Enter Texas Oil Company

In 1901, Joseph S. Cullinan, a former Standard Oil worker and Arnold Schlaet, a New York investment manager, joined forces to create Texas Oil Company. Intending to buy and sell refined oil, mainly to Standard Oil interests in the north, the two quickly expanded into oil production. Within 3 decades, Texas Oil became the first company to market in the contiguous 48 states.

So What IS Texaco?

As the company grew, the nickname “Texaco” became the name by which customers knew the brand. A salesman had seen the shortened name on a telegram, and it stuck. In 1959, Texaco became the official corporate brand name. In addition, the classic “T” in a star logo became globally recognized as Texaco grew to one of the largest oil companies of the late 20th century. As a native Texan, I have bought many a gallon of gas at Texaco stations, so this piece is another favorite of mine.

About the Piece

This Texaco station piece was created for anyone who appreciates the art and wants to hang it on their wall. Perfect for enjoying at home or in your shop. With the precision of a rendering, this piece could easily pass for one. Bring this piece to your space by visiting our Gallery.

About the Artist

Ray Elliot is the creator of this particular piece, and is a retired architect and designer based out of Georgia.

The post Texaco: Fueling Adventure for Over 100 Years appeared first on Form Function Art.

Interesting Beginnings

Strangely enough, the Gremlin was launched on April 1, 1970 (source) and was allegedly designed by Richard Teague on the back of an airsick bag while flying back to Detroit (source). In order to compete with the VW Beetle, the Gremlin needed to be reliable, affordable, and also a car with a distinguishable design that Americans would be proud to own. (source) To keep costs down, Teague built the Gremlin using parts that were interchangeable with several other American Motor cars, most notably- the Hornet. (source)

Leaving the Competition in the Dust

In contrast to its subcompact competitors, the Gremlin came standard with a 6-cylinder engine, making the powertrain one of its key selling points. (source) These particular engines had earned a reputation for being reliable and durable, not to mention affordable. (source) Because of these competitive advantages, over 670,000 Gremlins were sold in 8 years. (source) That’s quite a tidy profit off of one of the world’s ugliest cars. (source)

But It Has Character

If you ever owned an AMC Gremlin, or perhaps spent a good amount of your childhood riding around in one, this piece will really brighten up your collection. Visit our Gallery to purchase the one and only Gremlin.

About the Piece

Once a car is designed and moves into production, artwork is needed to illustrate the car to potential buyers. This photo-realistic painting of a 1970 Gremlin appears to be an example of brochure artwork. At first glance, many viewers assume they are looking at a photograph of the car. However, this piece has been airbrushed by hand.

About the Artist

This particular piece was created by an unknown artist, adding a touch of mystique to an already unique subject.

The post The Gremlin: Detroit’s First Minicar appeared first on Form Function Art.

When my brother was in college at North Texas State University (now called University of North Texas), he had his very own Cutlass Supreme. It was a 1972 model and boy, I thought that car was sexy. The Oldsmobile Cutlass was both sporty and luxurious, with features such as AM/FM stereo, 8-Track tape player, and large speakers that really made an impression. I later bought my own in 1976 and enjoyed it every second, until I had an accident that totaled the car.

Needless to say, this piece is one of my favorites.

A Game-Changer for Oldsmobile

Until 1976, Chevrolet had the lead in automobile sales. However, the designers at Oldsmobile were not going to let them have the lead for too much longer. With new style enhancements, such as grille upgrades and rectangular quad headlamps, Oldsmobile was targeting an audience that wanted something stylish and different. With these modifications to not only the Supreme, but to the other Cutlass models, Oldsmobile shot into the lead with almost 900,000 automobiles produced that year. (source)

About the Piece

This John Perkins original was created with marker and gouache on paper. His attention to detail and accuracy make this piece a must-have for your collection. Add this piece to your gallery here.

About the Artist

Growing up in Lansing Michigan, John Perkins had family members who worked at Oldsmobile. This helped quickly develop his love of cars. At the age of 5, he began drawing cars and later went on to design automobiles for GM.

The post Cutlass Supreme: Memories appeared first on Form Function Art.