Back in the year 1965, Esso/Enco Oil (which eventually became Exxon) used the ad slogan, "Put a tiger in your tank!" At that time, the company was also called Humble Oil, and putting a tiger in your tank was the company's primary marketing pitch. Their focus was on the performance boost provided by their gasoline.

The high energy Esso gasoline liberated the power in a car's engine. It provided cleaning power; firing power; and octane power for smooth performance. When people hit the accelerators in their cars, they got a strong and exciting response. Individuals truly got more fun out of driving with a 'tiger in their tank'.

The tiger became a prominent part of industry advertising, and people could not fail to witness the slogan because over sized posters were used to emphasize the clever idea. The leaded gas and higher octane levels provided power, which the cars then required. These cars had larger and higher compression motors; they became 'muscle cars' for a new and faster era.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org