Description

This Ultramar petrol pump globe represents one of the most distinctive and modern designs to emerge during the 1970s–1980s, a time when petrol branding was shifting toward bold colour blocks and clean typography. With its bright yellow, red, and blue graphic and the crisp “Ultramar” logotype, this piece captures the sleek, contemporary image that defined late 20th-century fuel station design.

Product Details

• Brand: Ultramar

• Era: 1970s–1980s

• Material: Molded plastic with applied decals

• Shape: Rectangular form with rounded edges

• Colours: Blue, yellow, red, and white

• Function: Petrol pump globe topper

• Condition: Excellent, with vibrant colours and minimal wear

Historical Background

Ultramar’s origins date back to 1935, when it was founded in the UK as the Ultramar Exploration Company, focused on overseas oil production and refining. The name “Ultramar” comes from the Latin for “beyond the seas,” reflecting the company’s early operations in Africa and Canada.

By the 1960s and 1970s, Ultramar had expanded into retail fuel distribution, establishing a strong presence across the UK and later in Canada and the United States. The distinctive branding—featuring strong geometric shapes and a bold colour palette—reflected the design trends of the era, which emphasised modernity, efficiency, and visibility.

This particular petrol pump globe design was introduced during Ultramar’s rebranding phase in the 1970s, coinciding with the company’s expansion and the introduction of self-service petrol stations. The vivid yellow and blue colours were chosen to make the pumps stand out both day and night, while the red diagonal stripe added a dynamic sense of movement and speed.

Design and Features

The Ultramar globe’s rectangular form was a departure from the more traditional round or shield shapes used in earlier decades. Its clean, minimalistic lines were perfectly suited to the sleek architectural style of 1970s petrol stations.

Made from durable molded plastic, the globe was designed to be lightweight and weather-resistant, replacing the fragile glass globes of the past. The bold “Ultramar” lettering in blue sans-serif typeface reinforced the brand’s modern image, and the internal illumination would have made the globe a bright beacon on the forecourt during evening hours.

Collectibility

While Ultramar was a familiar name in British and Canadian petrol retailing for several decades, the company’s branding changed in the late 1980s after a series of mergers and acquisitions. Many Ultramar globes were removed or discarded during rebranding, making surviving examples increasingly rare today.

Collectors prize these globes for their striking design, vibrant colour scheme, and representation of a transitional period in petroliana history, when the industry was embracing modern materials and aesthetics.

Summary

• Authentic Ultramar petrol pump globe from the 1970s–1980s

• Rectangular plastic construction with bold geometric graphics

• Features Ultramar’s distinctive blue, yellow, and red branding

• Originally mounted on illuminated petrol pumps at Ultramar service stations

• Excellent example of late 20th-century petrol branding design

This Ultramar petrol globe perfectly encapsulates the era of bold design and modern engineering, when the roadside aesthetic evolved from nostalgic charm to streamlined modernity. A rare and visually striking piece of petroliana from one of Britain’s most memorable oil brands.