JANUARY 2003 WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO...

SIGNAL OIL'S ROLLING BATTLESHIPS Story and Photo by Truck Historian/Author Stan Holtzman (Click on image for larger photo) “Go Farther” was the motto for Signal Oil, and Rudy Smith is seen here piloting one of their trucks (a 1945 Autocar) in this 1956 photo. The color of the Signal fleet was basically battleship gray, however, in the 1960s, the fleet underwent a facelift and a bright orange color was introduced to this famous oil company’s rigs. From the 1930s into the 1960s, Signal Oil had a vast network of retail gas stations throughout the West and, at one time, was the parent company of Mack Trucks. The Signal fleet of tankers was located next to the Chevron terminal, on Vail Avenue, in Montebello, California. The Signal trucks always had three numbers either on their front bumper or on one of their front fenders (the first two digits denoted the year of the truck). I don’t know what happened to Signal Oil or their fleet of KWs, Peterbilts and Autocars... perhaps there are some older Signal drivers out there that can let me know by calling me at the magazine at 1-888-440-4104 or by e-mailing me directly through my website at www.linerigs.com.