BIGFOOT Ranger


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MS BIGFOOT

TRUCK NAME: Ms.BIGFOOT/ BIGFOOT Ranger

MAKE : 1985 Ford Ranger
ORIGINAL OWNER/DRIVER: Bob & Maryiln Chandler & Ken Koelling
TOWN/CITY: St Louis, MO
ENGINE SIZE: 571 cubic inch
INFORMATION: The BIGFOOT Ranger was the first ever BIGFOOT vechicle to be sold to a private owner, who was not going to carry on using it for shows.
It was also the last factory production built BIGFOOT, as all BIGFOOT vechicles after 1985 where built onto the frame, with the fibre glass bodies added onto it.
The truck was heavly modified for it to be able to take 48inch tires.
Like all of the other BIGFOOT trucks, this truck was fitted with front & rear wheel steering. The interior of the truck was left the same as it was when it came off of the production line, except for the safety features added into it, like the roll cage, safty seats & a few extra dials on the dashboard.
With a bigger engine in the truck, the cab was actually made slightly smaller to accomodate it.
The truck was originally called Ms. BIGFOOT, & was driven by Maryiln Chandler. She drove the truck from time to time for the first several years of business. She was the first ever female Monster Truck driver.
In 1987, Ms. received new graphics and paint and was renamed the BIGFOOT Ranger. The change of color was actually Ford's decession, as they wanted the truck to be the same color as all of the other BIGFOOT trucks in the fleet. Ken Koelling took over as driver of the BIGFOOT Ranger.
In 1993 it was sold by Bob Chandler because it couldn't keep up with the competition & cost too much money to keep up.
Thanks to Penny Chandler for providing me with the pictures of Ms.BIGFOOT & the BIGFOOT Ranger.
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tom (12/4/2011)
cool photos

Janice Oliver (12/2/2011)
I was the first actual female monster truck driver. Ms. Bigfoot was built and advertised that it was going to be driven by Marilyn Chandler in parades, etc. Marilyn was afraid of the truck and could not handle it at all. Bob would ride in the floor board of the truck and tell her what to do. Bob said the truck was so popular that he was going to have to find another female driver. That people were not going to pay to see Marilyn just drive around in the arenas. My husband (Manuel) and I went to work for Bob in 1985. We owned and operated a couple of auto body shops. We did the body work and paint job on Bigfoot #3 in our shop in Millersville, MO. Bob asked us to go to work for him full time and we decided to give it a try. Manuel was to eventually become a driver and I would handle the novelties. Bob asked Manuel to finish up the body work and paint job on Ms. Bigfoot, which he did, in Bob's shop in St. Louis. Bob commented to Manuel that he was going to have to find a female driver for Ms. Bigfoot. Manuel recommended me (Janice Oliver) saying "She can drive anything with a steering wheel on it". Bob replied, "Oh, she can, can she". When the truck was finished Bob took the truck out on the parking lot at the shop and drove it around, did some burn outs and then a car crush. When he did the wheel stand he bent the back bumper into the tailgate and it had to be taken into the shop to be repaired. Bob came to me and asked,"are you ready to try it next?" I replied, "I guess so". They brought the truck back out I got in the driver's seat and Bob got into the passenger seat. He showed me how everything worked and I took off. Manuvering the truck around the lot getting accustomed to the rear wheel steering. Bob then asked if I was ready to do my first car crush, which I did. Bob said, "I can see your not afraid of it." Two weeks later I was doing my first show at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, UT. I drove Ms. Bigfoot for about two years and then switched to #3 when they decided to change her to the Ranger. I also drove #2 for six weeks when the driver broke his wrist while driving it. Ms. was still my favorite. Check the records at different events you will see I am telling the truth. I did shows from Halifax, Nova Scotia, thru the US and Canada and also Hawaii.

Janice Oliver (12/2/2011)
I was the first actual female monster truck driver. Ms. Bigfoot was built and advertised that it was going to be driven by Marilyn Chandler in parades, etc. Marilyn was afraid of the truck and could not handle it at all. Bob would ride in the floor board of the truck and tell her what to do. Bob said the truck was so popular that he was going to have to find another female driver. That people were not going to pay to see Marilyn drive around in the arenas. My husband (Manuel) and I went to work for Bob in 1985. We owned and operated a couple of auto body shops. We did the body work and paint job on Bigfoot #3 in our shop in Millersville, MO. Bob asked us to go to work for him full time and we decided to give it a try. Manuel was to eventually become a driver and I would handle the novelties. Bob asked Manuel to finish up the body work and paint job on Ms. Bigfoot, which he did, in Bob shop in St. Louis. Bob commented to Manuel that he was going to have to find a female driver for Ms. Bigfoot. Manuel recommended me (Janice Oliver) saying "She can drive anything with a steering wheel on it". Bob replied, "Oh, she can, can she". When the truck was finished Bob took the truck out on the parking lot a the shop drove it around, did some burn outs and then a car crush. When he did the wheel stand he bent the back bumper into the tailgate and it had to be taken into the shop to be repaired. Bob came to me and asked,"are you ready to try it next?" I replied, "I guess so"> The brought the truck back out I got in the passenger seat. He showed me how everything worked and I took off. Manuvering the truck around the lot getting accustomed to the rear wheel steering. Bob the asked if I was ready to do my first car crush. I Bob said, "I can see your not afraid of it." Two weeks later I was doing my first show at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, UT. I drove Ms. Bigfoot for about two years and then switched to #3 when they decided to change her to the Ranger. I also drove #2 for six weeks when the driver broke his wrist while driving it. Ms. was still my favorite. Check the records at different events you will see I am telling the truth. I did shows from Halifax, Nova Scotia, thru the US and Canada and also Hawaii.

Steven Dowda (3/18/2010)
Could I get soome more pictures of the truck. Its really great to see some more pictures of Ford Rangers. I have a 2002 Ranger XLT 4X4 on an offroad frame. Would like to do things to it but unable to find the parts or pictures of other trucks.

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