TV Tommy Ivo Four-Engine Buick Dragster Heads to Auction

 

Talk about a piece of Motorsports history. Coming from a Buick family makes this wild Buick dragster even cooler to me. With a Buick Riveria front end and a Roadmaster Station Wagon rear body frame, this exhibition dragster host four Buick 401 cu.-in. Nailhead V8 engines. 

The rare all-wheel-drive dragster originally raced by the famous "TV Tommy Ivo" will be auctioned off in January at the Mecum auto auction in Kissimmee during an eight-day event. 

The history behind the "Wagonmaster" and "Tommy Ivo" is vast. Before Tommy Ivo sold the, what was then called the "Showboat" dragster to Tom McCourry, it looked like just a regular slingshot dragster with four engines.  

To keep the exhibition interest alive for the Buick dragster, McCourry had the hand-crafted Buick body fitted for the slingshot and called it the "Masterwagon". Eventually, it was sold back to TV Tommy so he could take it on its last stretch of exhibition work that ended in 1996 at the Good Guys Hot Rod Nationals in Indianapolis. 

TV Tommy's name had a reason behind it, he was actually a TV star, movie star, singer, dancer, and radio personality. When told by his producers, he had to stop the racing and focus on his entertainment career, TV Tommy chose "Racing" instead. 

  Some of "TV Tommy Ivo" Great Racing Accomplishments

• First to Succeed With Buick Power

• First to Succeed With Dual Engines - Record Breaker of 170 MPH, 175 MPH, 180 MPH

• First to Succeed With Quad Engines

• First to Brake the 9-Second Barrier With Dual Engines

• First to Break Into The 7-Second and 5-Second 1/4-Mile Barrier

• First to Run Side-By-Side 7-Second Pass Against Don "The Snake" Prudhomme

• With Other Racers - Brought Drag Racing to England in a Six Event Exhibition

• Joined The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005

Masterwagon Car Facts (Mecum)

• This is the original Showboat slingshot dragster
• Built by TV Tommy Ivo
• The Showboat debuted on July 23, 1961, at San Fernando Drag Strip
• The Showboat was converted to the Wagonmaster in 1981
• 30th Anniversary and Final Tour car for 1982
• Last competitive run at the 1982 World Finals at Orange County Raceway
• Vintage run at the July 1996 Goodguys Nostalgia National at Indianapolis Raceway Park
• Four Buick Nailhead 401 CI V-8 engines
• The Nailhead V-8s essentially form two V-16 engines
• Over 1,500 cubic inches and over 2,000 horsepower
• 4-wheel drive
• Two engines drive the front wheels
• Two engines drive the rear wheels
• Black/Orange/Red exterior
• Black interior
• Roll cage
• Chrome side exhaust stacks
• Parachute
• Luggage rack
• First-ever escape hatch
• Two specially chromed front wheels
• Cragar rear wheels
• Formerly owned by Norm Day
• Centerfold car in the September 2012 issue of Hot Rod Deluxe magazine
• Sold on a Bill of Sale

The "Masterwagon" will be sold on the eighth day (last day) with over 300 other consignments at the Mecum auction event. The "Master Wagon" is the original "Showboat" slingshot dragster and is authenticated with an autograph by TV Tommy himself, including his quote to the future owner, "Take Care of My Baby."