Sunoco
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

At one time, it seemed like there was a Sunoco station around just about every corner. The company's familiar blue diamond and yellow arrow became one of the most recognizable symbols on American highways, pointing motorists toward fuel, service, and a friendly attendant waiting at the pumps.

This vintage porcelain Sunoco sign dates from the days when oil companies invested as much in their roadside image as they did their gasoline. Built from porcelain-coated steel, signs like this were designed to withstand years of sun, rain, and snow while remaining bright enough to catch the eye from down the road. The simple arrow-and-diamond logo became an enduring part of the American roadside.

Founded as the Sun Oil Company in 1886, Sunoco grew into one of the nation's largest gasoline retailers and became well known for innovations like its "Custom Blending" pumps, which allowed motorists to choose different octane levels from a single dispenser. While the stations have changed dramatically over the years, the classic Sunoco logo remains one of the most recognizable brands in petroliana.

UPDATE: The original location of this sign is unknown, so its current status cannot be verified. Original porcelain Sunoco signs have become increasingly scarce as older stations disappeared or were modernized, making surviving examples popular with collectors and roadside preservation enthusiasts. 06-26

D&S Oil
IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

D&S Oil is one of those regional gasoline brands that has largely faded from memory. Judging by its styling, this sign appears to date from the 1960s, when independent oil companies across Illinois competed with the major national brands using distinctive roadside advertising of their own.

The sign's bold lettering and simple design are classic examples of the era. Built from porcelain-coated steel and likely outlined in neon when new, it was designed to stand out to passing motorists without relying on elaborate graphics. Signs like this gave local fuel companies their own identity and added a lot of character to the roadside.

Unfortunately, little has been documented about D&S Oil itself, making surviving signs like this even more interesting. They serve as reminders that America's highways were once filled with dozens of regional gasoline brands that have long since disappeared.

UPDATE: The original location of this sign is unknown, and its current status cannot be verified. Like many independent Midwestern gasoline brands, D&S Oil has largely disappeared from the roadside, making surviving signs uncommon pieces of regional petroliana. 06-26

Odell Gas Station
Odell, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Odell Gas Station is one of the best-known survivors along historic Route 66. Built in 1932, this charming little Standard Oil station was designed in the popular house-style architecture of the day, making it feel more like a neighborhood home than a commercial business. It's one of those places that instantly takes you back to the early years of automobile travel.

Over the years, the station wore several different gasoline brands, including Standard Oil, Sinclair, and Phillips 66. A two-bay service garage was added to the rear in the 1940s, and the station remained in operation until 1975. Like so many businesses along Route 66, it was eventually bypassed as traffic shifted to Interstate 55.

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. In 1997, the Route 66 Association of Illinois purchased the station and, with help from the National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, carefully restored it to its 1930s appearance. Today, it's one of the signature landmarks along the Mother Road and a favorite stop for Route 66 travelers from around the world.

UPDATE: The Odell Gas Station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is owned by the Village of Odell. Fully restored, it serves as a seasonal visitor center and museum, giving travelers a chance to experience one of the finest preserved service stations on historic Route 66. 06-26

Chicago Motor Club (Gone)
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Check out this great old marquee for the Chicago Motor Club, the Midwest counterpart to the Automobile Club of Southern California. Before GPS and smartphones, motor clubs were an essential part of every road trip, providing maps, travel guides, emergency roadside service, and TripTiks to members heading out on the open road.

Founded in 1906, the Chicago Motor Club became one of the nation's leading automobile organizations and played an important role in promoting safe driving and highway travel throughout the Midwest. Signs like this identified official club offices and affiliated service garages, reassuring motorists that help was never far away.

The familiar Chicago Motor Club shield was once a common sight throughout the region, but most of these signs have disappeared over the years. Fortunately, a few survive as reminders of an era when planning a road trip meant stopping by the local motor club before turning the key.

UPDATE: The Chicago Motor Club was eventually incorporated into the American Automobile Association (AAA). Its landmark 1929 headquarters on Wacker Place has been restored as a Hampton Inn Hotel, while surviving Chicago Motor Club signs have become sought-after pieces of automobilia. 06-26