1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air (Formerly 1996 Chevrolet S-10)
Engine
540 cubic inch Merlin big block
Transmission
Bewick Turbo 400
Tires
66" Terra/BKT
The Avenger was created in 1997 by Columbus, Michigan native Jim Koehler.[1][2] The original monster truck sported a forest green Chevrolet S10 body style and a teal chassis and rims. With the exception of the design featured at World Finals 14, the Avenger truck has always sported at least three flaming skulls (one on each side and one on the hood) and flowing flames running from the wheel wells. As time passed, the S10 body was replaced by a 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air body[3] with bright green headlights, which is the same body style that is run today by "Mr. Excitement."
Avenger is out of the Team Scream stable, which also features the Brutus, Mega-Bite, Spike, Rage, Axe, and Wrecking Crew trucks. The original Avenger chassis is currently retired, while the second one is currently being run as Axe with young driver Joe Foley behind the wheel.
Body styles
Avenger and Jim Koehler is now the only truck and driver to compete in every Monster Jam World Finals.[when?]Tom Meents was the other to compete in all until missing World Finals 18 due to a back injury until he returned for the 2017 Monster Jam Path of Destruction Tour in Foxborough. There are various versions of the Avenger truck, which are:
Forest Green Chevrolet S10
Forest Green 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air
Orange Bel-Air
Half Forest Green and Half Orange Bel-Air
Chrome Bel-Air
Toxic Green Bel-Air
Neon Green Bel-Air
"Scuba" Light Blue Bel-Air
Black "Rat Rod" Bel-Air
Candy Apple Red "Las Vegas" Bel-Air
Yellow "Two Time Champion" Bel-Air
"Garners" Candy Apple Red Bel-Air
Purple Bel-Air
Garners Towing Style White Bel-Air
Junkyard Style Bel-Air
Bright Green Chevy S-10
Dark Green "Celebrating 20 years" Chevy S10 with chrome logo
Lime Green Custom Nomad
Red, Blue and White Stepp's Towing Bel-Air
White and Green “Global” Bel-Air
Silver “Glow in the Dark” 25th Anniversary Bel-Air
Silver “Nashville” Bel-Air
Monster Jam World Finals accomplishments
Avenger has taken several titles over the years, but none shine brighter than his two Monster Jam World Finals Freestyle Championships. He won his first world championship title in 2003 with the original Forest Green Bel-Air and teal chassis, Jim shocked the Monster Jam World by being the first Freestyle Champion not named Dennis Anderson or Tom Meents. The following year in 2004 Koehler was stopped on him. He bent a 4-link bar that caused the transmission to break after he went over the cars, causing him to be frustrated. In March 2011, with his red "Las Vegas" Avenger, Jim tied with Cam McQueen in the Nitro Circus Monster Truck in the Freestyle competition, edging out McQueen to claim his second Freestyle title, making Jim Koehler one of only three drivers to have more than one Freestyle title at the World Finals, the others being Tom Meents and Adam Anderson (monster truck driver).
In 2009, Avenger debuted the Aussie Avenger, built specifically for the Extreme Monster Trucks Australia tour. This truck featured a bright orange chassis as well as canary yellow rims, with a classic 1957 Chevy Bel-Air body. Jim traveled "Down Under" for the South Pacific Finals where he continued the tradition of American drivers bringing home the Australian championships with his Freestyle victory. In 2010, Koehler returned to Brisbane for the South Pacific Finals 3 to defend his Freestyle Championship. "Mr. Excitement" held true to his name by taking a second straight championship in freestyle. In 2016, he is driving in the Fox Sports 1 Championship Series.
Awards
Monster Jam World Finals
1999 (Motor Madness World Finals 0, Forest Green S-10)
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