A 1962 newspaper ad for Speedway 79. They had just consolidated with Marathon.
Submitted by Gary Flinn, who provides this capsule history:
Speedway 79 was the brand name for the Detroit Michigan based Aurora Oil Company which
was sold to the Ohio Oil Company in 1959. The Ohio Oil Company's brand of gas was
Marathon. The Speedway 79 and Marathon brands co-existed until 1962 when the company was
renamed to the Marathon Oil Company, at which time the stations were rebranded to Marathon.
The Speedway brand was revived in the early 1970s by Marathon as a company-owned chain
of self-serve gas and convenience stores.
-Gary Flinn
Speedway 79 Photos
An old Speedway 79 station at 1644 W. Bancroft Street (Auburndale area)
Toledo, Ohio. Probably mid 1950s. Speedway 79 was a brand used by
Aurora Oil of Detroit from the 1930s to about 1962.
Photo is from the Images in Time collection of the
Toledo-Lucas County Public Library.
Used with their permission. Image inclusion suggested by Drew Sager.
A 1950s vintage Speedway 79 patch. From Gary Flinn.