Sep 02 2020 09:51 AM
Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Sep 03 2020 04:53 PM
Inspired by KC's remark in the AON thread...
I've been thinking about gasoline brands lately, as a kid I loved how this basic commodity was differentiated primarily by their colorful logos. Most of the new-school brand imagery is ugly (Lukoil), lazy (Valero, Speedway) or tries too hard (BP). These aren't all of them but:
It occurs to me I rarely see Texaco stations anymore, and as kid that stood out for for reliability, even if as a matter of taste, I preferred blue to red as a primary color. Come to think of it, the c-store and retailization of gas has really de-emphasized the service station as a thing so I also don't see much Shell or Chevron out there anymore either.
Sunoco was exciting with the bright yellow/red and the arrow shooting through it. Wow.
Gulf to me was a brand for your grandfather, or guys who liked golf. It looked like a orange golf ball. I think this was because there was a Gulf station near my grandfather's home.
Esso with its squiggliness became EXXON and got pretty severe. Cool tiger but underutilized as a brand asset.
Mobil: Classy, graceful brand, flying horse, good for your car. Yes.
BP: (old school) was very British, a forest green you'd see on a hunt, that has since become a photoshop bullshit green.
Citgo: Get outta here with your ugly red triangle.
Amoco: Cool fire, yet, pollution and danger!
Chevron: Gas for chevrorets. Not exciting.
Getty: Boring but good associations with Mets sponsorship. It was also the station closest to my house growing up. I think these all became Lukoils at one point when the Russians took over.
Union 76: DYNAMITE logo, association with racing, but saw very few stations in the NE. When I am out west I love to buy gas at 76 (or Sinclair, which I don;t ever remember around here). Easily 10 better than Phillips 66.
Shell: The gas preferred by scallops. My mom collected scallop shells so I had a soft spot for them. As a kid I sent away from the free "Shell answer man" series of car-care booklets but never really read them. I just liked having them.
Vote for the coolest brand (your definition of cool) and explain your choice. Does the coolness of gas logos influence your purchase decisions?
