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). 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. 3. Bill Phy with coupe, final work before going to Bonnieville, 1949. Bill liked chrome! 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! 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.
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.
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.
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.
Here are some Bill Phy period newspaper references: From August 25, 1949 issue of The Deseret News (Salt Lake City UT) From August 27, 1949 issue of The Deseret News (Salt Lake City UT) From August 23, 1950 issue of The Daily News (Los Angeles CA) From September 1, 1951 issue of The Salt Lake Telegram (Salt Lake City UT)
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. 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. 3) Bonnieville 1949 : plaque for his Coupe 1st Place 123.62 mph (it had gone faster at El Mirage) 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.
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. 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. 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. 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. 5) The lines are the Road Runners logo hand drawn. "The Thifty 60" probably refers to the lakesters V8-60.
The Jalopy Journal
