Posted on 12/29/2014 12:27:23 PM PST by nikos1121
I can recall growing up in Chicago in the 1950s. "Oklahoma" gas stations were the most visible. I seem to recall 19 cents a gallon. The lowest price as a driver was around 29 cents. Seemed like it always was about the same as a pack of cigarettes or gallon of milk.
During the ‘79 gas crisis (thank you Jimmuh Cahta) my next door neighbor started fueling his old Mercedes with heating oil. We didn’t say anything because we were getting around the odd/even pump restrictions by taking the ski boat down to the marina and fueling up and then transferring it to the gas tank.
Worked great all summer but unfortunately the marina closed during the winter months.
19 cents in 1965 Bethpage, Long Island. We had 4 gas stations on 4 corners and there was always a gas war.
17.9 cents a gallon August 1971 somewhere in mid-Missouri on Hiway 54. At the time the going price was 32.9. Two gas stations in a small town had a price war.
We pay more taxes per gal today than a gal cost back then.
I pumped gas @ 53 cents/gallon at one of my first jobs at a Merit Gas Station on Rt. 46 in Fort Lee, NJ in 1976.
1969 - I would fill up the 2 1/2 gallon gas tank on my Triumph Bonneville (motorcycle) for about $1.50. I also paid $.33 for a pack of Lucky Strikes. LOL
At 19.9 cents per gallon, I could afford to drive my first car- ‘56 Buick.
After the Oil crisis, $.499 and then Jimmuh Carter, it was $.699 to $.839.
Then paid $.839 in Febuary 1999.
18 cents a gallon during a price war in the 50s.
Used to go out with five dollars on a Friday night
put two dollars in the car and get food for two.
Sandy Springs Ga. was just a gas station on a two lane
at that time.
I had an odd numbers licence plate and could only get gas every other day. If I recall you could not get more than $5.00 worth.
It was 1986, I had abs, a Yamaha 850 special, and reg was .69/gal.
$1.49 in 1988 when I first got my license.
In the 50s in San Antonio, TX, I remember 18.9 and occasionally lower at the original gas station that eventually grew to be Diamond Shamrock and then Valero. The place was a one tank station with a portable tin building about 10’x5’ for an office.
Lots of folks wouldn’t trade there because the rumor was that the gas had water in it, but schoolboys didn’t care. I’d pitch in my lunch money (.25) to a friend who had a car and we’d hit the streets for a spin.
24.9 in Houston when I got my license.
Cheeper with the gas wars (remember independent stations?).
They also were “full service”, and topped off your windshield fluid, checked oil, etc)
.19 9/10 during 1970 gas war in Knob Noster, Mo., (WAFB).
I forgot to mention, those prices I gave were BEFORE self service! Someone actually came out and put the gas in for us, AND washed the windshield, checked the oil and would check the air in your tires if you requested it!
$2.69 per gallon.......I think it was last week.
50 cents back in the early 70’s.
1972 Northeast Oklahoma - ranged from 13¢ to 18¢ per gallon.
The gas war ended and in early 1973 it was in the 28¢ to 32¢ range, never to return to those rates of 1972.
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