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Bib's racing results were particularly outstanding from 1960 - 1965. He was Australian Formula 1 Gold Star Champion in 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965, Formula Two Champion in 1965, and Sports Car Champion in 1961 and 1962. And the competition was not just the race track! The Stillwell dealership had become extremely successful and had attracted the attention of the Ford motor Company. In 1966 an important decision was made and Bib created a Motor Industry sensation in accepting a Ford franchise. Thus B. S. Stillwell - Ford was born in February of 1966.
Recognising the continuing growth of the company in the car market and the increasing need to dedicate concentration on management in a very competitive business, Bib Stillwell decided to retire from motor racing at the end of the 1965 season. The family business continued to increase and expand over the following decades and the Ford Franchise and grew to include operations in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney.
It was during his extensive travel around Australia to various race meetings that Bib developed a keen interest in aviation. In the late sixties & early seventies he established aviation businesses, Civil Flying Services, (where Bib first learnt to fly) first distributing Beechcraft, then later Learjet. Having pioneered corporate jet travel in Australasia, Bib was invited to join the Gates Learjet Corporation and took the family to the United States to take up the position of Senior Vice President in 1979. Three years later he was President. During his 10 year stint as President he attained a World Altitude Record in a Learjet and even sold Formula One heros Keke Rosberg & Niki Lauda their first personal jets.
It was during his stay in the US that Bib rekindled his motorsport passion through historic class racing. He first purchased a Jaguar D type then a Ford GT40 in which he beat an international grid of drivers in the 25th anniversary GT40 two hour race at the famous Watkins Glen circuit. Other cars included a 1972 Gulf Mirage sports car, the awesome 1983 Williams Formula One, his ’65 Brabham BT14 and friend, Sir Jack Brabham’s 1969 Repco Brabham BT13. The later two Bib regularly raced in Australia including at the Adeaide Formula One Grand Prix and the Geelong Speed trials.
After a decade with Gates Learjet, the Company was sold, providing Bib with an opportunity to consolidate his family and business interests (including BMW & prestige car franchises) back to Melbourne.
In 1989 Bib Stillwell BMW was established and quickly became a leader in the market for prestige vehicles and today is one of the country’s leading BMW dealers. The BMW business soon expanded and now includes Dealerships at Brighton, Camberwell and Mornington.
After becoming the country’s leading Ford Dealer, B.S.Stillwell Ford in Kew, was sold in 1994.
January of 1996 saw, Bib purchasing Glenn Ford at Ferntree Gully and renaming it Knox Ford. The dealership quickly flourished under Bib’s guidance with son Chris Stillwell at the helm and became the fastest growing Ford Dealer in Melbourne. Today Knox Ford is one of Melbourne’s top 10 Ford dealers.
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It would be impossible to give a full account of the life of Bib Stillwell without writing a book, so here is a brief history of how we came to be where we are today.
The son of Bertie and Marion Stillwell – Bermar Sellars Stillwell, was born in Melbourne in 1927. (Bermar was made up from both his parents names). The unusual name “Bib” began when as a toddler, it was the closest he could get to pronouncing Bermar. Needless to say, it stuck with him.
Just after the war, Bib’s father fired up his son’s interest in motor racing when he purchased one of the first MG TC’s in the country. Bib Stillwell, gave early demonstration of his driving skills when he raced that car in the Rob Roy Hill Climb in 1946. His first circuit race was at Ballarat Aerodrome on Australia day 1947. A course at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology developed his keen interest in mechanical engineering and when he decided that his career should be in the motor industry, he moved into that highly competitive business with an outstanding background of technical knowledge.
B. S. Stillwell & Co. was opened in Kew in 1949. Bib Stillwell was appointed as dealer for MG, Morris and Jaguar cars and the dealership was quickly recognised for excellence in sales and service. As the business grew, so too, did Bib's involvement in motor racing. He competed successfully in a Jaguar XK 120 and a Cooper JAP. By 1953 the high profile of his successful business had attracted the attention of General Motors. B.S. Stillwell-Holden was established that year.
Bib Stillwell became a member of the Albert Park Committee who were preparing for the first Grand Prix meeting to be held there in 1953. He competed in the event in an Austin Healey. By 1956 he was achieving great success with the graceful Jaguar D type and managing to take the time away from his business commitments to race at various circuits in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania.
By 1957 he was also playing a dominant role in single-seater motor racing. His Maserati 250F frequently led tevents and a Cooper Climax T43 bought in 1958 was a challenge to his rivals. During the European winter season, several of the Formula One and Sports Car drivers would come to the southern hemisphere to compete in the Tasman Series and Bib was always battling with the leaders. In 1960 he gained 3rd place in the New Zealand Grand Prix driving a Cooper Climax. In 1961 Bib achieved several successes in Australia with the Aston Martin DBR4 and he and fellow Australian Lex Davison were invited by the John Oglier’s Essex Racing Team to drive a DB4 GT Zagato in the Le Mans 24 Hour Race. Unfortunately the car did not complete the race. |
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