Projects Replica of the Ivo's Showboat dragster

The original Tommy Ivo/Showboat dragster was sold to a guy that modified into the Wagonmaster show car several decades ago.

A few years back, car collector Ralph Whitworth purchased it at auction with the intention of restoring it back to ...the original dragster form.

Tommy Ivo convinced Whitworth to leave it as is to preserve the historical show car and construct an exact replica of the Showboat dragster.

Whitworth agreed and Ivo rounded up all of the rare parts necessary and built the replica of his original dragster to add to Witworth's collection in Winnemucca, Nevada.

 

That's WILD. didn't I hear that Don Prudhome painted the original?

 

wow! Just wow!

 

talk about a project and a half! i talked to tommy quite a bit last year at chrr, if i see him this year i will try and get more scoop on it. dam thats kool. a guy here in indiana restored the wagonmaster drive train, back when it was restored for west.

 

Wow, we need lots of detail shots of that one, We are kicking around the idea of going to reno's hot august nights next year and Winnemucca is on the way, is the Witworth's collection something anyone can stop in ad view?

 

Cool
I saw the original make a couple of passes when I was a kid.

 

It was sold 13 months ago at the Petersen Museum by R&M Auctions.
It sold for just shy of $200K. I have no idea who bought it.
Ralph sold most of his collection and took a real beating, too.
Many cars were sold far below what he had paid for them.

 

Hey--- Thats me

 

Here it is the day before the auction, out by the main entrance...



and the original.........

 

i was over at bruce's shop when he was still roughing in the body panels... it REALLY is a NEAT car, and bruce does some REALLY nice work.

 

I just looked them up....
It went for $176 and the original went for $209K

 

lost money on the original - made money on the clone

 

did the recreation ever get fired up...all four at the same time? Ever?
I guess the first question should be...was it capable of running?

 

when i was at bruce's they were dummy engines....

 

Interesting stuff.

 

well, dummies or not, it was sure fun to stand there and look at it at the auction...
I was in the 6th grade when it was the cover car on Hot Rod in December of 1961. WOW!!!!
I was 11 and had been going to the drags for just a few years. I started subscribing to HRM in 1960, so I was really hooked.



mine had dummy motors, too...

 

The engines were empty , but I did gap all the plugs at .035

 

the devil is in the details

 

dreracecar
The engines were empty , but I did gap all the plugs at .035

Well, shucks, there you go! Almost there. All that's needed are 4 cams, 32 pistons w/rods and rings, 64 push rods, lifters, and rockers, and you're ready to run!!!

Piece of cake.

(I'm assuming the crankshafts are present.)

 

Nope, just two long pieces of pipe. besides I machined the magnetos myself. cheaper that buying new ones

 

That's too funny!!

Empty engines or not, that is one awesome project.

I've run Nailheads in my last 4 projects including a drag boat, so I've got a sweet spot for them...never mind 4 Nailheads in one project...Ivo rocked!!

Share some more pics for us when you can...thanks!

 

I made this for Tommy as sort of a "Thank You" for the project from the extra castings I had to make as I couldnt buy the right covers , so I pulled one off the original car and had copys made.

 

I got to sit in the original when it was in the showroom at a Buick dealer (Romer & Ruble?) in Santa Maria somewhere around 1966 (my uncle worked there)...Now I've got a big framed pic of it w/ all 4 tires smoking, hanging over my fireplace.

 

I love the picture of it smokin all four tires.

 

You gotta love it.

 

I my opinion, Tommy Ivo was the consumate drag racer. Driver, Builder, Showman, and from what I have seen and heard, a nice guy. I flagged Ivo in Florida in the old days and Don Prudomme was driving the Caddy pushcar.

 

I love them cars. I have seen the og run at Goodguys Indy back in 94 or 95 I was hooked on nailheads ever sence

look left I have most of the parts to build a blown nailhead. I plan on starting my digger next summer.

Where did you find 4 sets of valve covers or did you cast them to

 

man i wish someone could finish that thing, would love to see it run again!

 

Donut,

I was there in Indy at the Goodguys event as well!!! I purposely chased Tommy down at the end of the strip (not top end, but right near the timing tower where he ended up after the wild burnout!!!) to say hello and I'll be damned...his firesuit was still smoking!!!! I had met him as a kid in the 60's when he ran at our strip in Muncie. Was then and at the Goodguys event a CLASS ACT!!!

 

Cool stuff! I wasn't around in '61 but this is one of the first cars that sticks in my mind. My Dad was a Buick man so as a kid I thought Nailheads were really cool, still do but I got into Fords some how. I did make my FED engine 322ci (4.0" x 3.2") for a reason.