Motorsports Hall of Famer, TV Tommy Ivo built his most famous car. The four Buick engine powered dragster “Showboat”, in 1961. It was the next progression in the evolution of multi engine cars that Ivo gained fame for innovating. After NHRA banned the use of nitro methane as a racing fuel to gasoline only in 1959 to 1963, Ivo went from a single Buick engine dragster, to two Buick's in one dragster. Immediately this car broke all the existing records. Logic dictated that the power to weight ration would become even better, if the engines were once again doubled to four. But just prior to the first race on the car, NHRA feared that if four engines became a trend, the guardrails couldn't contain a car in a crash. Therefore, no more than two engines were allowed to run in competition, making the Showboat an exhibition car only. But Ivo's troubles weren't over yet. While filming a series called “Margie” in1961/62, the studio banned him from driving. Don Prudhomme, Ivo's buddy who had cut his teeth in drag racing, accompanying Tommy as his crew on the 1960 nation wide tour, was hired to take over the driving chores, which was his first professional driving job. By the time the series was over, the nitro ban had been lifted and Ivo moved on in his 36 car career, to the blown fuel dragsters ranks.