Buick Tri-Shield
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                                                                                            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 chute
Tommy shows his car to Cynthia Pepper
What a view!

The Deist chute deployed for stopping. the chute is red, white and blue

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!
Tommy's Four at the Pamona Museum

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


More of Tommy's Buicks!!!
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