The story of Cliff Byfield

Posted by John Mellberg March 06, 2021

The story of Cliff Byfield

In western Australia there resides a legendary car builder, widely known among Aussie car enthusiasts for creating a series of homebuilt, hand fabricated, road and racing cars over the course of more than 60 years. His name is Cliff Byfield, and this is a bit of his story.

In the late 1930's Mr. Byfield was an apprentice coachbuilder in the city of Perth but, with the onset of the second World War, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force and was shipped off to the European theater. He was put to work as a tail-gunner, flying with his crewmates in Lancaster bombers, on missions over France and Germany. He had over 30 sorties to his credit.

After concluding his military service, he returned to Perth and, after some course studies in architecture, resumed and completed his coachbuilding apprenticeship. It wasn't long before he started his own workshop, specializing in building one-off truck cabs, that employed over 15 people. While panel beating and metal shaping have been his primary vocation he is also a talented wood worker, designing and constructing furniture, as well as making musical instruments including a Harp.

The Byfield Maybach 4 Corvette

All the while he was engaged in building custom cars. In retirement he took the opportunity to teach "manual arts", the Australian equivalent of "shop class", to high school students and engaged them in his car-building hobby as well. The product of that endeavor was a Lotus 7 inspired roadster called the "Ford Leyland Clubman", in reference to its mechanical donors and its track day pretentions.

In all Cliff Byfield has built 15 handcrafted cars, almost single-handedly; welding up frames, building chassis, designing bodies, crafting bucks, hammering and shaping bodies, and even learning sewing skills to do the custom upholstery in each of them. Most of these required around two years work, from concept to completion.

The first of his cars was called the "Byfield Citroen", a one-off car designed and built in Perth during the 1950s. It was a 2 door coupe, based on a damaged Traction Avant. It was sadly destroyed in an accident.

The Byfield (Repco) Holden Sports

Among his most famous works was the "Byfield Holden Sports", sometimes referred to as the "Repco Holden". This car still exists and races in Western Australia among other peers in the vintage racing circuit. It was built in early 60's and used a Holden grey motor, inline 6-cylinder, with a Repco crossflow head. Hence its nickname. A road going version of the car was also built and was referred to as the "Byfield Holden". It was a handsome design, in the vein of Italian contemporaries, and featured creature comforts such as a convertible top which the racer lacked. As fate would have it the road car was also raced by a fellow named Stan Stacevich but got "pranged", as the they say down under, and was never repaired.

The Byfield XJS V12 HE

One of Cliff's most ambitious creations was a mid-engine V12 called the "Byfield XJS V12 HE". Its construction is based on a steel, box-section, back-bone chassis of an entirely original design. Byfield's attention to detail is abundantly evident in the execution of various catches, hinges, and minutiae that are easily overlooked by enthusiasts and other builders alike. His design for the car's hidden door release mechanism is a perfect example. Externally there are two small panels, the top one is spring-loaded and is operated by pushing it in and then pulling down the accompanying panel beneath it. As a result of this action, the seats rise up to meet occupants, lowering once inside. Such details made an already stunning vehicle into something truly extraordinary. The car made numerous public appearances to great acclaim and even won the top prize at Perth's annual Hot Rod & Street Machine show.

He completed his most recent, possibly final, project at age 94! This car is referred to as the "Byfield Riley". It is a convertible, in a pre-war style, finished in a metallic burgundy color, with fine wood and leather trim inside, with mechanicals from a salvaged Riley that, as Cliff said "followed him home one day"...

Byfield cars at the Motor Museum of Western Australia

A number of his creations have been donated to the Motor Museum of Western Australia, in Perth. Others reside with collectors across the country. Each is a gem and testament the drive, ambition, and prodigious talents of the man.

When Cliff Byfield was a boy growing up in Northam in the 1930s, his Grandfather gave some advice he has followed all his life.

"Everyday, before you go to sleep, stop and consider: What have you learned today? What have you done today? Has the day been productive? And are you satisfied with your effort?"
"If you can't answer those in the affirmative then your day has been wasted".

It is advice the 96-year-old has always heeded. To this author, those sure seem like good words to live by.

Note: This article was originally published on Undiscovered Classics, a fantastic website that covers more cars like these and their builders.

Credits:
Some pictures and input provided by Stacey Nico, owner of the Byfield Ford Leyland Clubman. Other pictures, courtesy of the Motor Museum of Western Australia, in Perth. Quote from Mr. Byfield is from an interview with 720 ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corp.).