The Beginning of the Jiger
ATVs, as we know them today, have a few differences from the very first ATVs that went into production in 1961. The Jiger, which John Gower began prototyping in 1959 in Toronto, Canada, was a 6-wheel drive, 5-½ horsepower, fully amphibious (meaning, the vehicle could travel on land and water), “all-terrain” vehicle that could transport its riders across any terrain in any season.
Since the Jiger was the very first of its kind, Gower purposed twin chainsaw-style engines, which respectively powered its side of the drivetrain. They also featured their distinctive “balloon tire”, which not only provided comfort for occupants but could also be operated with an extremely low tire pressure, which meant a wide footprint to protect the environment from deep ruts.
Mass Production Begins
While the original Jigers were built to order, the Jiger went into mass production in 1965 after a few tweaks. The new model was called the 152, which featured a single engine (for drivetrain improvements) and even a standardized headlight, which was molded directly into the body. While it is believed less than two dozen twin-engine models were ever produced (with just one surviving model to date), the 152 was much preferred with its updates in terms of reliability and ease of use.
The Downfall of Jiger Corp.
Regrettably, John Gower’s entrepreneurship abilities were not nearly as spectacular as his innovation skills, and despite the growing popularity of the Jiger 152, the company’s financial troubles caused the collapse of the Jiger Corporation. It was purchased by Cape Breton Development Corp. in February of 1968, shortly after the Jiger’s drivetrain had recently been revamped - this time with a hydraulic setup called the Twin-six, although it didn’t actually feature twin engines.
A few short years later, in January of 1971, the Jiger assets of Cape Breton Development Corp. were sold at public auction, ending the era of Jiger.
Jiger Promotional Videos
Despite the company being relatively short-lived, Jiger did have some of the coolest promotional videos of its time. Here are a couple of videos you can check out!:
The Evolution of the ATV (A Quick Summary)
In the late 60s (1967, to be exact), Honda of America asked one of its engineers, Osamu Takeuchi, to design a new product that would help pump up sales during the cooler months when motorcycle sales normally took a downturn. Several design ideas later, Takeuchi landed on a 3-wheeled concept, which provided excellent maneuverability, even in snowy, slippery, or muddy conditions. Like the Jiger, the design included three 22-inch, low-pressure balloon tires.
A few years later, the first-ever three-wheeled ATV, or ATC (All-Terrain Cycle) was born in the US in 1970 and wound up being a major success. Honda called it the US90 ATC, and later released the smaller ATC 70, intended for younger riders.
Although ATVs were originally designed for sport, customers began purchasing them as utility vehicles for farming and agricultural purposes, due to the gas crunch in the 70s. By the 1980s, the demand for ATVs was at an all-time high, serving both recreational and utility purposes.
In 1982, Suzuki produced its first 4-wheeled machine called the QuadRunner 125, then later released the LT250R QuadRace in 1985, the first high-performance ATV.
Simultaneously, Honda was working on their version of the 4-wheeled ATV and released the FourTrax (TRX250R) in 1985.
As the popularity of ATVs continued to grow, other manufacturers, such as Yamaha and Kawasaki, hopped on the bandwagon and released their versions of the ATV. Thankfully, ATVs continue to be just as popular today and are used in a wide range of industries from farming and agriculture, to recreation, to hunting, and of course, for sport.
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