Fuel Costs through the years
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 278
Likes: 1
From: Ware Shoals SC
Fuel Costs through the years
This should probably be in "Off Topic" but after reading the "Young guys into cars" thread this question popped into my head and I wanted to address C5 folks with it:
How much was a gallon of gasoline when you could first legally drive, what age were you then and what kind of car were you filling up?
I'm a few years from 40 now and I think it was around $.79 a gallon back then. I had just gotten my license at 15 and was driving a gold 4 door 1972 Dodge Dart 6 cyl. with tuck n' roll and an aftermarket a/c that leaked condensation 2 inches deep in the foot well.
How much was a gallon of gasoline when you could first legally drive, what age were you then and what kind of car were you filling up?
I'm a few years from 40 now and I think it was around $.79 a gallon back then. I had just gotten my license at 15 and was driving a gold 4 door 1972 Dodge Dart 6 cyl. with tuck n' roll and an aftermarket a/c that leaked condensation 2 inches deep in the foot well.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
When I was a lad in England in the early 70s, petrol was £0.34 a gallon. We joined Europe and it went up overnight. When I first hit Texas in the mid 90s, the best I found was $0.67 a gallon. When I got home to England I was gutted to see £0.98 a litre. £1.00 a litre was a milestone not too long ago but it's been hovering around the £1.50 mark. My last fill up cost me £79 which is about $127 at current exchange rates. Mind you, it's all down to Government policy. Ours hits us for 70% tax on every litre.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
Good one!
I got my license in 68. If I remember correctly, gas was around 40 cents a gallon. I used to save quarters up and put $3 worth in my Dad's 67 Austin Healey 3000.
That was enough to cruise around for a night or two. Surprisingly, it wasn't all that great on fuel.
I got a speeding ticket in it doing 102 in a 55. Lost my license for 6 months in my senior year. Gas prices were a moot point then.
I only wish I could have what the big Healey is worth today and buy gas for what it was worth then.
I got my license in 68. If I remember correctly, gas was around 40 cents a gallon. I used to save quarters up and put $3 worth in my Dad's 67 Austin Healey 3000.
That was enough to cruise around for a night or two. Surprisingly, it wasn't all that great on fuel.I got a speeding ticket in it doing 102 in a 55. Lost my license for 6 months in my senior year. Gas prices were a moot point then.
I only wish I could have what the big Healey is worth today and buy gas for what it was worth then.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 943
Likes: 3
From: casa conejo california: my casa sue's casa
1972 was when I got my learners permit. I remember my friend worked at a Gulf station after school and gas was about $0.33 a gallon then. Only car accessible to me at that time was my parents 1971 or 1972 Monte Carlo SS. Friggin thing had a 454c.i. in it. It was bad a$$. Sucked gas like a syphon, but you could fill it up with about $6.
About 2 yrs later got my first car; 1972 Vega.
I actually liked the car at the time, but it was a disappointment compared to the Monte Carlo. 
About 2 yrs later got my first car; 1972 Vega.
I actually liked the car at the time, but it was a disappointment compared to the Monte Carlo.
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 30
From: Shenandoah Valley Virginia
Got my first car a 1969 Z28 Camaro - sure wish I had it today !! Late 1968 I was paying $0.34 to 0.40 a gallon for premium 103 Octane Sonoco gasoline. Now all you can buy is crap 93 octane for 10 X as much.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 278
Likes: 1
From: Ware Shoals SC
When I was a lad in England in the early 70s, petrol was £0.34 a gallon. We joined Europe and it went up overnight. When I first hit Texas in the mid 90s, the best I found was $0.67 a gallon. When I got home to England I was gutted to see £0.98 a litre. £1.00 a litre was a milestone not too long ago but it's been hovering around the £1.50 mark. My last fill up cost me £79 which is about $127 at current exchange rates. Mind you, it's all down to Government policy. Ours hits us for 70% tax on every litre.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 8
From: Hopatcong New Jersey
Got my license in 2002 when gas was about 98 cents/gallon...Could fill up my 95 neon for about $10. By the same time a year later it was double that...and, well, you all know the rest of the story.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 44
Likes: 36
From: Poway Ca.
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I worked at a Texaco gas station during high school in omygod Nebraska. I turned 16 in 1968 I can't remember the cost but I do remember putting up the signs during a "gas war" for 11.9 cents. You could fill a car for less than $2.50. My wages were $1.15 per hour and had enough money to own a 1964 Biscayne, 1950 F-1 Ford, & a 1968 450 cc Honda scrambler. The good old days.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: St. Petersburg, FL
Used to fill up my 75 Camaro at JC Penney - yep ours sold gas - at about .65 with my employee discount. I remember gas at .30 when my parents used to fill up our Plymouth Fury and Caddy convertibles.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
i think it was between 40 and fifty cents a gal in 74. I recall before the gas spikes in the late sixties dad would give me a quarter to fill up the gal gas can for the lawn mower. And I had enough left for a bottle of pop.
(notice I said bottle)
(notice I said bottle)
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 14,560
Likes: 39
From: Prescott Arizona
According to this site it was 32 cents a gallon, but I remember lower prices.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehicles...t_fotw364.html
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehicles...t_fotw364.html