This Fina Super Plus petrol pump globe is a striking example of European forecourt design from the 1960s and 1970s. Its bold shield shape, crisp lettering, and distinctive red, white, and blue colour scheme embody the confident branding of one of Europe’s most recognised fuel companies during the golden age of motoring.

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 in raised letters

Historical Background
The Fina brand was founded in 1920 as Compagnie Financière Belge des Pétroles in Antwerp, Belgium. Initially focused on importing and refining petroleum products, Fina grew rapidly throughout Europe, establishing itself as one of the continent’s leading independent oil companies. By the 1950s, it had built an extensive network of service stations and a strong visual identity recognised for its red, white, and blue shield logo.

The Fina Super Plus brand emerged during the 1960s as part of the company’s move toward premium-grade fuels. With increasing numbers of high-performance cars appearing on European roads, motorists sought cleaner, higher-octane petrol blends designed to maximise engine efficiency and reliability. Fina Super Plus was introduced to meet this demand, positioned as a superior product for modern motoring.

Design and Features
This petrol pump globe captures Fina’s refined and consistent design approach. The shield shape was used throughout the company’s signage, reinforcing brand recognition across its European network. The deep blue lettering set against a white field, framed by red and blue borders, was both patriotic and modern, symbolising performance and trust.

The addition of the words “Super Plus” reflected the premium nature of the fuel. The glass construction, designed for internal illumination, meant that the globe would glow brightly on service station forecourts, guiding motorists toward quality fuel even in the dark. The careful use of typography and colour balance is typical of the mid-century design sensibilities that defined European petrol branding.

Cultural and Industrial Context
The introduction of Fina Super Plus coincided with a period of great change in European motoring. Advances in automotive engineering led to higher compression engines requiring more refined fuels. Companies like Fina, along with Shell, Esso, and BP, responded by introducing premium lines marketed toward performance and reliability.

The 1960s and 1970s also marked a time when branding and design became central to customer loyalty. Petrol companies invested heavily in their visual identity, ensuring that their stations stood out in an increasingly competitive marketplace. The Fina shield became an instantly recognisable symbol of quality fuel and continental sophistication.

By the late 1990s, Fina had merged with the French company Total, forming TotalFina, later known simply as Total. Although the Fina brand eventually disappeared from service stations, its name and imagery remain highly regarded among collectors and enthusiasts for their design and historical importance.

Collectibility and Legacy
Original Fina Super Plus glass globes are now prized items among petroliana collectors. Their vibrant colours, crisp lettering, and robust design have ensured they remain one of the most visually appealing examples of mid-century European fuel branding. The glass versions, like this example, are particularly sought after, as later models were made from plastic, which is far less durable and lacks the same quality of finish.

Collectors appreciate Fina globes for their combination of elegant design, craftsmanship, and historical relevance. They serve as both decorative pieces and tangible links to the era when the petrol station was as much a symbol of progress and adventure as it was a place to refuel.

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 Fina’s premium-grade fuel range for high-performance engines

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

• A highly collectible piece of automobilia that reflects the elegance and optimism of postwar motoring

The Fina Super Plus petrol globe stands as a perfect example of how design, branding, and engineering excellence combined to define an era of European automotive history.