Sio Garage "Shell" 1970

The Sio Garage "Shell", produced around 1970, is a beautiful example of vintage wooden toys that perfectly capture the essence of the automotive world and gas stations of that time. This model, from the well-known Dutch manufacturer Sio (Speelgoed Industrie Overijssel), features new advertising text and an updated pillar, making it a unique and valuable item for both collectors and lovers of nostalgic toys.

Sio was founded in 1938 in Vroomshoop, the Netherlands, and made a name for itself by producing high-quality wooden toys. In a time when plastic was becoming increasingly prevalent, Sio remained committed to making durable and robust toys, such as garages, trains and doll furniture. Their toys were simple yet functional and were known for their educational value and sturdy construction, making them popular with both children and parents.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Sio launched a number of garages, inspired by the real gas stations that could be found in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe at the time. The design of these garages reflected the everyday infrastructure of the automotive industry, and the collaboration with well-known oil companies, such as Shell, created recognizable and realistic play models.

The Sio Garage "Shell" is a wooden toy garage that reflects the style and functionality of a typical petrol station from the 1970s. This model is designed to simulate the experience of a real Shell petrol station, complete with parking spaces, a workshop area and a petrol station with a realistic petrol pump and two working garage doors.

One of the features of this particular example is that it features new advertising text and an updated pillar. This gives the garage a fresh and vibrant look, while retaining the iconic elements of the original design. The text and pillar reinforce the Shell branding, providing a recognizable visual link to the famous oil company, which was one of the most prominent names in the fuel industry in the 1970s.

Sio's Shell garages were loved by children for their play features. Children could park, refuel and even “carry out” maintenance in the garage with their miniature cars. This playset gave them a realistic experience of life on the road, while at the same time the design was robust and durable, ideal for years of fun.

Sio garages are now sought-after items among collectors of vintage toys, especially models like this Sio Garage “Shell”, which are still in good condition and have been provided with modifications such as new advertising texts. The wooden construction and the detailed elements such as the renewed pillar and the realistic Shell logos make this model extra attractive for lovers of historical toys and memorabilia from the automotive and fuel sector.

Finding a Sio garage that has been preserved so well is rare. These garages were used intensively, which often led to wear and tear or damage. A complete example, which has also been updated with modern advertising texts and a new pillar, provides an interesting mix of authenticity and modernization, which increases the collection value.

The Sio Garage "Shell", produced around 1970, is not only a piece of toy history, but also a symbol of a time when wooden toys and functional design reigned supreme. This model brings the nostalgia of the 70s to life and is a reminder of the days when petrol stations and garages played a central role in the imagination of children playing with their toy cars.

With its combination of original details, updated advertising text and an updated pillar, this garage offers a unique opportunity for collectors to bring a piece of history into their home. It is a beautiful collector's item that reflects both the charm of vintage toys and the evolution of the petrol station.

Dimensions: Length 45cm Height 23cm Width 30cm.