Sunoco
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The familiar Sunoco diamond and yellow arrow once seemed to point toward a filling station around every corner. This porcelain-coated steel sign was built to withstand the weather while catching motorists’ attention from down the road.

Founded as Sun Oil Company in 1886, Sunoco became known for its “Custom Blending” pumps, allowing drivers to select different octane levels from one dispenser. The stations changed, but the distinctive logo remained easy to recognize.

UPDATE: This sign’s original location and present status remain unknown. Surviving porcelain examples are popular with collectors who appreciate the colorful advertising that once stood above the pumps. 06-26

Take a look at these four vintage gas stations found along the roads of Illinois. From house-like buildings to one resembling an old firehouse, each offers a glimpse of the days when filling stations came in a variety of shapes and styles. Though their pumps have gone quiet, the surviving structures recall an earlier era of roadside travel. Battery Specialists Photo courtesy Don Gardner Vintage gas station looks like a house Photo courtesy Don Gardner Another vintage gas station looks like a house Photo courtesy Don Gardner This one looks like an old fire house Photo courtesy Don Gardner

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 has been a Route 66 landmark since 1932. Its house-style architecture gave motorists a welcoming neighborhood stop rather than an ordinary garage. Originally a Standard Oil station, it later carried Sinclair and Phillips 66 branding. Service bays were added in the 1940s, and operations continued until 1975.

Preservation efforts eventually returned the building to its earlier appearance, giving this little fuel stop another reason to welcome travelers.

UPDATE: The restored station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and owned by the Village of Odell. It now operates as a seasonal visitor center and museum. 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.

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

Archer's Gas Station
Compton, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

This gas station still exists as a shell of its former self. It's located in Compton, IL.

UPDATE: This was Archer's Service Station, run by Don Archer and later by his son (I presume) Floyd.  The building in the background was the garage/repair shop area.  A lift for cars was located between the two buildings. Since Archer's was next to the highway they carried as assortment of candy, soda and cigarettes.  I can remember when 35 cents would buy you a gallon of gas or a pack of smokes here.   They had a unique cooler for the soda, in which the bottles sat in a tank of water, which was chilled and circulated around the bottles.  It had the Coca-Cola trademark on it. Its' purpose these days seems to be overflow parking for the bar next door. Many thanks to Lou Miller for update. 03-07

UPDATE: Archer's Service Station still stands along Route 30, although only as a shell of its former self. The main station building and repair garage remain, but the pumps and equipment are gone. Today, the property is used primarily as overflow parking for the neighboring tavern. 06-26