One of the finest depictions of a classic old Anderson-Prichard Oil Corporation brand gas station is the one created by painter Michael Young. His “Wood Oil Company” is a beautiful painting of a gleaming white, full-service filling station, circa 1950s, with the attendant checking the oil for a classic convertible.
Other classic cars and a pickup truck surround the station, including even a hotrod, with flames painted on its hood and door.
The painting is bright, with colors reflecting off of the pavement, as though there had just been a rain, or the attendant had just washed it off, giving it a mirrored surface.
In the background is the iconic “APCO Petroleum Products” sign above the station, and the glass globes above the pumps show the APCO Challenge gas logo. “APCO” was the acronymic brand name adopted by the Anderson-Prichard Oil company towards the late end of the life of the organization, before the founders completely sold off their interest in the company.
All in all, the Wood Oil Company painting is a nostalgic glimpse of days gone by where beautiful cars and a prototypical Anderson-Prichard Oil Corporation gas station formed a scene that is an archetype for fans of the golden age of automobiles in America. Scenes like this are what auto memorabilia collectors imagine when they see the old gas company signage and associated brand materials.
While Michael Young’s original paint of Wood Oil Company has been sold, fine art prints, including on canvas, are available still on his website. See the Wood Oil Company APCO Station picture by Michael Young.
