SHIPSHEWANA, Ind. — Bidders definitely stepped on the gas when they attended a Chupp auction consisting of many petroliana related items.

A simple oil can proved to be one of the star lots of the auction. The Sinclair Opaline motor oil can featured a simple white background with green printing. It sported a vintage automobile driving across the top. It was in good condition and quickly soared to $2,400.

A 5-gallon Harley Davidson motor oil rocker can was in rough shape with a hole rusted through. But the graphics were still very readable and the brilliant yellow band around the outside made the writing stand out. Despite its condition it sold for an impressive price of $2,200. In good condition, a red Hat rocker oil can held its own. It sported a very visible red hat on the front with the word “approved” showing its worth. It brought the final bid price of $1,300. Coming in right at the $1,000 price was a green and red Amoco rocker oil can in good condition.

A Kendall PenzBest rocker oil can in good condition sold for $800, while a Marathon rocker oil can was also in fair condition and sold for $700. A 1-quart Sinclair Pennsylvania motor oil can was sporting red background with white graphics. This one was another rare one and the bid price showed that. It sold for $1,000.

Six Gargoyle Mobil oil cans in very good condition sold for $1,000, while a collection of four different 1-gallong Garboyle Mobile oil cans reached $550.

Selling for $550 each were a 1-quart Indian motorcycle oil can and a Pan-Am rocker oil can.

There was a small selection of oil can displays. A Kendall Motor Oil display rack was complete with 12 one-quart oil cans, all in very good condition. It had a large red sign on top and had three shelves below that. This metal piece measure 23 by 43 inches and brought a high bid of $675. A 13 by 38 inch Pennzoil display rack was in very good condition. Sporting an oval yellow sign at the top, this round rack was complete with 12 oil cans and was in very good condition. It sold to a telephone bidder for $500.

A Quaker State motor oil display with 17 oil cans measured 17 by 30 inches. It was in overall good condition and sold for $250. A metal and glass slant-top display cabinet was from Goodyear tire accessories. It measured 23 by 12 by 20 inches and sold for $500.

Coming in at $450 was a 25-inch tall Schrader Tire Gauges countertop display cabinet. This one was mostly red in color and was round, looking more like a thermos than a display case. Showing green, a 20-inch tall Schrader Universal tire gauge countertop display cabinet was in good condition. This one sold for$775.

Signs were big with this group. Something you don’t expect to see on a sign is the Michelin man riding a bicycle. However, he did on a very popular sign. It measured only 30 by 30 inches. The double-sided tin sign for bicycle tires was made in France and sold for $1,900.

Reaching for the sky on the signs was a single-sided tin sign for William Tell Motor Oil standing an impressive 60 inches tall and measuring 12 inches wide. Standing with an apple on his head that had an arrow through it, was William Tell in his red coat and blue knickers. This one was in great condition and is unusual to see. It brought a final bid price of $4,700.

Standing large at 42 by 48 inches was a double-sided porcelain sign advertising a Dodge and Plymouth dependable service department. It was in very good condition with a couple of touch-ups. With a dark blue background and white letters, this one was a real find. It didn’t bring the hammer down until it reached a bid price of $3,500. A Phillips 66 sign measured 60 by 60 inches. This shield-shaped sign was a single-side porcelain cat-eye sign. The cat-eyes are rare. This one was from the Michigan City, Ind., airport and was in good condition with a bit of touch-up. It sold for $3,500. An almost identical Phillips 66 sigh had a cast iron frame and measured 6 feet in diameter. This double-sided porcelain sign came complete with a 12-foot cast iron pole which was original to the piece. It was in fair condition and sold for $2,200.

Measuring 72 by 20 inches, a sandstone and metal Miller Tires sign had a wooden frame. It was in good condition and brought the hammer down at $1,600. A single-sided porcelain Mobil oil sign was in fair condition. It measured 60 by 36 inches and encouraged the customer to “refill with Mobil oil NOW”. It sold for $1,500.

Firestone Tires were advertised on a single-side porcelain sign that measured 48 by 20 inches. Made by Beaver Enamel with extra mounting holes; I,t sold for $1400. A 24-inch diameter double-sided porcelain Mobil oil lollipop sign was still with the original cast-iron base. It measured 64 inches tall and was in rough shape with some touch-up. It brought the hammer down at $1,200. An identical sign, but in good condition brought a high bid of $1,800.

A double-sided porcelain Fortune Ethyl gasoline sign was complete with the metal frame and hanger. This one measured 25 by 21 inches and was in excellent condition. It sold for $2,500. Still crated up in a homemade wooden crate was an excellent restored Chevrolet Oldsmobile sign. It was complete with the hanger and measured 77 by 65 inches. It was a double-sided tin sign and was a rare find in this condition. It claimed a new home for a bid of $1,400.

For more information on Chupp Auctions call (260) 768-7616.