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History BILL PHY's 33 Ford Coupe

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Noel Sea, Mar 31, 2025.

  1. Noel Sea
    Joined: Mar 31, 2025
    Posts: 3

    Noel Sea

    I am seeking information on Bill Phy, plus both his 33 Ford Coupe, as he chopped/channeled for '49 Bonnieville and used at El Mirage, plus his '49/50 Lakester (belly tank) in which he won the 1950 SCTA overall championship. The lakester was probably sold in 1950 just before he went into the army for the Korean War, to a Mercury dealer. After his army service ended 1952, Bill Phy changed directions (became aerospace and silicon valley engineer) and got into sports cars, including helping at California Sports Car Club races (59-62). I completed the restoration of an 1947 MG TC that he started in 1956; Bill did the engine and much of the work, including totally new ash wood frame, and his workmanship was simply superb.

    "Hemi Coupe" noted in a 2001 post (long time ago!) that the front end of Phy's 33 coupe (all custom, Phy did all the work himself as owned Custom Craft in Temple City, CA area) was sold and used on another car? I have been told that the coupe was a 33 (3 window); however with the front end significantly modified it is hard to confirm not a 34. Any thoughts on that, 33 or 34? Son Scott says '33. Anyone have info on what happened to the 33 Coupe? Included below are a few pics from ORIGINAL photos from son Scott, please do not duplicate without permission (will grant for personal use). Thanks. I have photos of the Lakester as well.

    1. 33 Coupe beating Mickey Thompson in drag race, 1948 (hot rod friends, went to Alhambra HS (Socal) together; Bill graduated early at age 16 in 1945, then went to Pasadena City College through '48; Bill Phy worked for - his first job - and friends with Kenny Harmon, Harmon & Collins cams; plus Phy helped and friends with Roger Barris, custom cars maker, TV Batmobile etc; Bill did amazing body work). IMG_1043.jpeg

    2. Coupe as Phy doing custom body work in his home garage, 1948-9, Temple City, CA. Bill owned his own business, Custom Craft Styling, in Temple City; member Road Runners, 47-50; set many speed records. IMG_1039.jpeg

    3. Bill Phy with coupe, final work before going to Bonnieville, 1949. Bill liked chrome! IMG_0720.jpeg

    4. Bill driving the coupe at Bonnieville, August 1949. Set Coupe speed record, although not fast first few days as the salt was very rough and lumpy with thunderstorms. He went much faster at El Mirage. Scott still has the helmet from that first ever Bonnieville SCTA event! IMG_1121.jpeg

    ANY info appreciated,
    Noel

    PS: originally posted as conversation but I am interested in ANY good information from anyone on forum. I am researching history on Bill Phy and his TC, and all information is helpful. Working with his son Scott on this, and it is an incredible story. Hope I posted this in the right place.
     
    rod1, oj, williebill and 6 others like this.
  2. panhead_pete
    Joined: Feb 22, 2006
    Posts: 3,678

    panhead_pete
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    That last pic is particularly awesome!
     
    daylatedollarshort likes this.
  3. richard noble
    Joined: Dec 30, 2024
    Posts: 49

    richard noble

    The doors on Bill coupe appear to be 1933, because they lac the bar at the rear the 34’s had for the vent window shift. The body has the hole at the bottom of the cowl for the 34 hood latch, that makes it a 34. IMG_0062.jpeg IMG_0062.jpeg IMG_0061.jpeg
     
    Just Gary likes this.
  4. Corn Fed
    Joined: May 16, 2002
    Posts: 3,406

    Corn Fed
    Member

    No, that's just a hole for a rubber bumper.
    That is most definitely a 33 cowl. The beadwork where the hoodlacing goes is different between 33 and 34 at the bottom. The car was a 33.
     
    oj likes this.
  5. downlojoe33
    Joined: Jul 25, 2013
    Posts: 867

    downlojoe33
    Member

    I disagree, the cowl lip on a 33 has no dip for the hood side to rest on , a 34 does have that dip.
     
  6. downlojoe33
    Joined: Jul 25, 2013
    Posts: 867

    downlojoe33
    Member

    I just enlarged the pictures, you may be right. I really can’t see a dip in the cowl now. On my 33 the bottom of the cowl did not have a hole or a bumper, but a horseshoe shaped piece of metal that the hood rod slid under to hold itself against.
     
    oj likes this.
  7. Bluestreak-PA
    Joined: Apr 14, 2012
    Posts: 78

    Bluestreak-PA
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Erie, PA

    Here are some Bill Phy period newspaper references:

    From August 25, 1949 issue of The Deseret News (Salt Lake City UT)
    1949.08.25 - Deseret News (Salt Lake City UT) 1.JPG
    1949.08.25 - Deseret News (Salt Lake City UT) 2.JPG

    1949.08.25 - Deseret News (Salt Lake City UT) 3.JPG
    1949.08.25 - Deseret News (Salt Lake City UT) 4.JPG

    From August 27, 1949 issue of The Deseret News (Salt Lake City UT)
    1949.08.27 - Deseret News (Salt Lake City UT) 1.JPG
    1949.08.27 - Deseret News (Salt Lake City UT) 2.JPG
    1949.08.27 - Deseret News (Salt Lake City UT) 3.JPG

    From August 23, 1950 issue of The Daily News (Los Angeles CA)
    1950.08.23 - Daily News (Los Angeles CA).JPG

    From September 1, 1951 issue of The Salt Lake Telegram (Salt Lake City UT)
    1951.09.01 - Salt Lake Telegram (Salt Lake City UT).JPG
     
    lurker mick likes this.
  8. Noel Sea
    Joined: Mar 31, 2025
    Posts: 3

    Noel Sea

    Thanks everyone for posts and info. Big thumbs up to Bluestreak-PA for the newspaper clips.

    I am posting some new pics I just took at Scott Phy's collection of his fathers photos and trophies. (Scott 's recovering from hip replacement surgery and got an infection, needed a visit! He is loving this new info on his father and will pass all along to him.)

    Noel

    1) 1949 Bonnieville SCTA: Bill Phy going through the speed trap backwards at about 141 mph doing a 360 spin. That cut his overall both direction time. Bill always was the driver; 5'8" and weighed 125 lbs.
    Screenshot 2025-04-01 at 5.45.23 PM.png


    2) After that spin, Bill Phy in the white jump/race suit. He joked about his backside being dirty. I am pretty sure that was the Bill Burke Lakester that got painted two-tone purple and is known as the Burple. Eventually Phy sets a lakester all-time speed record (at that time, of course) in the Burple. Screenshot 2025-04-01 at 5.43.45 PM.png

    3) Bonnieville 1949 : plaque for his Coupe 1st Place 123.62 mph (it had gone faster at El Mirage) Screenshot 2025-04-01 at 5.50.21 PM.png

    4) Bonnieville 1950 (2nd annual SCTA): Bill built his Lakester by end of 49; I believe got a Mercury Dealer and their mechanics (Stanford Bros) to be his sponsor; and I believe he sold the Lakester to them (renumbered #1 in dark purple color, as won the overall 1950 SCTA ) before going into Army Oct 1950. The Lakester probably used a V8-60 with a Harmon & Collins cam; Phy worked for Kenny Harmon at 16yo after graduating from Alhambra (Calif) High School in 1945 when Kenny started his shop in Alhambra; Kenny and Bill were lifelong friends and Phy re-built my (then his) 1947 MG TC engine with a Harmon designed 3/4 cam. Screenshot 2025-04-01 at 5.51.56 PM.png
     
    Bluestreak-PA and Xman like this.
  9. Noel Sea
    Joined: Mar 31, 2025
    Posts: 3

    Noel Sea

    A few more photos below. On history: Bill Phy joined the Road Runners club, member club of the SCTA, in 1947. He raced dry lakes (El Mirage mostly) and Bonnieville in 1949 (coupe and Burke's lakster) and 1950 ( Phy's lakester). Drafted in to the US Army in October 1950, I believe he sold both his Coupe and his Lakester. (Would love to find either!) Stationed in Georgia, he became a sergeant and instructed enlisted personnel on proper maintenance and repair of vehicles.

    He got leave in August 1951 and went to Bonnieville for the 3rd annual speed trials, driving his old #1 lakester for the Stanford Bros. Honorably discharged in Oct 1952, he followed a career first in aerospace (high altitude rocket valves etc) and then with the first Silicon Valley chip company, Fairchild, obtaining 14 patents - including ones for the processor of light in digital cameras and for a valve for lifting back off the moon with the NASA Apollo space program. He always was involved with cars, and later in life gave tech sessions on auto body and engine work at his home in Los Altos Hills, CA.

    Bill passed away in 2001. I am lucky enough to have purchased the 1947 MG TC he started to restore, which I completed to be the Cafe Racer Bill envisioned - about as much of a hot rod as a little english sports car can be - and my ownership (bought because of the engine build) started me down this path of finding out about Bill Phy's incredible life ...

    All photos and trophies part of the Bill Phy Collection maintained by his son Scott Phy.

    I can post more photos if people want, please let me know. Yeck I even have photos of the cafe racer TC! (maybe not the right forum). Again, any info anyone has on Bill and his Coupe (see above) please post. Thank you,

    Noel


    1) El Mirage? (LMK if anyone knows more). Bill is in his race suit white overalls and the Stanford Brothers are in the plaid shirts. Unknown car, and could be #70 in early days. Bill Phy's handwritten notes. Anyone know more? Gotta love the way the engine cover comes off. Ford "60" would a V8-60 which fit into the belly tank lakesters small space, the larger V8-75-85's did not. That same flat head used in Midget racers and in MG TC's for sports car races.
    Screenshot 2025-04-01 at 7.24.04 PM.png

    2. newpaper article, Nov 1950 (Phy already off to Army when published). San Gabriel Valley Motors was a Mercury dealership and the Stanford Brothers were mechanics there; they sponsored the car Phy built. That is Phy's trailer and him behind the wheel in the photo.
    Screenshot 2025-03-29 at 4.35.13 PM.png

    3. Bonnieville 1951? maybe just before getting ready at El Mirage? Any thoughts? The Lakester now renumbered #1 after winner first place overall SCTA in 1950. In 1951 became known as the Stanford Bros. Special.
    IMG_1822.png


    4. Phy's 1949 Bonnieville helmet. Willow is probably Willow Springs race track, as Phy did a lot of course marshaling at races for the California Sports Car Club in 59-62.
    Screenshot 2025-04-01 at 7.15.06 PM.png

    5) The lines are the Road Runners logo hand drawn. "The Thifty 60" probably refers to the lakesters V8-60.
    Screenshot 2025-04-01 at 7.19.49 PM.png
     
  10. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 22,256

    alchemy
    Member

    Yes, more photos!!
     
    lurker mick likes this.
  11. marfen
    Joined: Aug 14, 2009
    Posts: 467

    marfen
    Member
    from sask

    fantastic history...thx for posting.
     

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