oldest 6x6

[Don]

There must have been a race to get the first machines out in the late 60s. I remember hearing that the first Attex 297s were sold in 1967 as well, but I think the first full-production year was '68. This is an interesting thread!

[LarryW]

Moses states ramco retriever was 1965.
Ramco retriever - Amphibious ATV Pictures

Seems we are slightly off topic now that we found out jiger was 1961, should we start a new thread on the production starting dates?

[Andyman]

Some good read here.

I was going to ask because curious myself but better do my search first and glad I did.

Thanks

[philipatmaxfour]

I bought a used Jiger in 1967. It had 2 little 2 stroke engines (3.5 hp?) that fed into one large fancy exhaust manifold that rose vertically over the rear of the machine. I was a constant problem to keep the one engine idling when you powered the opposite one to do a tight turn. I bought a new Amphicat from the Beehoo Engineering factory in Streetsville Ontario in the fall of 1967 and took it home facing forward on the trunk of a 1966 Chev. Bel air. I bent more axles than i can remember but the factory kept it going weekly for at least 2 years. They went bankrupt sometime after 1971.

[Andyman]

I bought a used Jiger in 1967. It had 2 little 2 stroke engines (3.5 hp?) that fed into one large fancy exhaust manifold that rose vertically over the rear of the machine. I was a constant problem to keep the one engine idling when you powered the opposite one to do a tight turn. I bought a new Amphicat from the Beehoo Engineering factory in Streetsville Ontario in the fall of 1967 and took it home facing forward on the trunk of a 1966 Chev. Bel air. I bent more axles than i can remember but the factory kept it going weekly for at least 2 years. They went bankrupt sometime after 1971.

haha good stories thanks

[Mike]

I bought a used Jiger in 1967. It had 2 little 2 stroke engines (3.5 hp?) that fed into one large fancy exhaust manifold that rose vertically over the rear of the machine. I was a constant problem to keep the one engine idling when you powered the opposite one to do a tight turn. I bought a new Amphicat from the Beehoo Engineering factory in Streetsville Ontario in the fall of 1967 and took it home facing forward on the trunk of a 1966 Chev. Bel air. I bent more axles than i can remember but the factory kept it going weekly for at least 2 years. They went bankrupt sometime after 1971.

So, you're the reason they went bankrupt!

[philipatmaxfour]

So, you're the reason they went bankrupt!

Well I guess I didn't help any.

[fx4matt]

I own a 67 argo

[6x6operator]

Neat stuff om the Jiger.
I seen one at the Mudd Ox factory & several other vintage makes in Matt's collection.

Getting off topic, but it sounds like it was hard for Gowan to declare bankruptcy.
Meaning bankruptcy wasn't as easy back then on a persons pride as it's become today.

[jpswift1]

I think the Jiger may have been the first mass-produced 6 wheel amphibious ATV, but I have a very old photo of a low-production 6 wheel amphibious ATV from the 1950's that was built in California. I'll scan it and post it up for everyone.