What is the name of the first monster truck ever built?

Bigfoot is widely recognized as the first proper monster truck ever built.

Bob Chandler began modifying a Ford F-250 pickup in 1975. His truck, named Bigfoot, started as an off-road and truck-pulling machine, but Chandler continued replacing and strengthening its components until it became far more capable than a conventional lifted pickup. By 1979, it had four-wheel steering and 48-inch tires.

Bigfoot helped define what the public came to understand as a monster truck. In 1981, Chandler filmed the truck crushing junked cars, and the stunt soon moved from a private promotional idea to a public attraction. In 1982, Bigfoot crushed cars before an audience and debuted a version fitted with 66-inch tires.

The phrase “first monster truck” can be used loosely because several oversized trucks were being developed around the same time, including USA-1 and Bear Foot. Nevertheless, Bigfoot is the canonical answer because it pioneered the form, popularized car-crushing demonstrations, and became the model for later competition trucks.