STP, Corporation
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Granatelli, Andy, 1923-2013
label: Collection Donor
content: Granatelli, Vincent, 1944-2022
label: Collection Creator
content: Grancor Automotive Specialists
label: Collection Creator
content: Hurricane Hot Rod Association
label: Collection Creator
content: Studebaker Corporation
setName: label: See more items in
content: Andy Granatelli Collection
label: See more items in
content: Andy Granatelli Collection / Series 3: Studebaker Corporation
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1935-1991
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.1403, Subseries 3.3
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: "STP" was originally invented by German scientists during WW-2 as a response to Germany's need for lubrication of the German war-machine vehicles. It was alleged by WW-2 U.S. Army divisions in Africa that overtook German infantry vehicles (mostly of the original Volkswagen design) that the Germans employed "engine oil" that is now known as STP formulation full-strength in the VW air-cooled 4-cylinder engines, which successfully traveled through the hot African Desert war-front without seizing due to friction and extreme heat. How the German's original chemical synthesis formulation found its way to the U.S. after WW-2 is not known, but most likely came along with many of the other German inventions.

Chemical Compounds was established in St. Joseph, Missouri, on May 1, 1954 by three businessmen, Charles Dwight (Doc) Liggett, Jim Hill and Robert De Hart, with $3,000 in start-up capital in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Their sole product was STP Oil Treatment; the name was derived from "Scientifically Treated Petroleum." In 1961, the company was acquired by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation.

Granatelli became CEO of STP Corp in 1963. Chemical Compunds Divisions main product was STP oil. STP was marketed as an oil additive that would make the engine's tuneup unnecessary. By 1975, the Federal Trade Commission declared that STP oil treatment was of no siginifcance. Granatelli built STP through a promotional advertising campaign that used the support of racing teams. 

Source

STP Company History, STP Corporation Public Information press release, 1974.