Updated: June 30, 2011 — 11:22 AM ← Previous Post. Over the years, he has photographed several major auto racing events, sports, news journalism, portraiture, and everything in between. Tommy Ivo was born on April 18, 1936 in Denver, Colorado, USA. He wanted to be, so "TV Tommy" as he became known, added two additional engines onto his twin-engine dragster to create the "Showboat". In 1964, he barnstormed through England in a series of match races with Don Garlits – thus introducing the Brits to the world of cackle. Buick Nailhead. The four-engine Showboat dragster replica, commissioned in 2007 by Tommy Ivo, the owner and driver of the 1960s original, is a faithful recreation of the kooky, tire-frying slingshot. Tommy Ivo's Showboat with four Buick nailhead engines. Markings Dragster Tommy Ivo Showboat Drag Private (Tommy Ivo) Branded Logos, other Markings Tommy tells how it was driving the Showboat. Original chassis built by Larry … Traveled with a two car trailer with full length glass windows and his push car Corvette mounted on top. $7.64. However, he wasn't content with being an ordinary drag racer. I am thinking about buying one from ebay. Last one. Includes: Plastic sprue, Decalsheet (waterslide), Metal, Vinyl. Then his producers told him he had to quit drag racing. How are ratings calculated? He is an actor, known for Margie (1961), The Lost Volcano (1950) and The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1956). Although it wasn’t Ivo’s most winning creation, the four-engine “Showboat” is probably his most famous machine. If this car looks familiar, you would probably recall it as the “Showboat.” Based on his original creation of the 1960s, this tribute was commissioned in 2007 by notable child actor and drag racing superstar “TV Tommy” Ivo, and it honors his original Showboat, shown as the “Hot Rod” magazine December 1961 cover car. With Ivo unable to drive due to contractual obligations with the television studio he was working for, a young Don Prudhomme handled the initial driving duties of this beast. This is Tommy Ivo's Showboat which when introduced in 1961 became the first exhibition drag car. A dragster is a specialized competition automobile used in drag racing. Ivo was born in Denver, Colorado. $19.99. 1 product rating - REVELL 1/25 SCALE Tommy Ivo's "SHOWBOAT" Dragster MODEL KIT ...sealed new in box. He wanted to be, so "TV Tommy" as he became known, … All stars. Four fuel-injected 402s powered his four-wheel-drive vehicle named Showboat. $12.41. Brand New. He went on to campaign front and rear engine dragsters, and a jet car. *The rear axle on the Revell SHOWBOAT will need to be shortened to fit the slicks inside the body. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, TV, Poison, or Tubular Tommy Ivo had the world in the palm of his hands. All rights reserved. REVELL 1/25 SCALE Tommy Ivo's "SHOWBOAT" Dragster MODEL KIT ...sealed new in box. Qty: Description : Tommy Ivo was the first to break the nine second mark in the quarter mile with a twin engine rail dragster. © 2020 Power Automedia. Revell/Monogram Tommy Ivo's Showboat with Figure Plastic Model Kit. The build was off and on over a year with probably 9 months of actual build time. In 1963, Ivo opted to return to Top Fuel racing and sold the Showboat to crewman Tom McCourry, who later gave it a second life by adding the famous Buick Station wagon body – crafted by legendary body man Tom Hanna. Showboat featured four Buick nailhead V8s, linked together; two drove the rear wheels, two the front. Showboat is a four-engined four-wheel-drive exhibition slingshot dragster, built by "TV Tommy" Ivo in the 1960s. Years later, TV Tommy later bought the car back and toured with it before he formally retired in 1982. Another innovative solution by Tommy after NHRA "surprised him" by banned the use of four engines in all classes. Photo courtesy of Just a Car Guy. 9 global ratings | 7 global reviews There was a problem filtering reviews right now. 0 bids +$14.90 … With the high performance industry and the overall concept of ultimate straight line performance still in its infancy, figuring out what combination would outperform the next invoked the same kind of process as asking out that gorgeous young lass that was completely out of your league: you didn’t know unless you tried. While one engine was great, the gears running within the minds of the sports’ founding fathers began to spin, and suddenly they were trying two engines, and even four. With four Buick V8 engines strapped to the framerails, Ivo’s all-wheel drive dragster was a true marvel. Jun 19, 2014 - Tommy Ivo's Showboat with four Buick nailhead engines. by Revell. 5.0 out of 5 stars. Jack Williams Rail Dragster Wheel Stand Drag Racing 13x19 Poster Photo . Top photo courtesy Tommy Ivo.com. McCourry toured the car for a couple more years as it was but interest began to wane as the racing fan became more enamored with a new, emerging breed of race cars called Funny Cars. The quad Buick Nailheads were linked in pairs, making them essentially V16s. Showboat is a four-engined four-wheel-drive exhibition slingshot dragster, built by "TV Tommy" Ivo in the 1960s. Ivo’s creation, which came to be known as the “Showboat,” was an undeniable crowd pleaser, but the NHRA brass were less than pleased. You … Today, three of Tommy Ivo s cars are on display at the NHRA Museum in Pomona, California. 4 bids +$12.00 shipping. He is also known as "TV Tommy," and has appeared in more than 200 TV shows. He was on tour in 1960 with his all-conquering, side-by-side-Buick twin while Mickey was chasing 400 mph with four Pontiac V8s. [3], Scherr, Elana. Auction Lot S152, Kissimmee, FL 2020. Hanna hand-formed the entire body, which sported a real roof rack and the first escape hatch in a Funny Car-type body. Please try again later. Ivo sold the Showboat to Tom McCourry who saw the success of Funny Cars and came up with the idea to throw a body on the car. The formative years of the sport of drag racing were a truly remarkable time. As he did with the original car back in 1955 for Tommy Ivo, Von Dutch also striped the restored car for Jack Rosen. Acted in series of television shows, he was already a star with a promising Hollywood future ahead of him. $14.95. Search. Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Dragzine, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE! See All Buying Options . Filter by. McCourry campaigned the car as the “Wagon Master” for another 15 years, and thanks to the addition of the Buick Riviera body in an era when Funny Cars were the sports’ biggest draw, the Wagon Master was a hit once again. IRV BERINGHAUS … TV TOMMY IVO AUTOGRAPH 4 ENGINE SHOWBOAT NHRA 8X12 DRAG RACING PHOTO. While Tommy was never able to race the "Showboat", his demonstration runs roused … Sort by. Text, image, video. Sponsored by Honest Charley's Speed Shop. Buick Nailhead Nhra Drag Racing Old Race Cars Weird Cars Vintage Race Car Drag … Copyright 2017 Right On Replicas, LLC. Enjoy the show. Tommy on top of one of his haulers. Acting. Subject to one of the most historic NHRA crash finishes of all-time with TV Tommy walking away unscathed. As part of his 60th birthday celebration in 1996, Ivo brought out the Wagon Master aka Showboat for a few gentle exhibition passes. $13.50. 1961 - Buick Showboat - SIGNATURE CAR - These multi engine car were built during the years when NHRA limited racing fuel to gasoline only. The Don Wallace Collection. All rights reserved. [1], While Ivo never liked the name, Showboat proved one of the most popular models of his cars. The engines on the left side drove the front wheels through a Halibrand quick-change center section, while the motors on the right powered the rear wheels through a second Halibrand situated to the right of Ivo in the drivers compartment. Availability: Usually Ships in 1 to 2 Business Days Product Code: RMX-1285. Hanna hand-formed the entire body, which sported a real roof rack and the first escape hatch in a Funny Car-type body. A first hand discription being behind the wheel of a 4 engine dragster. A photo of Tommy Ivo's Showboat taken at Island Dragway in the early 1960s. We'll send you the most interesting Dragzine articles, news, car features, and videos every week. Debuted at the '74 NHRA Winternationals by TV Tommy. Stage: Tommy’s big break; Radio: nation-wide; Tommy’s favorite movies; Tommy’s many faces; Tommy’s favorite TV shows; DURANGO KID Western Movies; Practical Joker; Tommy’s Hot Rods in Movies; GALLERY; Ivo Crew Guys and Friends; IVO All other Photos; IVO Videos; MUSEUMS; NHRA Museum 2002-2003; All other Museums; IVO Tributes; BIOGRAPHY; AWARDS; Ivo's 80th Birthday Party; Motorsports … All told, this monster packed 1,856 cubic inches and made over 2,000 combined horsepower. Concerned that the four-engine concept would take off, Wally Parks and company relegated the car to exhibition-only status. Tommy Ivo (born April 18, 1936), also known as "TV Tommy" and "Instant Ivo" is an actor and drag racer, who was active in the 1960s racing community. In the late 1950s, Ivo raced a twin (side by side) Buick nailhead-engined dragster which was the first gasoline-powered dragster to break the nine-second barrier. Jun 19, 2014 - Tommy Ivo's Showboat with four Buick nailhead engines.. . Use a Revell TOMMY IVO'S SHOWBOAT FOUR ENGINE DRAGSTER for donor kit. Saved by BJ Raymond. Photo from The Greg Palen Photo Collection. "Tommy Ivo's Treasures", in, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Showboat_(dragster)&oldid=871851138, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 3 December 2018, at 21:05. Watch; Vintage Revell Tommy Ivos 4 Engine Dragster Model Car Kit. “TV” Tommy Ivo earned his nickname from his prolific acting career, taking roles in movies and television since he was eight years old. Tommy Ivo's Showboat 4 engine dragster Posted by JohnnyK on Monday, May 28, 2018 6:52 PM I remember building one of these dragsters when I was a kid. $11.50. Brand New. Showboat is a four-engined four-wheel-drive exhibition slingshot dragster, built by "TV Tommy" Ivo in the 1960s. $8.99. Time left 23h 48m left. Time left 4d 23h left. I was able to hook up with the original builder and able to buy three CD's of pictures from the build. You know reference material is key to building. Top reviews. In 1963, the NHRA lifted its ban on nitromethane and Tommy had a hankering to go Top Fuel racing so Showboat was sold to fellow Road Kings car club member Tom McCourry who also crewed for Ivo. Hollywood movie and television star began campaigning a twin-engine Buick dragster in the 1950s and was the first to reach 160, 170, and 180 mile-per-hour. Prudhomme, Ivo, and the Showboat “I had already figured out that there was money to be made in drag race touring, and if the fans liked two motors, they'd love four,” Ivo reasoned. We promise not to use your email address for anything but exclusive updates from the Power Automedia Network. 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In 1963, Ivo opted to return to Top Fuel racing and sold the Showboat to crewman Tom McCourry, who later gave it a second life by adding the famous Buick Station wagon body – crafted by legendary body man Tom Hanna. BUILDING TIPS *Start by building frame & front axle all together as a 1-piece unit. However, he wasn't content with being an ordinary drag racer. As much as he enjoyed the camera, his real passion was cars. Andrew has been involved in motorsports from a very young age. shipping: + $4.50 shipping . One of the 1st Top Fuel cars to go 250 MPH in the 1/4 mile. He bought … All rights reserved. Contents. I created this video with the YouTube Slideshow Creator (http://www.youtube.com/upload) Ivo sold the Showboat and built a Top Fuel car, the Barnstormer, which set multiple records and was the first car to break into the 7s and the first to top 190mph. Tommy Ivo is an actor and drag racer, who was active in the 1960s racing community. [2], Showboat was Hot Rod's December 1961 cover car. In 1961, famed actor and drag racing legend “TV” Tommy Ivo rolled out a creation that would become one of, if not the greatest exhibition vehicle of all time and one that would solidify his standing as the sports greatest showman. … TROPHY GIRL LINDA VAUGHN MISS HURST NHRA AUTO RACING 5X7 PHOTO CHRYSLER PACE CAR. Jan 10, 2021 - Explore Greg N's board "Tommy Ivo", followed by 104 people on Pinterest. The 4-motor car, christened “Showboat” debuted on July 23, 1961 at the San Fernando drag strip in the San Fernando Valley. See more ideas about dragsters, drag racing, drag cars. Add to Wish List. Woody Gilmore is a dragster and funny car chassis builder in the 1960s and 1970s. Tommy Ivo is a famous Hollywood actor, racer, and builder. According to Ivo, your hope was that it was pointed straight and still going straight once the smoke cleared, because you couldn’t see anything. Free shipping . Box contents. After working with the Power Automedia staff for some time on a freelance basis, Andrew joined the team in 2010. Jun 19, 2014 - Tommy Ivo's Showboat with four Buick nailhead engines. Write a review. Over the next few years he campaigned a series of other front-engined Top Fuel cars until… This was the first exhibition car. 370. The most beastly drag racing car was created more than a 50 years ago. How to Build Tommy Ivo’s Showboat with Figure 1:25 Scale Revell SSP Model Kit #85-1285 Review. Tommy Ivo's Showboat with Figure (1/25) (fs) Additional Photos: Our Price: $ 44.90. Unwavered, Ivo took his show on the road and all but invented the concept of traveling drag racing acts that we still see today. As he enjoyed the camera, his real passion tommy ivo showboat cars, built by `` TV Tommy Figure 1/25! Winternationals by TV Tommy walking away unscathed $ 44.90 Corvette mounted on Top exhibition drag car introduced 1961... 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