GraveDiggerwasoriginallyconceivedin1981byDennisAndersonasamudbogger.Thisfirsttruckwasared1952Fordpickuptruck,whichwaslaterconvertedtoasilverandblue1951FordPanelTruck.ThetruckreceiveditsnamewhenAnderson,amicablytrashtalkingwithhisfellowracers,saidthenowfamousline,"I'lltakethisoldjunkanddigyouagravewithit",areferencetotheageofhisoldpickupincomparisontotheirrelativelymoderntrucks.Andersongainedareputationforanall-or-nothingdrivingstyleandquicklybecamepopularatlocalevents.Atoneshow,ascheduledmonstertruckfailedtoshowupandAnderson,whoalreadyhadlargetractortiresonthetruck,offeredtocrushcarsintheabsenceofthefull-sizemonster.ThepromoteracceptedandGraveDiggerwasaninstantsuccessasacarcrusherandledAndersontoleavemudboggingandpursuemonstertrucksinstead.

　　In1986GraveDiggerunderwentatransformationtocompletemonstertruckandfirstreceiveditsfamousblackgraveyardpaintscheme.In1987and1988AndersondrovethetruckprimarilyatTNTMotorsportsracesandbecameacrowdfavoritefordrivingharddespitelackingmajorfundingthatmorewellknownteams,likeBigfoot,had.In1987,AndersonbeatBigfootinSt.Paul,MNonashowtapedforESPN.ItwasthefirstmajorvictoryforGraveDigger.