BIKINI BEACH, 1964 | HERE FOR DRAGSTERS, KEENAN WYNN, PATTI GALLAGHER & BIKINIS

**ACTRESS PATTI CHANDLER WITH A TOMMY IVO DRAGSTER IN “BIKINI BEACH”**

Straight-up, this 1964 movie was low-budget, razor-thin but popular “beach movie genre” of the day. Keenan Wynn whipping around on his Triumph w/sidecar makes me happy, and enough to keep me glued. And TV Tommy Ivo was Technical Advisor and had a large hand in the shaping of this film by including his own primo dragsters, and getting Dean Jeffries‘ Mantaray in the movie as well. I’m going to highlight the shots that I think are top-tier eye candy, better black & white, and many not from the film.

***PATTI CHANDLER WALKS THE LINEUP OF DRAGSTERS ON THE SET OF BIKINI BEACH MOVIE, 1964*** ***(THAT IS NONE OTHER THAN DEAN JEFFRIES “MANTARAY” IN THE BACK!)***

***“TV” TOMMY IVO AND A YOUNG DON “THE SNAKE” PRUDHOMME PUSHING THE “SHOWBOAT” DRAGSTER***

***“TV” TOMMY IVO BEHIND THE WHEEL OF HIS LEGENDARY “SHOWBOAT” DRAGSTER***

***“TV” TONY IVO EVENTUALLY TURNED OVER DRIVING DUTIES TO DON “THE SNAKE” PRUDHOMME***

The insane (4) engine dragster was Built and owned by “TV” Tommy Ivo that became a legendary dragster named the Showboat, AKA The Moving Fog Bank. Showboat weighed 3,555 lbs, and was powered by 4 (yes, four) 454 c.d.i. Hilborn injected Nailhead Buick engines that combined to produce 1700 horsepower. Revell made a 1/25 model of Showboat back then… Who’ s holding!