Why The Ford Bigfoot Cruiser Monster Truck Tribute In the end Failed

Arguably no car that graced the earth in the 1980s experienced a even larger impression on people youthful and outdated than the world-well known Bigfoot monster truck. For yrs, Bob Chandler’s creation produced its rounds on the show circuit, dominating the competitors and endearing alone to everyone who lay eyes upon it. Hence, the following sensible action was for FoMoCo to build the Ford Bigfoot Cruiser, a tribute of sorts that supporters could get from their local dealership.

The Ford Bigfoot Cruiser arrived alongside in 1987, but the conversion wasn’t done in-property. As a substitute, Ford outsourced that job to Scherer Truck Products. The offer was offered on the Ford Ranger, Ford F-150, and Ford F-250, and showcased a host of upgrades that aided it pay out homage to the legendary rig it was dependent on.

That started with a graphics offer for the exterior, which featured “Bigfoot Cruiser” lettering on the doorways, masking darkish blue paint accented by lighter blue and gold decals. Both of those the F-150 and F-250 Ford Bigfoot Cruiser trucks came with a lifted suspension and 33-inch tires, even though the Ranger was fitted with more modest 15-inch aluminum wheels and normal-sized rubber.

The trio of Bigfoot Cruisers did share the same bed-mounted Westin double roll bar, KC off-road lights, Monroe shocks, and a electricity up-and-down rear window. The F-250 Bigfoot Cruiser products came equipped with a Alert Enforcer entrance bumper with an integrated winch, even though each the F-150 and F-250 have been equipped with a tonneau deal with.

Sadly, some of these components have been what eventually led to the demise of the Bigfoot Cruiser just after a pretty brief period of time on the sector. The 33-inch tires on the F-150 and F-250 rubbed in opposition to the brake strains and fenders up front, which led to a recall, and the lug nuts on the aftermarket wheels tended to arrive unfastened more than time.

Earning issues worse, the Bigfoot Cruiser never underwent crash testing with all of this products mounted, which led to a wide range of NHTSA problems. Ford wound up acquiring again quite a few of the trucks shipped to the east coast and stripped them of the aftermarket tools, then sold them at auction in an endeavor to avoid potential litigation.

These days, no one definitely is aware how several Bigfoot Cruisers nonetheless exist. Ford’s remember mentioned that there have been 360 F-150 and F-250 pickups and 200 Rangers fitted with the deal, but collectors feel that only 300 were obtained by buyers in full. Ford has also said that 660 vans have been modified prior to the remember.

Regardless of how lots of have been essentially generated, the Ford Bigfoot Cruiser is a exceptional and exceptional piece of Blue Oval background. Sadly, it was also seemingly doomed from the start out.

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