This Fina Super Plus petrol globe represents one of the most recognisable European fuel brands of the postwar era. Its clean shield-shaped design and bold red, white, and blue colours symbolised reliability, performance, and national pride, reflecting the company’s Belgian origins and international success.

Item Details

• Brand: Fina

• Product: Super Plus Petrol Pump Globe

• Origin: Belgium

• Period: Circa 1960s to 1970s

• Construction: Moulded glass with enamelled red, white, and blue graphics

• Design Features: Shield-shaped body with “Super Fina Plus” text and distinctive tricolour border

Historical Background
Fina was founded in 1920 as Compagnie Financière Belge des Pétroles, based in Antwerp, Belgium. The company quickly established itself as one of Europe’s leading petroleum brands, expanding across the continent and into the United Kingdom during the interwar and postwar years.

The Fina name and logo became synonymous with high-quality motor fuel and engine oils. Its branding, featuring a shield with bold typography, conveyed strength, protection, and confidence, qualities that appealed to motorists at a time when reliability and performance were central to the motoring experience.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Fina invested heavily in its visual identity. The shield logo was refined and standardised across its petrol stations, tanker fleets, and advertising. The introduction of Super Fina Plus during the 1960s reflected the growing demand for premium-grade fuels designed for modern high-compression engines. This coincided with a period of rapid expansion in European car ownership and the rise of more powerful, performance-oriented vehicles.

Design and Features
This glass petrol globe is designed in Fina’s signature shield shape, instantly recognisable among collectors and motorists alike. The colour scheme of red, white, and blue not only referenced the Belgian national flag but also reinforced Fina’s image as a trusted, international brand.

Mounted on the top of a petrol pump, the globe would have been internally illuminated, creating a bright and welcoming symbol for drivers seeking quality fuel. The raised lettering and bold sans-serif typeface ensured maximum visibility both day and night.

The Super Plus designation represented Fina’s premium petrol blend, promoted as offering smoother performance and greater engine protection. These globes would have been seen across European forecourts, including in the UK, France, Germany, and Belgium, during the height of Fina’s retail presence.

Cultural and Industrial Context
Fina’s rise coincided with the golden age of European motoring. As car travel became more widespread, petrol stations transformed from purely functional spaces into branded destinations. Companies like Fina used design and colour to convey trust and modernity, making their pumps and signage instantly recognisable on busy roads.

By the 1970s, Fina was a major player in the European oil industry. The company continued to operate independently until it merged with Total in 1999, forming TotalFina, a name later shortened to Total. Despite the merger, the classic Fina branding remains an enduring part of Europe’s petrol heritage.

Collectibility and Legacy
Fina petrol globes are highly sought after by collectors for their strong design and international heritage. The shield shape and vivid tricolour design make them standout pieces in any automobilia collection. Surviving examples in good condition, particularly in glass rather than plastic, are relatively rare due to the fragile nature of the material and the widespread switch to plastic signage in the late 1970s.

Collectors value these globes not only for their visual appeal but also for their representation of mid-century European motoring culture. The Fina Super Plus globe captures the optimism and modern design sensibilities of an era when driving symbolised freedom, progress, and personal mobility.

Summary

• Fina Super Plus petrol pump globe, circa 1960s to 1970s

• Made from moulded glass with enamelled red, white, and blue graphics

• Shield-shaped design featuring the classic Fina logo

• Represents a premium-grade petrol from one of Europe’s leading oil brands

• Produced during the height of Fina’s international expansion across Europe

• A highly collectible piece of petroliana with strong visual and historical appeal

The Fina Super Plus petrol globe stands as a striking reminder of the golden age of motoring and the era when design, identity, and engineering excellence defined the roadside experience.