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Brody
September 9th, 2009, 06:08 AM
This is a man after my own heart. I actually saw "TV Tommy" quite a few times in the 60s as he raced/showed his car a lot in Daytona . Nothing like a little HP in your basic 4x4...When he dumped the clutch, his car would essentially vanish in smoke..

Check out the year and think about all the creative 'out of the box' engineering that went into this set up...
The year .... 1961
Tommy Ivo, and his legendary Buick!
One is good, two is better, then Four Fire Breathin' Nailheads Outta Be
TERRIFIC!
......so said Tommy Ivo back in '61 when he built one of the wildest drag cars ever to hit the strip......in history!!!
Four, yes count 'em, FOUR 454 cubic inch Nailheads!!! 32 cylinders pumping out 1720 horsepower... at 3555 lbs this four wheel drive car clawed the strip with 4 M&H 9.00X15.00 slicks, covering the quarter at over 170 mph in 9.14!
Assembly list: C-T chromed stroker cranks
Iskenderian cams and kits
Jahns pistons
Grant rings
Stock rods
Hilborn injectors
Vertex mags by Joe Hunt
64 Gotha rockers
Fuller-built frame
Dodge truck front end
'53 Merc steering
24' ring-slot chu

http://www.buicks.net/misc/images/Ivo_Cover.jpg
http://www.buicks.net/misc/images/ivo_2a.jpg The Deist chute deployed for stopping. http://www.buicks.net/misc/images/ivo_chute.jpg
The car was originally built with front suspension. A driveshaft connected a Halibrand quickchange to a double disc Schiefer flywheel and pressure plate with Velvetouch discs. The suspension was inadequate and later made solid. The frame was 3 inch .156 wall chrome moly tubing. The exhaust was built by Barr's muffler shop in Studio City.
A Ford truck rear end was used. Halibrand rear wheels were used while Tommy made fronts from Buick rims with sheet steel discs.
The car was valued at $13,000.00!
http://www.buicks.net/misc/images/ivo4_now.jpg

After makeovers the car now resides at the NHRA Museum in Pomona. Tommy's T and Twin are there too!

Funrover
September 9th, 2009, 06:20 AM
That is SWEET!

1freaky1
September 9th, 2009, 06:44 AM
I remember it from my old hot rod mags and mini car mags, I did get to see it after the make over once very awesome to see all 4 tires smoking.

Metalhed
September 9th, 2009, 01:10 PM
Met him and Don Garlits. I have spent many many hours at the track.
(employed there for 9 years)

Stood between many race cars for many hours and days

Roostercruiser
September 22nd, 2009, 09:29 AM
that would be scary if the motors would blow up in your face:eek:

Brody
September 22nd, 2009, 10:15 AM
that would be scary if the motors would blow up in your face:eek:

Most of the guys that do this kinda stuff wheel their cojones to the track in a wheelbarrow. Respectful of what can happen...sure. Scared doesn't fit into the picture to much...