Brothers Frank and L.E. Phillips founded Phillips Petroleum in 1917 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, on the strength of a remarkable run of successful wells. When they launched their premium gasoline in 1927, they needed a name — and company lore says a road test of the fuel hit 66 miles per hour on U.S. Highway 66, giving the brand both its number and its highway romance.
The "66" shield became a fixture of the Midwest and the mother road, and the number tied the brand forever to the golden age of the American road trip. The company was a serious innovator too, with deep research in natural gas liquids and petrochemicals.
The shield’s color story is one collectors love: the classic black-and-orange gave way to the familiar red-and-white shield in the late 1950s, so the palette itself helps date any piece at a glance.
A road-shield silhouette carrying the number 66 — a design that fuses the brand with U.S. Route 66 itself. The switch from black-and-orange to red-and-white makes the shield one of the easiest marks to date and one of the most satisfying to collect in sets.
The earlier color scheme is especially prized and marks a pre-late-1950s piece.
The classic later shield is the most recognizable form and anchors most collections.
Pump globes for Phillips premium fuels carry the shield onto the pump island.
Phillips Petroleum is founded in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
The premium fuel launches; the "66" name is tied to a road test on Highway 66.
The shield switches from black-and-orange to the familiar red-and-white.
Live Phillips 66 listings pulled from eBay. Follow any piece straight to the seller.
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