Our Story
How did Petrolia begin…
Petrolia was born from a lifelong passion for cars. Since I was a kid, I’ve always been
fascinated by the world of automobiles – not just the speed or engineering, but the character and charm that older cars carry with them. As I got older, I found myself drawn to a particular era: the cars of the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s. These were the models that sparked my imagination and held a special kind of nostalgia.
That’s when I started collecting vintage car memorabilia – old badges, brochures, posters, and magazines. Somewhere along the way, I stumbled across original car adverts nestled within the pages of those magazines. I was instantly hooked. These ads had a personality, a boldness, a creative flair that’s hard to find in today’s marketing. They weren’t just selling a car, they were capturing a lifestyle, a moment in time, a cultural shift. It started as a hobby, a bit like collecting Pokémon cards when you were a kid, finding that rare gem, the one ad you’d been searching for. Slowly but surely, it grew into something more. Now it’s my full-time job, and something I take huge pride in. Petrolia is the result of that journey.
About Petrolia…
At Petrolia, we believe vintage car advertisements are more than just decoration –
they’re authentic pieces of automotive history. Our motto is simple:
“Authentic. Delicately preserved. Delivered.”
Each piece you find here is an original print – sourced directly from vintage car magazines and preserved with care. We don’t deal in reprints or reproductions. Every advert is curated on an as-found basis by a small, passionate team of petrolheads – people who love classic cars just as much as you do. From BMW to Volkswagen to Mercedes-Benz, I’ve personally owned and cherished classic models from each of these iconic brands. That first-hand experience has deepened my appreciation for the history, design, and soul that these vehicles carry. It’s that same passion that fuels everything we do at Petrolia. We're not just selling framed adverts, we’re preserving pieces of automotive culture so they can be appreciated as the timeless works of art they truly are.
We see these ads as more than just visuals – they’re expressions of an era when design,
storytelling, and style collided. Whether you hang one in your garage, office, or home, you're not just displaying a car ad – you're showcasing a chapter of history.
Where Petrolia is going…
We’re building something bigger than just a store. We want to grow a community of like-
minded enthusiasts, people who value the craftsmanship of the past and want to preserve it in meaningful ways.
One of the best parts of running Petrolia is seeing where our ads end up. I love when
customers send in photos of their framed advertisements hanging proudly in their homes, garages, or workspaces. It’s a great reminder that these pieces still matter – they still inspire. As more people discover the charm and historical significance of vintage car advertising, we hope to keep evolving. Our goal is to elevate these ads into more than just collectibles – we want them to be seen as art. We’re committed to staying true to our mission: to celebrate the legacy of automotive design and storytelling, and to deliver that legacy – one advert.
