure entertaining short videos.
I guarantee you I would not have piloted one of those machines without a helmet – and a GOOD helmet.
Very impressive machines.
Well after reading the comments on the videos I had to look at them quite impressive machine,did I miss in the text how much they were new ?
Bigred, here’s an ad from a dealer in Columbus, Ohio, showing $795, the 2025 equivalent of $6,360! Wow.
https://www.muddox.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/McKee-Roughrider-Ad-Dec-1971-1536×1248.jpg
Here’s another one showing $1,550, I think?
https://www.muddox.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/McKee-Roughrider-Brochure.pdf
The first picture shows that the “regular” price is $1595.00. These were not cheap, but you’ll get your money back in utility and fun.
JLO?
I was not aware Jennifer Lopez had any connections to production of Off-Road machines.
I like every kid at the time thought these were the coolest. My dad brought one home one day I don’t remember the brand but dad called it a Jigger but he called all of them Jiggers. It was a friend’s of dads and we had it for a couple weeks and it sure went through anything we threw at it no problem. I remember it went around 40 mph it was pretty awesome for a young kid to drive. A week or so later it was gone but great memories for sure!
Nice Beaver!
:-)
And merry Christmas to y’all! <<<
I remember a friend of my Dad had a yellow one built by Rotax? Or ski doo? Same thing as this machine. What a blast! Those were beyond fun and I think they all floated? I remember it operated like a bulldozer left and right sticks, both forward both back. Much fun. This machine would be awesome but are parts available?
John Lennon was photographed ridding a similar model I guess called the Amphicat – same ones the Banana Splits used in their tv show
https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2024/04/john-lennon-driving-amphicat-amphibious.html
I have some questions about the authenticity of this being a Canadian rig. There’s seats for two (2) and no drink holders for your Molson’s, eh ?
banana splits
My parents had a KOA campground outside of London, Ontario in the early 70’s. The farmer next door had a few of these & would take us out to the bush on them. They were great!
The father of a friend of mine had an Argo back in the early 70’s in Northern Virginia. We had a snow storm, and he took it out, I got to ride with them. It was fantastic! We conquered snow piles in parking lots and went wherever we wanted. You could even take it on the water as it floated. Very cool.
Listing update: this one has been removed. Did one of you buy it?