oldest 6x6

[LarryW]

Well this stated the amphicat started as early as 1957.

There seems to be a lot of misinformation going on. I bet its from where the actual production dates vs first proto types/idea dates.

http://www.6x6world.com/images/all-terrain-adventure-vehicles/Chapter4_Page_03.jpg

[Duke]

I havent seen that before really weird. I wish there was some way to sort out who made the first one but it seems like there is a few claims of who was the first.

[Mike]

1957 was the date when the creator of Amphicat, Ron Behoo quit his job and started his own maintenance engineering business. In his "spare time" while operating that business he created the Amphicat originally known as the Aquacat. Look at the second article in the Amphicat brochures section. That article does credit Amphicat as being the first ATV but there is no date associated with it. Also there was another ATV in the brochure section that I happened to see the other day with a production date earlier than Jiger. Let me see if I can find it again...

Edit: I lied, I must be thinking of the Terra Gator because the brochure section has a price list from 1963. Early but not earlier than the Jiger. Sorry.

[Stryker]

i have an old argo IC (1980)

[LarryW]

Neat facts!

Not the oldest but I just read the scramblers first prototype was '67 by allied tractor. In '68 they where selling 7 1/2hp units. They sold about 1000 the first year.

[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]

0ldest 6x6

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.