Founded by none other than John D. Rockefeller
as part of the Standard Oil trust in 1889, Amoco
would quickly decide to specialize in the supply
of petrol to the ever increasing numbers of the
driving public.
The first Service Station was
opened in Minneapolis, Minnesota, however its
global expansion mostly took place after World
War 2, it expanding far and wide, and operating
in Britain, Belgium, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea,
Taiwan, Norway, Venezuela, Russia, China, Trinidad
and Tobago, Egypt and of course Australia – where
the catchy jingles used to promote the brand
remain (in our opinion) a the penultimate symbol
of the care-free 1970’s.
Along the way the company would acquire the Tenneco Oil Company
and Dome Petroleum Company, and in the process
becoming one of the world’s three largest
oil companies. In 1998 the company merged with
British Petroleum, and for a time the intention
was to keep the Amoco name alive in the US while
the rest of the world converted to BP, but the
idea was quickly abandoned and all Amoco style
stations were demolished in favour of the new
BP style.
The end of an era, but here at Unique
Cars and Parts you can re-live those halcyon
days with this wonderful selection of Amoco radio
ads – turn up the volume!