What a joy to watch! I was a kid of about 12 in 1966. My late Dad took me to the World of Wheels Show in blazing-summer-hot Tucson, Arizona that year, and T.V. Tommy Ivo's 4-Buick engine station wagon was there! Naturally, it was all cleaned and sparkly for the show....everything Tommy Ivo ever had was ALWAYS of the highest quality and cleaner than anybody else's machines...100% of the time! Naturally, this car was all roped off like most high-$$ show cars were to keep the 1% of the idiots attending the show that would try to steal or hurt the car from getting at it. But even so....we were SO CLOSE to it, and I just remember the car emanated superior engineering and workmanship....even if a person weren't into cars / hot rods, etc.....they just couldn't help but be blown away by the workmanship in front of them. To see it run down the track in this old video does an aging "Boomer" like myself who was just released from the hospital recently a whole lotta good...and I mean it. Tons of memories...all wonderful....are riding along with this car as it "boils the hydes" down the quarter. Oh....for sure.....God Bless you Tommy Ivo. Thanks for everything you shared with us enthusiasts.
Raced him in vegas when he had his first rail with olds engine I had 46 ford coupe with souped 51 merc ,course he won but I will never forget that day, Awsome times in 56 sttioned at nellis AFB
Nice story, I was at Nellis in 70. 474th t.f.w.,crew chief.we were just down the flight line from the Thunderbirds.saw him race at Lions Drag strip,just a few years prior to U.S.A.F....best of luck to you.
Pretty sure that Old's powered rail was the Road King's club car. My cousin's husband, Tom Jandt, was the club driver of that Olds rail in '58 and later. Good times.
I can recall the days of glory of the the NHRA.... Great events like Fox Hunts, all Funny Car races(more than 72 showed up). Seeing all the funny cars lined up side by side on the track fired up all at the same time was the greatest thing ever!
When drag racing was REAL drag racing, not computerized bullshit and EVERYBODY run the 1/4 mile not just some. And the seats were filled. I don't remember when I watched it on tv all the way through, now just ta see what Force is doing
I talked one of the guys who built this car, A.J. Torzyk. They built that car in a neighborhood garage. Imagine hearing that thing fire up at 3am! Awesome stuff!!!
Smoked all 4 halfway down the track and still run 144 with a 11. Wow! And thanks for the video. I've heard of the car and now finally seen it. I'm glad RUclips put this in my recommendation. Thanks RUclips as well
Thank you, I've grown up with friends, who drag raced during this era, and I always wanted to see TV TOMMY IVO, in that 4 engine car, you've brought tears to my eyes, thankyou
The Little Red Wagon, Bill Golden, his mother lived just a few miles from Harrisburg IL Dragstrip and he used to make exhibitions there. That was my first exhibition experience. After that I was at several large events at St Louis with “jet cars”, wheelie cars throughout my life.
I certainly agree--But don't forget the late George Hurst--Also helped bring early products, engineering expertise, not to mention parts & helping teenage driver's work on-- perhaps rebuild, repair. PLUS Linda Vaughn as part of his showmanship during that time, 1950s to 1960s, I think. If you don't know, I invite those you are interested, find old car magazines. Several books produced on these subjects can be bought/owned. There is more than I can share--So with that being written by little old me, thank you for allowing to share such info with you. C/O Roger Ruuska aka Tootkaylok.
talked to him several times at Bakersfield hot rod reunions what a nice guy in his eighties he was walking around the crowd shaking people's hand taking pictures
I so miss this show/event. 😔 I was there that weekend. Drove 3 hours one way to be there. This used to be a highlight of my youth and year. Not sure why GG and IRP stopped having this event, but wish it would return each season. Over 4,000 street rods would show up and over 300 racers. It was the second biggest event at IRP and a money maker. Thanks for the memories and the video!!! 👍
I saw this car in the early 80s in a little 1/8 mile strip in Paris tx. It had the coolest trailer carrying it all see thru. He was smoking all 4 tires the hole way down the track. As a teenager this got the blood pumping. I could not wait to get in my truck an smoke the tires leaving the track that night.
Amazing to see Harold "the Duke" Hathaway from Leave it to Beaver here at age 60 ! I now see where he got that swagger to play the Duke on tv. So glad There is more video on him because he was rarely used on the Beaver program and his moments are pure gold, such as season 3 episode 37 where Ward Cleaver asks, "are we going to have a good team again next year Duke? and Duke says, "Ohh, I don't think so Mr. Cleaver, ... I am graduating." Such great performance I would like to add "the Duke" in between my own names.
Yeah, drag racing was something any kid with a car could do in southern cal in the mid fifties. I raced a tweeked 50 Ford coup, flat head V-8 . It was also my daily driver. Best speed was 80.1 in 15.56 secs. There were no sponsored cars, we were all just motor heads that raced what we brung. This was at the San Fernando drag strip
Perhaps in 62 Ivo... Garlits and two others (memory fades). Appeared at Ron Brackan's NHRA Naperville Quebec drag strip...quite a day...I was running an H. Stock AutoMatic Chevy wagon that was almost a full second off the record ...but it was all great!!!...miss it dearly
I was there. He said he had just turned 60, the funny-cars didn't kill him, the dragsters didn't kill him and the jets didn't kill him. He was gonna go down the track one more time in everybody's favorite dragster and retire...He actually drove it twice that weekend...
Man that was freaking cool👌 So much work and talent just showed in one run after been setting for Lord knows how long. That Guy wad seriously a genius and show Man of the highest order👏👏👏
As hard as it may be to believe, there was a time when I saw him get whipped by a kid in a go-cart with a home made turbo jet engine. Imagine going 200 mph with your backside 2" off the ground. I have great respect for Tommy Ivo, don't get me wrong. That was just the most astonishing thing I'd ever seen up to that time.
I was there to see this, it was great! A couple engines didn't sound too healthy, but to witness such a piece if history was well worth the price of admission. Thanks for posting this.
I'm 68' and a die hard buick fan, owner! Love the old NAILHEADS, I have owned my pride and joy 66' skylark gran sport for over 25 years, 401 c.i. factory 4 speed, 3:55 posi.. all #s matching, marina blue, blue interior, just a very nice rust free car! And you guessed it,, it gets no love because it's not a belly button chevy, mustang, mopar! F.Y.I. BONE STOCK, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A 950 C.F.M. H.P. HOLLEY CARB, AND D.O.T, DRAG RADIALS at DRAG STRIP RAN 14: 30 @ 99 m.p.h. not bad,,considering car and driver magazine back in the day, claimed the 66' gran sport only ran 15: 70s @ 89 M.P.H.
I saw this car and met Tommy Ivo when he was doing farewell tour Its hard to believe that they used to run these cars flat out spinning the wheels down the 1/4 mile with no burn outs to warm slash clean the tires and push starts those were the days when men were men .
I remember way back when Tommy was racing and he came up with this thing. From looking at it on the cover of Hot Rod, I thought it must be SO INCREDIBLY FAST; probably the fastest dragster of all time and forever and ever. Well, at least the dinosaur didn't blow up. Today, many cars of lesser build with only ONE engine will beat his time and speed. Even 4-cylinder. race-prepped rice burners. How times have changed. And engineering.
Nice video. Drag racing use to have a huge element of fun that's missing today. Less and less a sport, more and more a business. If you know what I mean.
I couldn't agree more. we used to race Jim oddy every Sunday in Niagara Falls New York back in the 1960s and early seventies. we were racing a front engine dragster and he was running a 48 Anglia. he kicked our ass every week but it was fun as hell.
Drag racing is about speed and more speed. And that means more money. The days when three guys with decent jobs could put together a fueler that ran in the 7s, ran the same engine (with servicing) all year and could make $500 on a good weekend are long gone. But we do have fuelers in the high/mid 3s for 1000'.
Gene Olson not many people remember the Ol Buick motors my dad ran a Flathead slingshot that turned 11 second 123 meh at vacaville dragstrip in the 1960s
Wonderful to see that 4 engined wagon driven and driven safely. This is the first time I've seen the auctial car/wagon on video. I've kind of known about these crazy, wonderful Funny car's for decades. If some of you know--plastic model Kit's could be purchased & built of these crazy, wonderful funny cars among numerous Kit's. 3-in-1 car's, ship's, airplanes. As well as too many other plastic parts, as well that I could list. thank you. C/O RDRT.
Unless he built a second quad Buick, this must be the same car I saw Tommy drive at Continental Divide Raceway in Castle Rock, Colorado in 1960. As I remember, he did one run and shut off early as the tires went up in smoke. Long time ago.
I've seen that car run several times back in the day.I saw TV tom make a pass at Indy where he did a burn out then laid down a fast pass with no tire smoke. That car was quick when he wanted it to be.
The fast no smoke pass would have been when it was in 4 wheel drive. All the Smokey burn out runs are in front wheel drive only for visuals not speed. I did shows/races in the 80’s Tommy was at all around the Midwest. At one memorable promo event for a race at Great Lakes Dragaway Don Garlits, Tv Tommy Ivo, Broadway Bob, Jeff Dane, myself and others were all guest at the Pabst Brewery in Milwaukee. Augie Pabst himself was our host. Food was German and delicious.
I was at this Good Guys show. Had a great time. It was good to see TV Tom race again. That Black 57 Chevy was fast and loud, for a street car, with a local driver.
Gawd, I love that hawg! He see any thing till 1/2 way down the track. Thanx to everyone mostly TV Tommy. The wagon master rivals the 66 batmobile Geezes, U gotta love it,🤣🤣🤣😉😉👍😆
The right side engines the distributors are in the rear, driving rears . The left side engines are in backwards...the distributors are toward the front, and driving front.
The side view of its flanks always makes me think of Dean Jeffries' Monkeemobile, in a good way! That was an additional favorite of mine, among the custom hot rods of the Sixties! 😃
When I was a kid (12 or 13-ish), my Dad took me to see him and this car at Island Dragway in Great Meadow, N.J. It was more about the show, but he still cranked some pretty decent ET's and as a kid this was awesome!
I got to race against him back in 1971-72 period lots of fun. It was the gasser wars I had a 1946 Pontiac two door coupe. I was only able to run low tens to high nines. We had a blast showing off. I never could beat any of those pros but we had a blast trying. I was big on using Packards from 1950-54 period as my favorite cars. Made it on the cover of the nostalgia drag magazine and old time gasser racer magazine. I had a 1952 Packard two door business coupe one of a kind car long gone. It had a Chevy 434 ci. Fuel injection set up only pushing 1,275 hp fast but not that big of a deal these days. I dropped over 3,800 lbs from that car lots of work. I use to leave the line doing 9,000 rpm scared the crap out of people never did they think my car had that in it to go that fast. Ripped the back bumper clean off one time I wanted to win so badly. I did great until three quarters of the way down the 1/4 mile then I was passed most of the time. My gears where not enough on the top end. I had the horse power but could not figure out what to change to get more top end speed. One of my freaky wild gassers was a 1965 opal GT that I had shoe horned in a 427 Chevy fuel injection set up. That car was so fast and almost impossible to keep on the ground. I blew up the rear end twice. I used to have a 1970 Barracuda factory race car I bought it brand new that car was a beast. Red color white convertible top 426 hemi motor I ended getting rid of it in the late 70’s gas rationing was going on and I needed something simpler to use for going to college. That sucks I wish so bad I had that car today. I bought a 1950 Chevy panel truck play wagon on wheels.
You are so right ,back in the day drag racing was it, nothing better, race what you brung was a lot more fun then today's drag racing the compilation was fun and fierce , I enjoy these videos thanks, it makes an old man like me glad I was young when I was a good ole time to be young.
Mr Ivo is definitely one of my heroes. A great race car driver and an even better engineer. How he managed to do the things he did using Buick power is fascinating. What might he have done if he stuck with Chrysler hemi engines?!
Until I saw this video, I always wondered how you could actually steer it with those massive front slicks through a simple pitman arm and a steering wheel that probably has only five or six inches of mechanical leverage...! But I see here that he could do it. This video has satisfied my curiosity about that. Look at it in the return lane staging it... Bravo Tommy Ivo...!
I see now at 0:45 on the time dial that The Show Boat has a steering wheel that looks to be about ten to twelve inches in diameter, but that still seems like not much leverage to crank those front end slicks through a simple pitman arm linkage... but he obviously does it...!!! I wondered about this for a long time...!
Easy to steer as long as it is moving forward, but static or pushing it around, needs two guys on the front to help turn the wheels to keep from tearing up the steering box
In 1990 i wandered into the auto machine shop next door to me here in San Jose CA and there was this car... they had done some work on it and from what i remember they said they did make a short pass with it on N13th street nr Hedding.
I remember seeing this car when I was a kid in 69 or 70 on display at a local Buick dealerships showroom. I never saw it at a drag strip to make a pass.
I think the cool thing about the car besides seeing it go down the track, was passing the plexiglass trailer seeing the car inside light up at night…👍🏾
I was at this event i was 13 at the time 96 was the second year we went my dad had a 38 chevy 2 door sedan we even drove the 500 track on friday morning that year 4 years later we would make our first appearance in the hotrod class with a front engine draster which we still run today
Coo! I never knew that. I remember many years ago Tommy saying that he couldn't see where he was going because of the tire smoke and was hoping that he was still in his lane. I remember watching Tommy on Leave It To Beaver when I was a kid. He was an idol to me.
What a joy to watch! I was a kid of about 12 in 1966. My late Dad took me to the World of Wheels Show in blazing-summer-hot Tucson, Arizona that year, and T.V. Tommy Ivo's 4-Buick engine station wagon was there! Naturally, it was all cleaned and sparkly for the show....everything Tommy Ivo ever had was ALWAYS of the highest quality and cleaner than anybody else's machines...100% of the time! Naturally, this car was all roped off like most high-$$ show cars were to keep the 1% of the idiots attending the show that would try to steal or hurt the car from getting at it. But even so....we were SO CLOSE to it, and I just remember the car emanated superior engineering and workmanship....even if a person weren't into cars / hot rods, etc.....they just couldn't help but be blown away by the workmanship in front of them. To see it run down the track in this old video does an aging "Boomer" like myself who was just released from the hospital recently a whole lotta good...and I mean it. Tons of memories...all wonderful....are riding along with this car as it "boils the hydes" down the quarter. Oh....for sure.....God Bless you Tommy Ivo. Thanks for everything you shared with us enthusiasts.
There will never be another Tommy Ivo of this caliber in this lifetime 😎.
Raced him in vegas when he had his first rail with olds engine I had 46 ford coupe with souped 51 merc ,course he won but I will never forget that day, Awsome times in 56 sttioned at nellis AFB
I wish you had a picture of that...
Nice story, I was at Nellis in 70. 474th t.f.w.,crew chief.we were just down the flight line from the Thunderbirds.saw him race at Lions Drag strip,just a few years prior to U.S.A.F....best of luck to you.
@AL I'm kinda jealous. That's gotta be a memory you'll cherish forever. 👍👍
Pretty sure that Old's powered rail was the Road King's club car. My cousin's husband, Tom Jandt, was the club driver of that Olds rail in '58 and later. Good times.
Y a me too
I met ivo last year at Bakersfield and he'll talk to you like he knows you he is a legend and a nice man
I met him at the DoubleTree where they have the little Friday night get together.
Famoso hot rod reunion in October. Yep pretty Kool.
I can recall the days of glory of the the NHRA.... Great events like Fox Hunts, all Funny Car races(more than 72 showed up). Seeing all the funny cars lined up side by side on the track fired up all at the same time was the greatest thing ever!
When drag racing was REAL drag racing, not computerized bullshit and EVERYBODY run the 1/4 mile not just some. And the seats were filled. I don't remember when I watched it on tv all the way through, now just ta see what Force is doing
@@454easy I dont think you know what computerized bullshit means.
I talked one of the guys who built this car, A.J. Torzyk. They built that car in a neighborhood garage. Imagine hearing that thing fire up at 3am! Awesome stuff!!!
I've built a few cars and bikes, It always seems to be that the first start is in the very early hours of the morning..awesome video..😁
3:01 AM!
Smoked all 4 halfway down the track and still run 144 with a 11. Wow! And thanks for the video. I've heard of the car and now finally seen it. I'm glad RUclips put this in my recommendation. Thanks RUclips as well
When I was in 2nd grade I was told I had to pick a book. Nothing interested me until I saw this car on the cover and I’ve loved cars ever since
Tommy Ivo with the SHOWBOAT always was the ultimate dragster, never the greatest speed monster but what a beautiful thing to see!!!
Thank you, I've grown up with friends, who drag raced during this era, and I always wanted to see TV TOMMY IVO, in that 4 engine car, you've brought tears to my eyes, thankyou
👍 TV Tommy invented the travelling "show off" exhibition shows. He did more to promote/ popularize drag racing than anybody. (Don't argue)
The Little Red Wagon, Bill Golden, his mother lived just a few miles from Harrisburg IL Dragstrip and he used to make exhibitions there. That was my first exhibition experience. After that I was at several large events at St Louis with “jet cars”, wheelie cars throughout my life.
I certainly agree--But don't forget the late George Hurst--Also helped bring early products, engineering expertise, not to mention parts & helping teenage driver's work on-- perhaps rebuild, repair. PLUS Linda Vaughn as part of his showmanship during that time, 1950s to 1960s, I think. If you don't know, I invite those you are interested, find old car magazines. Several books produced on these subjects can be bought/owned. There is more than I can share--So with that being written by little old me, thank you for allowing to share such info with you. C/O Roger Ruuska aka Tootkaylok.
Saw Tommy Ivo at Island Dragway Great Meadows, NJ 1966. Don Garlets was there too. & Bruce Larsen USA1. Tales of Wells Fargo shows him as an actor.
Cool.
“ all motor” has a different definition with Tommy Ivo
talked to him several times at Bakersfield hot rod reunions what a nice guy in his eighties he was walking around the crowd shaking people's hand taking pictures
American Drag Racing showmanship at it's best. Thanks Tommy Ivo
Saw the car at our local strip on farewell tour just one of those things I was lucky enough to see in my lifetime Ivo was a great inovater
kevin fay .. Quaker City Dragway,, early 80s I guess...
Man, imagine what he could run with a good burn out and fresh track prep. I love seeing the old racers creations run down the strip!
He did a good burn-out - for 1320 feet!
I so miss this show/event. 😔 I was there that weekend. Drove 3 hours one way to be there. This used to be a highlight of my youth and year. Not sure why GG and IRP stopped having this event, but wish it would return each season. Over 4,000 street rods would show up and over 300 racers. It was the second biggest event at IRP and a money maker. Thanks for the memories and the video!!! 👍
I saw this car in the early 80s in a little 1/8 mile strip in Paris tx. It had the coolest trailer carrying it all see thru. He was smoking all 4 tires the hole way down the track. As a teenager this got the blood pumping. I could not wait to get in my truck an smoke the tires leaving the track that night.
Amazing to see Harold "the Duke" Hathaway from Leave it to Beaver here at age 60 ! I now see where he got that swagger to play the Duke on tv. So glad There is more video on him because he was rarely used on the Beaver program and his moments are pure gold, such as season 3 episode 37 where Ward Cleaver asks, "are we going to have a good team again next year Duke? and Duke says, "Ohh, I don't think so Mr. Cleaver, ... I am graduating." Such great performance I would like to add "the Duke" in between my own names.
Thanks "the Duke" for remembering this. Probably my favorite Beaver episode.
GREATEST MEMORIES OF MY YOUTH WATCHING THESE CRAZY LOONEY INSANE DRAGSTERS!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!
Tommy Ivo was hands down the best engineer and tuner of his day!
Bike
Next to him was Mad Man EJ Potter and his V8 powered bike
Yeah, drag racing was something any kid with a car could do in southern cal in the mid fifties. I raced a tweeked 50 Ford coup, flat head V-8 . It was also my daily driver. Best speed was 80.1 in 15.56 secs. There were no sponsored cars, we were all just motor heads that raced what we brung. This was at the San Fernando drag strip
Those were the days and we were young, dumb, broke, and just having fun with what we could build out of salvage yard parts. Good days.
Perhaps in 62 Ivo... Garlits and two others (memory fades). Appeared at Ron Brackan's NHRA Naperville Quebec drag strip...quite a day...I was running an H. Stock AutoMatic Chevy wagon that was almost a full second off the record ...but it was all great!!!...miss it dearly
Always saw photos of this car but never video- thanks for sharing
Saw this monster at Green Valley Drag Strip (Texas) in1974...Those were the days
I was there. He said he had just turned 60, the funny-cars didn't kill him, the dragsters didn't kill him and the jets didn't kill him. He was gonna go down the track one more time in everybody's favorite dragster and retire...He actually drove it twice that weekend...
tom vannortwick, Chris "The Greek" Karaminese started before Tommy and competed after Tommy stopped, and in his 80's may still be driving his AA/FD.
T.V. Tommy is a class act, super nice and very humble..
Man that was freaking cool👌
So much work and talent just showed in one run after been setting for Lord knows how long.
That Guy wad seriously a genius and show Man of the highest order👏👏👏
Thanks!!! Never got to see this car in person but always desired to see it in motion period! Again thank you!
Thru the years Tommy and his cars were always coolest.
I got a signed pic of him and his Buick when I was 10 yrs old !
As hard as it may be to believe, there was a time when I saw him get whipped by a kid in a go-cart with a home made turbo jet engine. Imagine going 200 mph with your backside 2" off the ground. I have great respect for Tommy Ivo, don't get me wrong. That was just the most astonishing thing I'd ever seen up to that time.
Some of most beautiful dragster and Funny cars ever to hit the strips.
I was there to see this, it was great! A couple engines didn't sound too healthy, but to witness such a piece if history was well worth the price of admission.
Thanks for posting this.
I'm 68' and a die hard buick fan, owner! Love the old NAILHEADS, I have owned my pride and joy 66' skylark gran sport for over 25 years, 401 c.i. factory 4 speed, 3:55 posi.. all #s matching, marina blue, blue interior, just a very nice rust free car! And you guessed it,, it gets no love because it's not a belly button chevy, mustang, mopar! F.Y.I. BONE STOCK, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A 950 C.F.M. H.P. HOLLEY CARB, AND D.O.T, DRAG RADIALS at DRAG STRIP RAN 14: 30 @ 99 m.p.h. not bad,,considering car and driver magazine back in the day, claimed the 66' gran sport only ran 15: 70s @ 89 M.P.H.
Saw this car run in So. Cal. O.M.S.
I love this guy! He was my hero when he was running his car!
I saw this car and met Tommy Ivo when he was doing farewell tour Its hard to believe that they used to run these cars flat out spinning the wheels down the 1/4 mile with no burn outs to warm slash clean the tires and push starts those were the days when men were men .
I remember way back when Tommy was racing and he came up with this thing. From looking at it on the cover of Hot Rod, I thought it must be SO INCREDIBLY FAST; probably the fastest dragster of all time and forever and ever. Well, at least the dinosaur didn't blow up. Today, many cars of lesser build with only ONE engine will beat his time and speed. Even 4-cylinder. race-prepped rice burners. How times have changed. And engineering.
Nice video. Drag racing use to have a huge element of fun that's missing today. Less and less a sport, more and more a business. If you know what I mean.
I couldn't agree more. we used to race Jim oddy every Sunday in Niagara Falls New York back in the 1960s and early seventies. we were racing a front engine dragster and he was running a 48 Anglia. he kicked our ass every week but it was fun as hell.
You said it right.. i stopped going.. It's all about Money & more money now.... Not much fun now...
And the count down bit.. And walking the track....
Drag racing is about speed and more speed. And that means more money. The days when three guys with decent jobs could put together a fueler that ran in the 7s, ran the same engine (with servicing) all year and could make $500 on a good weekend are long gone. But we do have fuelers in the high/mid 3s for 1000'.
D Moore Schumacher and Force teams dominate kinda lame now
Very well... actually.
Great car sill run crazy love it.Thanks for sharing a friend from Canada Rob ✌
I had this matchbox car. It was my prized possession when i was 8.
I remember seeing this car at u.s 131 drag way (Martin dragway here in Michigan back in those days) it was a real treat watching this car.
Still Cool after all these years!!!!
That thing is incredible! Absolutely cool.
great stuff frank...well done!
I remember watching him race on Wide World of Sports and everyone had black and white TV's back then. Coke Cola was 5¢ and gas was 23.9¢ @ gallon.
been a nail head nut all my life tom was my idol at 78 running hot rod nail powered ,
Gene Olson not many people remember the Ol Buick motors my dad ran a Flathead slingshot that turned 11 second 123 meh at vacaville dragstrip in the 1960s
Still alive in 2019 at age 82... also can be seen acting in old western TV shows/movies...
And Leave It To Beaver. ;-)
When monsters riuled the earth
Wonderful to see that 4 engined wagon driven and driven safely. This is the first time I've seen the auctial car/wagon on video. I've kind of known about these crazy, wonderful Funny car's for decades. If some of you know--plastic model Kit's could be purchased & built of these crazy, wonderful funny cars among numerous Kit's. 3-in-1 car's, ship's, airplanes. As well as too many other plastic parts, as well that I could list. thank you. C/O RDRT.
Unless he built a second quad Buick, this must be the same car I saw Tommy drive at Continental Divide Raceway in Castle Rock, Colorado in 1960. As I remember, he did one run and shut off early as the tires went up in smoke. Long time ago.
I've seen that car run several times back in the day.I saw TV tom make a pass at Indy where he did a burn out then laid down a fast pass with no tire smoke. That car was quick when he wanted it to be.
The fast no smoke pass would have been when it was in 4 wheel drive. All the Smokey burn out runs are in front wheel drive only for visuals not speed. I did shows/races in the 80’s Tommy was at all around the Midwest. At one memorable promo event for a race at Great Lakes Dragaway Don Garlits, Tv Tommy Ivo, Broadway Bob, Jeff Dane, myself and others were all guest at the Pabst Brewery in Milwaukee. Augie Pabst himself was our host. Food was German and delicious.
I love it...old school racing...
I was at this Good Guys show. Had a great time. It was good to see TV Tom race again. That Black 57 Chevy was fast and loud, for a street car, with a local driver.
Gawd, I love that hawg! He see any thing till 1/2 way down the track. Thanx to everyone mostly TV Tommy. The wagon master rivals the 66 batmobile
Geezes, U gotta love it,🤣🤣🤣😉😉👍😆
Tommy said he could see well.... Right down the middle was a clear view...it just looks horrible to us.
The right side engines the distributors are in the rear, driving rears .
The left side engines are in backwards...the distributors are toward the front, and driving front.
The side view of its flanks always makes me think of Dean Jeffries' Monkeemobile, in a good way! That was an additional favorite of mine, among the custom hot rods of the Sixties! 😃
How does he see where he's going with all that smoke? Magnificent.
HELL WHAT A CAR NOT ONLY A 4 ENGINED DRAGSTER BUT AT 3.35 IT TRANSFORMS INTO A STEAM ENGINE!
That was a real cool drag car
This was a show man with a show machine back in the day.
One of Drag Racing’s National Treasures .....”TV TOMMY” IVO!
Got to meet Tommy at famoso and got a pic with him to this day he's the only movie star I've met lol
so cool he put on a good show
When I was a kid (12 or 13-ish), my Dad took me to see him and this car at Island Dragway in Great Meadow, N.J. It was more about the show, but he still cranked some pretty decent ET's and as a kid this was awesome!
Did you find this on my RUclips channel.....or is the link somewhere else? I am getting a lot of attention on this one video and wonder why? Thanks.
@@FrankKunkel just got recommended, one of those RUclips things
Wow. Long time since I saw this in HOT ROD!
All hail to the mechanics ! Amazing, and 145 mph !
I got to race against him back in 1971-72 period lots of fun. It was the gasser wars I had a 1946 Pontiac two door coupe. I was only able to run low tens to high nines. We had a blast showing off. I never could beat any of those pros but we had a blast trying. I was big on using Packards from 1950-54 period as my favorite cars. Made it on the cover of the nostalgia drag magazine and old time gasser racer magazine. I had a 1952 Packard two door business coupe one of a kind car long gone. It had a Chevy 434 ci. Fuel injection set up only pushing 1,275 hp fast but not that big of a deal these days. I dropped over 3,800 lbs from that car lots of work. I use to leave the line doing 9,000 rpm scared the crap out of people never did they think my car had that in it to go that fast. Ripped the back bumper clean off one time I wanted to win so badly. I did great until three quarters of the way down the 1/4 mile then I was passed most of the time. My gears where not enough on the top end. I had the horse power but could not figure out what to change to get more top end speed. One of my freaky wild gassers was a 1965 opal GT that I had shoe horned in a 427 Chevy fuel injection set up. That car was so fast and almost impossible to keep on the ground. I blew up the rear end twice. I used to have a 1970 Barracuda factory race car I bought it brand new that car was a beast. Red color white convertible top 426 hemi motor I ended getting rid of it in the late 70’s gas rationing was going on and I needed something simpler to use for going to college. That sucks I wish so bad I had that car today. I bought a 1950 Chevy panel truck play wagon on wheels.
Back in the run what you brung days , drag racing was fun to watch.
You are so right ,back in the day drag racing was it, nothing better, race what you brung was a lot more fun then today's drag racing the compilation was fun and fierce , I enjoy these videos thanks, it makes an old man like me glad I was young when I was a good ole time to be young.
I like how he lined up out of the grooves so he could light em up all the way down!
Tremendous! Always wanted to see it!
i and you thought subaru was a fantastic wagon = this guy is fantastic wagon master !
Mr Ivo is definitely one of my heroes. A great race car driver and an even better engineer. How he managed to do the things he did using Buick power is fascinating. What might he have done if he stuck with Chrysler hemi engines?!
Chrysler's came after the Buicks when the nitro ban was lifted and switched back to dragsters
Until I saw this video, I always wondered how you could actually steer it with those massive front slicks through a simple pitman arm and a steering wheel that probably has only five or six inches of mechanical leverage...! But I see here that he could do it. This video has satisfied my curiosity about that. Look at it in the return lane staging it... Bravo Tommy Ivo...!
I see now at 0:45 on the time dial that The Show Boat has a steering wheel that looks to be about ten to twelve inches in diameter, but that still seems like not much leverage to crank those front end slicks through a simple pitman arm linkage... but he obviously does it...!!! I wondered about this for a long time...!
Easy to steer as long as it is moving forward, but static or pushing it around, needs two guys on the front to help turn the wheels to keep from tearing up the steering box
I s'pose so... if caster and camber are right.
I remember the TV show he had,the network found out he was racing the car and they actually barred him from ever getting back in to race it
Uncle Tony's Garage sent me here
I had to come look this car up making a run after watching Tony's vid.
Tommy Ivo my favorite.
I know the 500ft of smoke is part of the "show", but just think if you could hook this monster up to the track!
Must be the only dragster with a luggage rack.
LOL!
4 engine, 4wd, way ahead of his time.
Watch enough Leave it to Beaver reruns, you may see Tommy Ivo...(was in high school w/ Wally)..✌🏼
Thanks Frank!!
In 1990 i wandered into the auto machine shop next door to me here in San Jose CA and there was this car... they had done some work on it and from what i remember they said they did make a short pass with it on N13th street nr Hedding.
I saw this car when i was a kid with my dad at our local Cincinnati buick dealership
Tommy's still smiling away, at 80.
remember his 4 engine rod from the 60's TV Tommy Ivo
Saw him at Route 30. Had a Eldo push car. Also saw the Green Monster.
I remember seeing this car when I was a kid in 69 or 70 on display at a local Buick dealerships showroom. I never saw it at a drag strip to make a pass.
American Showmanship. just badass
Way to go : Frank K .
I saw that car run in York pa. In the late 70’s.
I think the cool thing about the car besides seeing it go down the track, was passing the plexiglass trailer seeing the car inside light up at night…👍🏾
I was at this event i was 13 at the time 96 was the second year we went my dad had a 38 chevy 2 door sedan we even drove the 500 track on friday morning that year 4 years later we would make our first appearance in the hotrod class with a front engine draster which we still run today
Tommy built his cars IN HIS GARAGE IN BURBANK! Drag racing’s first and BEST showman…
T.V. TOMMY IVO !
thx you the best from holland
Saw run his slingshot at Rt. 30. Had a caddy redo push car. Nice guy to talk to.
That would be a great model to get a hold of 🙂
He ran different gear ratios in his front and rear differentials, a higher one in front because it caused bigger more impressive tire smoke.
Coo! I never knew that. I remember many years ago Tommy saying that he couldn't see where he was going because of the tire smoke and was hoping that he was still in his lane. I remember watching Tommy on Leave It To Beaver when I was a kid. He was an idol to me.
I was at a track in early 1969, and Ivo's Wagonmaster was the booked-in show. He smoked all four tires for the full length of the quarter mile.
@@Pro1er
I saw that interview or read that one too , this is before my time (im46) but I love reading about or seeing the Glory days I missed.
not that loud the announcer said🧐 thing sounds like is gonna shake the asphalt into millings... way to go Tommy this was an end of an era