Buying a vehicle online can be a daunting task. You want to make sure it’s the right vehicle from the right company, and certainly one being sold by the right person. This 1991 Argo Magnum 8×8 is one of those vehicles. It can be found listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Wautoma, Wisconsin, and they’re asking $2,700. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
Argo has been making ATVs for six decades, I think they have it down by now. These things will go places, to say the least. I have a 2WD drive motorcycle in my 1971 Rokon Trail-Breaker Mk III, and an obscure three-wheeler in my Commuter Industries TE-380, but I’ve never owned a four-wheel ATV. That’s certainly the most popular configuration, but we have seen a few ATVs with more than four wheels over the years, including the coolest one, a 1970 AMF Sur-Trek 8×8, seen here on Barn Finds over a decade ago.
Choosing a proper vehicle is important, but buying from the right person is at least as important if not more so. I’ve mentioned a YouTube channel called 2Vintage that I’m addicted to before. That’s who is selling this Argo. Joe has been working his incredible magic on motorcycles, ATVs, ATCs, snowmobiles, boats, riding mowers, and just about anything with an engine for many years. I started watching his videos when he was just a kid, and he’s turned it into an incredible success story. Plus, he’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. Here’s an old ad showing a similar Argo 8×8 with some info and specs.
I thought this one looked familiar when I saw it on the tips list, and sure enough, it’s one that Joe found, bought, and revived in a short time. That doesn’t mean this Argo Magnum 8×8 is perfect or doesn’t still need some tinkering. It could use some tires, as is almost always the case with vintage ATVs, so plan on that. A previous owner painted it in a black bedliner-type paint, so it could use some more elbow grease to get it looking nicer again. And maybe some work on the seats, and things like that. But Joe goes through the mechanical parts like nobody’s business, and I would buy from him without blinking an eye. In case you were wondering, here’s Joe’s YouTube video on 2Vintage, showing this Argo going from a non-running lump to a fine-running and working 8×8 machine.
A Canadian company, Argo is named after the Argonauts, figures in Greek mythology known for their stamina on both land and water. It’s a perfect name for what is reported to be the oldest continually-operating ATV company on the globe, going back to the mid-1960s. The Magnum was made from 1987 through 1994, and this one is powered by a 691-cc Kohler Magnum, a two-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke. Power is sent through a two-speed transmission with a belt-driven variable-speed torque converter clutch mechanism (think, CVT), and steering is by hand-controlled levers like a tank. Cool. At 975 pounds, this isn’t a light vehicle, but it can do almost anything and go almost anywhere at 18 mph on land and 2 mph on water. Have any of you heard of an Argo Magnum 8×8?
8 tires pulling you in any direction you want to go is mind boggling. I like this little buggy. And I want it. And in a little while. I’m looking up Scottys link to check this Gentleman out and see what they have. I can’t get over the fact this goes in water too. If you own a large piece of land with some ponds ( I’m thinking a grand total of 4 out of all the Barnfinds subscribers out there lol) this would be perfect for you. Thank you for the great write up and the introduction to Joe too Scotty. I’ll have to check him out.
Keep us posted, Dave!
The old idiom is true, if this is good, more must be better. I’m not sure 8 wheels will get you any further back than 6 or 4, but an alternative to tracks, I suppose, and good luck if you get this stuck. A winch is paramount for off road. Looks like a neat machine, and “4 stroke with oil injection”? I certainly hope not,, :)
Thanks for catching that, H!
To be fair, I’ve had a few four strokes with oil injection. Usually holes in the floor, too.
I’m sure it will float….
When I moved to the sticks as a wee pup, a local had a Pug. It had 8 wheels, but the unique thing about it was that it had a trans axle between the two separate units. You could really twist yourself over rocks and fallen trees easily. My only gripe was it did 25 mph floored. Nice find, and write up.
As i have said before i was in a club that had these and the 6 wheel ones, we would have a meet at a fun location and blast around, the soft tires were the only suspension, and they would go flat or pop all the time, if you did not have a spare you could keep on going if you put a good tire on the front or rear.
I worked in engineering at ODG, the company that makes Argo’s. I believe I redesigned the power pack on the model sold just before this model, ie, around 1988? Not sure anymore.
It will float, quite well.
It has around 3-4 inches of ground clearance, so you can get high sided.
It will carry a lot of weight, great for hunting.
Likely not much better to be had for hunting, in bogs, marsh etc. Great price. Simple to maintain. Tracks can be bought.
With tracks on them, the ground pressure is likely less than 2 lbs/ sq inch.. LOL, so, when you stand on the ground in your shoes, you are likely around 15 lbs/ sq inch.
Yes the more tires the better. I got a 6 wheel John Deere Gator for my wife use on our property. The dump bed really comes in handy. The rear rear suspension is the same as this unit. NONE! The tires are the suspension. But locking in the 4 rear tires, it will climb straight up! Which is good, because then I don’t have to go rescue her when she gets stuck. Which has yet to happen. And top speed is 15 mph. Which on a paved road is very boring. But with the lack of suspension travel, that kind of speed is not fun.
Sad tale: I knew a guy in a wheel chair who bought one like this circa 1972. I was at his house when it was delivered. He and his mean wife spent the seasons between their central Oregon home and a place on the Baja. There they lived on a beach with an inlet and he wanted to be able to cross over the water. He worked his way into the drivers seat, fired it up, grabbed the control arms (no steering wheel) and hit the gas. It shot backwards and crashed into a stump busting up the back end. It wasn’t fiberglass, it looked like ABS plastic. He took it with characteristic grace. She did not. :-( Terry J