Summary
A unique piece of motorsports history: TV Tommy Ivo's legendary Showboat dragster featured four Buick 401-cubic-inch Nailhead V8 engines and an all-wheel-drive setup.
From Showboat to Masterwagon: Originally built as a four-engine slingshot dragster, the vehicle was later fitted with a custom Buick body and renamed the Masterwagon.
A legendary entertainer and racer: Ivo was a television and movie star, singer, dancer, and radio personality who chose racing despite pressure to focus on his entertainment career.
A record-setting racing career: Ivo helped push drag racing forward with multiple-engine setups, record-setting speeds, and memorable exhibition runs.
A rare collector's piece: The Masterwagon has a fascinating history, including its final exhibition appearances and a planned appearance at a Mecum auction.
TV Tommy Ivo's Four-Engine Buick Dragster
Talk about a piece of motorsports history! Coming from a Buick family makes this wild Buick dragster even cooler to me. Featuring a Buick Riviera front end and a Roadmaster station wagon-inspired rear body, this exhibition dragster houses four Buick 401-cu.-in. Nailhead V8 engines.
The rare, all-wheel-drive dragster, originally raced by the famous "TV Tommy Ivo", was scheduled to be auctioned off in January at the Mecum auto auction in Kissimmee during an eight-day event.
The history behind TV Tommy Ivo and the Wagonmaster is extensive. Before Tommy Ivo sold what was then called the "Showboat" dragster to Tom McCourry, it looked like a conventional slingshot dragster, albeit one powered by four engines.
From Showboat to Masterwagon
To keep the exhibition interest alive for the Buick dragster, McCourry had a handcrafted Buick body fitted to the slingshot chassis and called it the "Masterwagon." Eventually, it was sold back to TV Tommy so he could take it on its final stretch of exhibition work, which ended in 1996 at the Goodguys 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 that he had to stop the racing and focus on his entertainment career, TV Tommy chose "Racing" instead.
Who Was TV Tommy Ivo?
TV Tommy's nickname had a good reason behind it. He was a television star, movie star, singer, dancer, and radio personality. When his producers told him he had to stop racing and focus on his entertainment career, TV Tommy chose racing instead.
Some of TV Tommy Ivo's Greatest Racing Accomplishments
First to succeed with Buick power.
First to succeed with dual-engine setups, setting records at 170, 175, and 180 mph.
First to succeed with quad-engine setups.
First to break the nine-second barrier with a dual-engine dragster.
First to break into the seven-second and five-second quarter-mile barriers.
Made the first side-by-side seven-second pass against Don "The Snake" Prudhomme.
Joined other racers in bringing drag racing to England for a six-event exhibition.
Inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005.
First to succeed with Buick power.
First to succeed with dual-engine setups, setting records at 170, 175, and 180 mph.
First to succeed with quad-engine setups.
First to break the nine-second barrier with a dual-engine dragster.
First to break into the seven-second and five-second quarter-mile barriers.
Made the first side-by-side seven-second pass against Don "The Snake" Prudhomme.
Joined other racers in bringing drag racing to England for a six-event exhibition.
Inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2005.
Masterwagon: Car Facts (Mecum)
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 into the Wagonmaster in 1981.
Served as the 30th-anniversary and final-tour car in 1982.
Made its last competitive run at the 1982 World Finals at Orange County Raceway.
Made a vintage run at the July 1996 Goodguys Nostalgia National at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Four Buick Nailhead 401-cu.-in. V8 engines.
The Nailhead V8s essentially form two V16 engines.
More than 1,500 cubic inches of total displacement and more than 2,000 horsepower.
Four-wheel drive, with two engines driving the front wheels and two driving the rear wheels.
Black, orange, and 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.
Featured as the centerfold car in the September 2012 issue of Hot Rod Deluxe magazine.
Sold on a bill of sale.
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 into the Wagonmaster in 1981.
Served as the 30th-anniversary and final-tour car in 1982.
Made its last competitive run at the 1982 World Finals at Orange County Raceway.
Made a vintage run at the July 1996 Goodguys Nostalgia National at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Four Buick Nailhead 401-cu.-in. V8 engines.
The Nailhead V8s essentially form two V16 engines.
More than 1,500 cubic inches of total displacement and more than 2,000 horsepower.
Four-wheel drive, with two engines driving the front wheels and two driving the rear wheels.
Black, orange, and 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.
Featured as the centerfold car in the September 2012 issue of Hot Rod Deluxe magazine.
Sold on a bill of sale.
The Masterwagon Heads to Auction
The "Masterwagon" was scheduled to be sold on the eighth and final day of the Mecum auction event, alongside more than 300 other consignments.
The "Masterwagon" is the original "Showboat" slingshot dragster, authenticated with an autograph from TV Tommy himself. His message to the future owner says it all:
"Take Care of My Baby."
