Does The 1:1 Real Blackfoot Exist?

[Live Steam Mad]

Hi, I always assumed, from the first time I saw the box art for the BlackFoot in the 1987 Tamiya catalogue, when I was 13, that Tamiya modelled their BlackFoot on a real 1:1 BlackFoot, just like the BigFoot toys were modelled on a real 1:1 vehicle, but it just occured to me 21 years later that I have never seen the 1:1 of BlackFoot !

Did BlackFoot ever exist as a 1:1?

How many others amongst you thought that there was a real 1:1 BlackFoot monster truck? Or am I the only one?

Cheers,

Alistair G.

[mongoose1983]

I was a big fan of Monster trucking in the 80's. Never saw a Black Foot and I believe that name just doesn't exist. The truck must have been inpired by some Mudbogger or maybe it was only a way to give extra use to the F-150 body. I've seen them tires used on Mudbogging races though, but never on a F-150 ranger truck.

Anyway, apart of this one (which is the most impotant, BTW), most of the other large Tamiya trucks were inspired on a real one.

Enjoy your weekend!

EB

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[Blacque Jacque]

There's a good chance it was inspired by Bigfoot.

Bob Chandler's trucks were Fords from the late 70's / early 80's although they were fleetside rather than stepside bodies.

Tamiya already had a perfectly suitable body in the SRB Ranger shell, just the addition of a roll bar & some lights, big tyres & Hey Presto! instant monster truck. The chassis design is of course, recycled from the Frog / Brat & meant that was a no cost part.

Several common factors there, not least of which is the names B...foot (Tamiya cleverly avoided a licensing fee by not using the Bigfoot trademark), both Fords, both around the same era & general body style.The monster truck spectacle was massive (in every sense) at that time so good business sense says exploit that market.

Bigfoot is generally accepted as the first true monster & the Blackfoot is Tamiya's, I'm sure it's more than coincidence.

Then, in 1981, Chandler tried something that forever changed the monster truck concept. It fueled an explosion of fan interest and led to a legion of imitators. He decided, just for fun, to see if he could drive BIGFOOT over a couple of junk cars.

A few months later, he duplicated the stunt in a stadium show. The rest is history. In 1983, BIGFOOT began a sponsorship association with Ford Motor Company. In that time, the BIGFOOT fleet has had 16 monster machines and the F-Series pickup has become the world's best selling vehicle.

[B.M.T.]

Or, it could be history repeating. The Ranger was originally introduced as a market plug for a "poor man's" Hilux. It might of been brought about as a poverty Bruiser option, as before, not destroying the top-of-the-line's market, buy using an unrealistic chassis (for a Ford ute), 2WD and single speed.

Not saying the theory that it was inspired by Bigfoot is wrong, just thinking of a marketing reason... Other than to get more life out of the Brat molds!.

[mymonsterbeetleisbroken]

The real Clod Buster, USA-1 and a stepside F-150 monster truck

The real Midnight Pumpkin

The real Lunchbox

Awesome Kong II is the closest I've seen for shell comparison. I think Tamiya went with the Blackfoot theme to link it into the "Bigfoot Truck" craze.

Rollin Thunder is probably the closest 1:1 of a Tamiya truck there is, even the artwork down the side of the van looks the same!

[Live Steam Mad]

Many Thanks!! That's very interesting to see those 1980's monster trucks. You've now reminded me of the TV shows that we used to see occasionally over here in the mid 1980's of Monster Truck shows.

Are they available on DVD ? I'm not interested at all in the new ones, just the 1980's monster trucks! Anyone know? I'd love to see them!

Cheers,

Alistair G.

[mymonsterbeetleisbroken]

check out "bitemestudios" on youtube, he's uploaded loads of old monster truck shows

[Live Steam Mad]

check out "bitemestudios" on youtube, he's uploaded loads of old monster truck shows

Yep, thanks for that, lovely, the exact kind of stuff that I want to see.

Is there anyone who has these for sale on DVD, featuring these events in full from the mid 1980's?

YouTube quality and 10 mins limit sucks.

Or maybe they will be one day downloadable from CBS/NBC etc., wishful thinking!

Alistair G.

[Badboy]

I found this at Amazon...

http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Marvels-Monst...s/dp/B0007WFUJM

Good luck!

Badboy

[Blacque Jacque]

Or, it could be history repeating. The Ranger was originally introduced as a market plug for a "poor man's" Hilux.

Unlikely - the Ranger preceeded the Hilux, admittedly only by a month & they were consecutive models.

As for the Blackfoot it came 14 months after the Bruiser, that's a pretty big gap for a "market plug".

[Live Steam Mad]

I found this at Amazon...

http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Marvels-Monst...s/dp/B0007WFUJM

Ta. but I get the feeling it's going to be a 'highlights' thing, and I wanted a full event, like those TV shows that we used to see. Someone should put these out on DVD-R and make a few GBP from them...

I'd buy some!

Cheers,

Alistair G.

[B.M.T.]

Unlikely - the Ranger preceeded the Hilux, admittedly only by a month & they were consecutive models.

As for the Blackfoot it came 14 months after the Bruiser, that's a pretty big gap for a "market plug".

Likely. Given the time to ready the new model, after (?) time given to receive market feed back that "I want big wheels but can't afford a Bruiser", 14 months is not really that long. They would not release the Backfoot within 6 months (e.g.) of the Bruiser, as it would undoubatbly hurt the flagship's sales.

In regards to my Ranger statement, here is my refernance: