Shell
Shell Oil Company | |
---|---|
Industry: |
Oil |
Year founded: | |
Parent: |
Royal Dutch Shell |
Website: |
Shell (also known as Shell Oil Company), a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, is a real world oil company. Until the introduction of the fictional gasoline company Octan in 1992, Shell was the common gasoline brand featured in LEGO sets. LEGO's partnership with Shell has recently been renewed, but LEGO uses Shell as an outlet for promos, rather than using them as inspiration for sets as they used to.
In April 2016, LEGO terminated its relationship with Shell due to a successful campaign by Greenpeace and growing public awareness of global warming.
History[edit | edit source]
Prior to Shell, LEGO released Esso branded sets.
The first Shell sets were released in 1966 and were exclusive to Europe, though the US did begin to receive similar sets with Exxon branding in 1973. Beginning in 1986, Shell sets were also released in the US. With the introduction of the fictional Octan brand in 1992, only a handful of Shell sets were released as promos.
In 2012, Shell released new LEGO promotional sets featuring Ferrari vehicles.
Controversy[edit | edit source]
Starting in July 2014, Greenpeace has openly criticized LEGO's partnership with Shell, since Shell is involved with drilling for oil in the arctic, and launched a campaign to convince people to not boycott LEGO, but rather send emails to the toy maker to reconsider their partnership.[1] Jørgen Vig Knudstorp has responded by asking that Greenpeace does not involve them in their plight.[2] However, his wishes were ignored when Greenpeace released a video of minifigures situated in an arctic environment drowning in oil with a slower version of "Everything is Awesome!!!" in the background. Warner Bros. had the video removed for violating copyright, but it has since reappeared on YouTube.[3] On October 8, 2014, Jørgen Vig Knudstorp released a statement that the LEGO Group would not renew their contract with Shell after it expired, thus ending the 50 year old partnership between LEGO and Shell in April 2016.[4][5]
Sets featuring the Shell logo[edit | edit source]
Gas and Service Stations[edit | edit source]
- 217 Service Station (1977)
- 325 SHELL Service Station (1966)
- 330 Service Station (1977)
- 377 Shell Station (1978, Town)
- 601 Gas Pump (1978, Town)
- 648 Shell Service Station (1971, LEGOLAND)
- 690 Shell Station (1974, LEGOLAND)
- 1254 Shell Convenience Store (1999, Promotional)
- 1255 Shell Car Wash (1999, Promotional)
- 1256 Shell Service Station (1999, Promotional)
- 1470 Petrol Pumps and Garage Staff (1986, Promotional)
- 6610 Gas Pumps (1981, Town)
- 6371 Service Station (1983, Town)
- 6378 Service Station (1986, Town)
- 6394 Metro Park & Service Tower (1988, Service and Repair)
Shell Trucks[edit | edit source]
- 621 Shell Tanker Truck (1970, LEGOLAND)
- 649 Mercedes Shell Tanker (1966, HO 1:87 Vehicles)
- 671 Shell Tanker (1978, Town)
- 688 Shell Tank Truck (1973, LEGOLAND)
- 1252 Shell Tanker (1999, Town, Promotional)
- 1253 Shell Race Car Transporter (1999, Town, Promotional)
- 1468 Petrol Tanker (1986, Town, Promotional)
- 6628 Shell Tow Truck (1981, Town)
- 6695 Tanker Truck (1983, Town)
Shell wagons[edit | edit source]
- 136 Tanker Wagon (1975)
- 7735 Freight Train Set (1985), contained a Shell tanker
- 7813 Shell Tanker Wagon (1986)
- 7816 Shell Tanker Wagon (1980)
Sets Involving Racing Events or Vehicles Sponsored by Shell[edit | edit source]
- 392 Formula 1 (1975)
- 2556 Ferrari Formula 1 Racing Car (1997, Model Team, promotional)
- 2554 Formula 1 Pit Stop
- 6395 Victory Lap Raceway (1988)
- 6503 Sprint Racer (1988)
- 6591 Nitro-Dragsters (1989)
- 6634 Stock Car (1986)
Shell Buildings[edit | edit source]
- 373 Offshore Rig with Fuel Tanker (1977)
- 149 Fuel Refinery (1976)
Ferrari[edit | edit source]
- 30190 Ferrari 150 Italia
- 30191 Scuderia Ferrari Truck
- 30192 F40
- 30193 250 GT Berlinetta
- 30194 458 Italia
- 30195 FXX
- 30196 Ferrari Pit Crew
Videos[edit | edit source]
See also[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ It's time for LEGO to block Shell - Greenpeace
- ↑ Comment on Greenpeace campaign using the LEGO® brand - LEGO
- ↑ Warner Bros allows Greenpeace parody Lego video back on YouTube - The Guardian
- ↑ Comment on Greenpeace campaign and the LEGO® brand
- ↑ Lego beendet Spielzeug-Aktion mit Shell nach Greenpeace-Kritik - Spiegel Online