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 😎.

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

@VinoRatRodbuilds

3 ай бұрын

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!

@454easy

4 жыл бұрын

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

@lordsludge5678

4 жыл бұрын

@@454easy I dont think you know what computerized bullshit means.

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

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

@ThomasDeLello

5 жыл бұрын

I wish you had a picture of that...

@randyelliott9152

5 жыл бұрын

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.

@77yogurt

4 жыл бұрын

@AL I'm kinda jealous. That's gotta be a memory you'll cherish forever. 👍👍

@cornwasher

4 жыл бұрын

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.

@stevenbaker673

2 жыл бұрын

Y a me too

👍 TV Tommy invented the travelling "show off" exhibition shows. He did more to promote/ popularize drag racing than anybody. (Don't argue)

@partialperson

2 жыл бұрын

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.

@rogertootkaylok5716

Жыл бұрын

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.

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!!!

@garysmith5781

4 жыл бұрын

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..😁

@richardkaltenbach3961

2 жыл бұрын

3:01 AM!

“ all motor” has a different definition with Tommy Ivo

American Drag Racing showmanship at it's best. Thanks Tommy Ivo

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 KZread put this in my recommendation. Thanks KZread as well

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.

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.

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

@Roy-dt4xu

3 жыл бұрын

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.

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

Saw this monster at Green Valley Drag Strip (Texas) in1974...Those were the days

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!!! 👍

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.

@JackWebb713

11 ай бұрын

Thanks "the Duke" for remembering this. Probably my favorite Beaver episode.

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

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!

@Pro1er

4 жыл бұрын

He did a good burn-out - for 1320 feet!

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

@marktemsic485

4 жыл бұрын

kevin fay .. Quaker City Dragway,, early 80s I guess...

When monsters riuled the earth

Tommy Ivo with the SHOWBOAT always was the ultimate dragster, never the greatest speed monster but what a beautiful thing to see!!!

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.

Tommy Ivo was hands down the best engineer and tuner of his day!

@dougslittlediesel

2 жыл бұрын

Bike

@dougslittlediesel

2 жыл бұрын

Next to him was Mad Man EJ Potter and his V8 powered bike

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.

I got a signed pic of him and his Buick when I was 10 yrs old !

Tommy Ivo my favorite.

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👏👏👏

I love this guy! He was my hero when he was running his car!

GREATEST MEMORIES OF MY YOUTH WATCHING THESE CRAZY LOONEY INSANE DRAGSTERS!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!

T.V. Tommy is a class act, super nice and very humble..

Always saw photos of this car but never video- thanks for sharing

Thru the years Tommy and his cars were always coolest.

Some of most beautiful dragster and Funny cars ever to hit the strips.

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.

@FrankKunkel

4 жыл бұрын

Cool.

T.V. TOMMY IVO !

This was a show man with a show machine back in the day.

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.

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.

@MARKARMES

8 жыл бұрын

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.

@whocare4

7 жыл бұрын

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....

@westsideflyer7559

7 жыл бұрын

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'.

@hankschrader149

7 жыл бұрын

D Moore Schumacher and Force teams dominate kinda lame now

@ThomasDeLello

5 жыл бұрын

Very well... actually.

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 .

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,🤣🤣🤣😉😉👍😆

@hotrodray6802

4 жыл бұрын

Tommy said he could see well.... Right down the middle was a clear view...it just looks horrible to us.

@hotrodray6802

4 жыл бұрын

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.

@marcuscross6840

2 жыл бұрын

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! 😃

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...

@olderthanyoucali8512

4 жыл бұрын

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.

Great car sill run crazy love it.Thanks for sharing a friend from Canada Rob ✌

Thanks!!! Never got to see this car in person but always desired to see it in motion period! Again thank you!

That was a real cool drag car

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 love it...old school racing...

Uncle Tony's Garage sent me here

@VFR75O

4 жыл бұрын

I had to come look this car up making a run after watching Tony's vid.

Way to go : Frank K .

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.

HELL WHAT A CAR NOT ONLY A 4 ENGINED DRAGSTER BUT AT 3.35 IT TRANSFORMS INTO A STEAM ENGINE!

great stuff frank...well done!

One of Drag Racing’s National Treasures .....”TV TOMMY” IVO!

so cool he put on a good show

Tommy built his cars IN HIS GARAGE IN BURBANK! Drag racing’s first and BEST showman…

Still alive in 2019 at age 82... also can be seen acting in old western TV shows/movies...

@Pro1er

5 жыл бұрын

And Leave It To Beaver. ;-)

been a nail head nut all my life tom was my idol at 78 running hot rod nail powered ,

@joebrusseau1218

6 жыл бұрын

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

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

I know the 500ft of smoke is part of the "show", but just think if you could hook this monster up to the track!

American Showmanship. just badass

Still Cool after all these years!!!!

That thing is incredible! Absolutely cool.

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.

I saw this car when i was a kid with my dad at our local Cincinnati buick dealership

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.

@cherylsteve

3 жыл бұрын

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 had this matchbox car. It was my prized possession when i was 8.

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.

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 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

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…👍🏾

How does he see where he's going with all that smoke? Magnificent.

All hail to the mechanics ! Amazing, and 145 mph !

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.

Tommy's still smiling away, at 80.

Tremendous! Always wanted to see it!

THANK YOU TOMMY GOD BLESS!!!!!!!!#

Watch enough Leave it to Beaver reruns, you may see Tommy Ivo...(was in high school w/ Wally)..✌🏼

i and you thought subaru was a fantastic wagon = this guy is fantastic wagon master !

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

Wow. Long time since I saw this in HOT ROD!

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!

@FrankKunkel

5 жыл бұрын

Did you find this on my KZread channel.....or is the link somewhere else? I am getting a lot of attention on this one video and wonder why? Thanks.

@joecook3223

4 жыл бұрын

@@FrankKunkel just got recommended, one of those KZread things

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.

Thanks Frank!!

I like how he lined up out of the grooves so he could light em up all the way down!

remember his 4 engine rod from the 60's TV Tommy Ivo

4 engine, 4wd, way ahead of his time.

I saw that car run in York pa. In the late 70’s.

He ran different gear ratios in his front and rear differentials, a higher one in front because it caused bigger more impressive tire smoke.

@Pro1er

4 жыл бұрын

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.

@rollydoucet8909

4 жыл бұрын

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.

@MrTheHillfolk

4 жыл бұрын

@@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.

Only thing cooler than A Nailhead is 4 of 'em! The front end bodywork is designed after a '66-7 Riviera. Even the rear qtrs. look like a Riv. W/a wagon roof, it's quite a concoction! WAY cooler than ANY modern drag car will ever be. Thanks!!!

@email4664

4 жыл бұрын

Almost looked like a 280Z for a second from the rear...but then

Must be the only dragster with a luggage rack.

@roberthill7335

3 жыл бұрын

LOL!

That's Bad Ass Brother! Thank You

GOD I LUV THAT BEAST ' 4 ENGINES 4WD ' AND SMOKE ALL THE WAY DOWN THE TOP END oooooooooooHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

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?!

@brucedyda936

5 жыл бұрын

Chrysler's came after the Buicks when the nitro ban was lifted and switched back to dragsters

Saw this car run in So. Cal. O.M.S.

My Grandma had a BUICK but it was a 68 Skylark!!!

Tommy ivo drove at a drag strip in Albuquerque nm1963

Great showman

Saw him at Route 30. Had a Eldo push car. Also saw the Green Monster.

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...!

@ThomasDeLello

5 жыл бұрын

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...!

@brucedyda936

5 жыл бұрын

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

@ThomasDeLello

5 жыл бұрын

I s'pose so... if caster and camber are right.