Bill Frick (United States)

Bill Frick Motors was established around 1955 in Rockville Centre, Long Island, and was founded by Bill Frick, a notable figure in American road racing. Frick collaborated with prominent racing personalities, including Briggs Cunningham, and gained recognition for his innovative approach to automotive engineering.

One of Frick's significant contributions to the automotive world was the installation of a Cadillac engine into the Allard J2, which helped to create a notable racing legacy. He favored the 5400cc Cadillac V8 engine, known for its overhead valves and robust performance. Frick adapted this engine for street use by fitting it into 1949-1950 Ford sedans, which became popular for their speed. He sold over 200 of these modified vehicles, commonly referred to as "Fotdilacs," to various racing enthusiasts, including Cunningham and Luigi Chinetti.

In addition to the Fotdilacs, Frick produced approximately half as many "Studillacs," which featured the same Cadillac engine integrated into the 1953 Studebaker coupe. He also developed the Thunderlac, a Cadillac-powered version of the 1955 Ford Thunderbird. In 1955, Frick introduced his own car design, known as the Frick Special. This vehicle featured a box-section chassis and offered various configurations of the Cadillac engine, ranging from stock to supercharged versions. The Frick Special included options for Cadillac automatic transmissions and a ZF 4-speed manual transmission. The aluminum body was designed by Michelotti and constructed by Vignale, resembling the 340-series Ferraris but on a larger scale. The Frick Special was priced at $9,000 in 1955, and only two coupes and one convertible were produced, marking a unique chapter in American automotive history.