new to me ads for Phillips 66 (now has me wondering... what is the 66 representing?) And Steve has the answer! The story the museum tells is that the car testing the Phillips gas did 66 miles per hour while running on Route 66.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10224954192362288&set=gm.1722943422216820&idorvanity=319578812553295

Phillips Petroleum Company was started in Bartlesville, Oklahoma in 1917 by brothers Lee and Frank Phillips. 

 Route 66 opened in 1926. The first Phillips 66 station opened in November 1927 - bulk sales before that. 

By the end of December they had four stations up and running. The story the museum tells goes that the car testing the gas did 66 miles per hour while running on Route 66.

The stated reason in 1927 didn't mention a car testing gas on Route 66 - it was the API gravity value of their aviation fuel (by 1932 it was up to 69.6).

Their logo didn't change to look like the Route 66 signs until around August 1930. 

As an aside, Phillips 66 was the name of Bartlesville's very successful A.A.U. league basketball team.

thank you Steve!