Newt the Bold
You can’t miss Newt the Bold coming down the trail with its flashy grille design. Made by Challenger Recreation Corp in Iberia, Ohio, this vehicle was one of the few which utilized the “Quad/Drive” Hagen transmission. Similar to a hydrostatic drivetrain, the Hagen can change directions and counter-rotate without shifting. A great transmission in theory, but unpredictable driving characteristics made it less than ideal.
Newt the Bold had a very short production run. Bud Fischer, who’s father helped fund Scrambler and started Pine Lake, America’s first ATV racetrack, witnessed the devastating end of Newt. The company had stacks of bodies and parts for vehicles that would never be produced. These were brought outside to be destroyed. Luckily, Bud witnessed the commotion and rescued a body and frame from the crusher along with a Challenger boat. He build his own Newt, however using a T-20 transmission.
Newt the Bold Specs – March 1971
