Department
Petroliana auctions: pump globes, oil cans and garage signs
AP saleroom holds specialist petroliana auctions at the BARC Clubhouse, Thruxton Racing Circuit, near Andover in Hampshire. You can bid in the room, by telephone, by commission bid or online from anywhere in the UK and abroad. Petroliana means the signs, pump globes, oil cans, pourers and other items used to advertise and sell petrol and motor oil.
Buyer’s Premium is 16% of the hammer price. Selling costs 10% commission plus a £5 cataloguing fee per lot sold, and sellers are paid within seven days of us receiving cleared funds.
Our next petroliana sale
AP saleroom Two-Day Auction, 7-8 November 2026, at Thruxton Racing Circuit with online bidding.
179 petroliana lots in this sale, including 39 petrol pump globes, 32 motor oil tins / cans, 24 two-gallon petrol cans, 23 motoring enamel signs, 19 oil pourers and measuring jugs, 10 flanged enamel signs.
Lot 415British Dominions Empire Motor Policy Motoring Enamel Advertising SignEstimate £7,000 - £10,000
Lot 488R.O.P. ZIP Petrol Pump GlobeEstimate £1,500 - £3,000
Lot 411Dunlop Tyre Stock A. Roberts Ringwood Enamel Advertising SignEstimate £1,500 - £2,500
Lot 354AeroShell Motor Oil CanEstimate £1,000 - £2,000
Lot 378Redline-Glico Motor Oils CanEstimate £1,000 - £2,000
Lot 412AeroShell Lubricating Oil Enamel Advertising SignEstimate £1,200 - £2,000
Lot 446FINA Petrol Pump GlobeEstimate £1,000 - £1,800
Lot 447Super Fina Hailware Petrol Pump GlobeEstimate £1,000 - £1,800
Petrol pump globes
Globes sat on top of petrol pumps to show the brand of fuel on sale. They were made in glass and, later, plastic. Recent sales have included globes for Shell, BP, Fina, National Benzole and R.O.P., and a Shell Motor Oil globe sold for £5,000 hammer (£5,800 including Buyer’s Premium).
Glass globes are fragile, so they need specialist handling after the sale. Our shipping partner, Sackville West, packs them in custom-contoured foam inside a timber crate built for the lot, and can ship within the UK and abroad. See shipping.
Oil cans, pourers and pyramid tins
Motor oil tins and cans, oil pourers and measuring jugs, two-gallon petrol cans and pyramid tins make up a large share of every petroliana sale. Condition, maker and rarity drive the price: the Cooler Motor Oils pyramid tin by Theo. Phillips, Son & Co. sold for £3,600 hammer (£4,176 including Buyer’s Premium), more than double its top estimate.
Garage and motor oil enamel signs
Enamel signs from garages and forecourts advertised petrol, oil, tyres, batteries and motor insurance. Every sign we sell is catalogued for maker, dimensions, condition and any restoration, so you know exactly what you are bidding on.
Oil cabinets and forecourt equipment
Oil dispensers and cabinets, repair kits and component tins, and workshop equipment also appear in our petroliana sales. Larger pieces such as pumps and cabinets are palletised by Sackville West for delivery.
Recent petroliana results
The highest prices from our most recent sale, AP saleroom No Reserve 2-Day Sale (July 2026). Each shows the hammer price and the price including the 16% Buyer's Premium.
| Photo | Lot | Hammer price | Including Buyer's Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
 | National Super Mixture Petrol Pump GlobeLot 479 | £13,000 | £15,080 |
 | Shell Motor Oil Pump GlobeLot 166 | £5,000 | £5,800 |
 | Dunlop Fort Tyre Tin Advertising SignLot 90 | £4,000 | £4,640 |
 | Esso Golden Extra Petrol Pump GlobeLot 469 | £3,800 | £4,408 |
 | National Benzole Mixture Petrol Pump GlobeLot 162 | £3,200 | £3,712 |
 | Regent Supreme Avery-Hardoll Petrol PumpLot 114 | £3,000 | £3,480 |
 | Shell Avery-Hardoll Petrol PumpLot 115 | £3,000 | £3,480 |
 | Power Raised Letter Petrol Pump GlobeLot 163 | £2,600 | £3,016 |
 | Esso Ethyl Flanged Enamel Advertising SignLot 63 | £2,600 | £3,016 |
 | Shell Motor Lubricating Oils Flanged Enamel Advertising SignLot 68 | £2,200 | £2,552 |
 | Wakefield Castrollo Oil CabinetLot 125 | £2,000 | £2,320 |
 | Esso Green Petrol Pump GlobeLot 475 | £1,900 | £2,204 |
See every result from this sale
Buying petroliana at auction
Viewing is usually held the day before each live auction, with confirmed times in the catalogue, and entry is free. Commission, room and telephone bids carry no surcharge. Bidding online at apsaleroom.com adds 2%, and bidding through the-saleroom.com adds that platform’s fee. Full details are in our Buyers’ FAQs and fees and premiums.
Selling petroliana with us
Send photographs of up to three items through our online valuation form for a free valuation, or call Nick on 07415 191 494 to talk it through. We generally look for consignments worth £200 or more in total. We can arrange collection of your items, with the charge agreed in advance. Our Seller FAQs cover the process step by step.
Petroliana auction questions
What counts as petroliana?
Petroliana is anything used to advertise or sell petrol and motor oil: pump globes, petrol pumps, oil cans and pourers, pyramid tins, oil cabinets, and garage and forecourt enamel signs.
How often are your petroliana auctions held?
We hold several live auctions a year at Thruxton Racing Circuit, plus occasional timed online sales. Dates for the next sales are on our upcoming auctions page.
Can I bid online from anywhere in the UK?
Yes. You can bid online at apsaleroom.com or the-saleroom.com from anywhere, by telephone, or by leaving a commission bid before the sale.
Can glass pump globes be shipped?
Yes. Sackville West packs each globe in shock-absorbent foam inside a timber crate built for the lot, and ships within the UK and internationally. Ask them for a quote before the sale on 020 8090 9988 or office@sackvillewest.co.uk.
How do I get a petroliana item valued?
Use our online valuation form to send photographs of up to three items, or call 07415 191 494. Valuations for auction are free.
Our first petroliana auction, November 2025
Our first dedicated petroliana sale, held at Thruxton Racing Circuit, was a huge success: almost 300 lots of enamel advertising signs, petrol globes and vintage motoring memorabilia went under the hammer, with strong bidding throughout the day.
From enamel signs and petrol globes to oil cans and forecourt advertising, collectors showed real confidence in quality pieces, with several standout results. Strong online, commission and room bidding pushed prices well beyond expectations and confirmed the depth of demand for well-presented petroliana.
For a first sale in the category, the atmosphere, the engagement and the prices realised exceeded anything we could have hoped for. A big thank you to everyone who consigned, viewed, bid and supported the auction.
Browse the full catalogue from the sale.
Consign to our next petroliana auction
With this level of interest, we are now inviting entries for upcoming sales. If you are thinking of selling - whether it is a single sign or globe, or a full collection built over decades - we would love to hear from you, even if it is just an informal chat about your items. We will happily talk through the best way to sell as we build on this momentum.
Get in touch with the team to discuss a consignment or arrange a free valuation.