Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Ellis

These days, supermarkets excepted, there appear to be few petrol brands.

In the 1960's I can remember many and at one time even in my small village of around 750 population there were no less than 5 places you could buy petrol.
Now there is only one.

[[URL=http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/EWG204/media/images24_zps691bdc8e.jpg.html]

[/URL

My father preferred one brand of petrol - National Benzole - and would drive to a nearby village to fill up from an assistant manned hand cranked pump.

The one brand he would not buy was Fina.

Which other ones can you remember or name?[/img]
_________________
Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

Peter_L · Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 5:10 am Post subject:

AGIP. A family member ran an AGIP station in the 60's.

roverdriver · Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 9:34 am Post subject:

There have been many petrol companies in Oz. Golden Fleece (H.C. Sleigh Ltd) was a very early one. Here is a list of those that I can remember, not necessarily in any order.

Ampol, Amaco, Atlantic, B.P., Caltex, C.O.R., Esso, Fina, Golden Fleece, Kookaburra, Mobil, Neptune, Plume, Shell, Total, Vacuum.

There are probably other short-lived ones.

Here is a timeline covering a lot of the history-

http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/petrol_oil_timeline.htm
_________________
Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

pigtin · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 1879 Location: Herne Bay

I remember Cleveland Discol coming out in the 50s (or it might have been re-appearing after the war.) It was said to have alcohol in it. I used it on my AJS 16m but couldn't tell any difference.
_________________
Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

alanb · Joined: 10 Sep 2012 Posts: 517 Location: Berkshire.

Hi
Clevland discol was available into the sixties it vas said to have 25% alcohol (ethanol). See the thread for ethanol problems.
_________________
old tourer

Morris 8 two seater

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4236 Location: South Cheshire

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

I'm cheating here because I was looking through a very old (1952) copy of Autocar a few minutes ago. There was a full page advert in it for "Power" petrol. Anyone remember them?.
_________________
Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22784 Location: UK

Ellis

Ellis · Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2013 8:23 pm Post subject:

I just remembered that I had an old photograph of my father's chemist shop in the early 1920's when it was owned by an old Betws y Coed family.
As a family we still own the building but in the early 1900's and through to the 1930's, I believe, petrol was sold "loose" or in cans from the place as well as paraffin. I still have a 1950's "Esso Blue" sign somewhere.

I wish I had the "Pratt's Aviation Spirit" one today.

The holding tanks were kept in the cellar entered by a big trap door below where you can see the paraffin and hurricane lamps and they were only removed in the 1986 when I had some work done to the building.

The 1950's Esso Blue tank was only disposed of last year.

[

]

[/img]

I lived in Liverpool for a time in 1977/78 and I recall that there was a petrol station near Lime Street Railway Station which sold ICI petrol.
I was warned by many NOTto buy it.
_________________
Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

V8 Nutter · Joined: 27 Aug 2012 Posts: 601

When I was little I had a toy petrol tanker with Pool Petrol written on it. I think it was grey with black and white writing.

I think National Benzole didn't have lead, instead it used benzole and alcohol to raise the octane rating.

VIP and Nafta were two old brands popular round here they were always a bit cheaper than the more well known brands. They were supposed to be from Russia

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4236 Location: South Cheshire

MVPeters · Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 822 Location: Northern MA, USA

JET

My very first tank-full was JET at 4/11d per gallon. Never again at that price!

Mike - MVPeters at Comcast.net
_________________
Mike - MVPeters at comcast.net
2002 MINI Cooper 'S'

JohnDale · Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 1:24 pm Post subject:

I lived in Liverpool for a time in 1977/78 and I recall that there was a petrol station near Lime Street Railway Station which sold ICI petrol.
I was warned by many NOTto buy it.[/quote]

Hi Ellis, ICI synthetic petrol was made at Billingham & available from 1946.
It gave car exhausts a strange smell,so much so that you could tell if the car in front was using ICI petrol. It was made by extracting gas from coal & then other chemicals added - my father used it for many years without problems.
There was a plant built in the Liverpool area which used the same process
under licence from ICI. Cheers,JD.
_________________
1958 Ford Zephyr Mk2 Convertible
1976 Ford Granada Ghia.

Ellis · Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 1:41 pm Post subject: