Yes that first arab oil embargo in 73 really changed things. All of a sudden most every American knew where “Saudi Arabia” was on the map.
I sat next to a guy at work who was probably 6-4, 270 pounds.
He panicked and sold his Buick 225 for far below value and bought a Vega, soon to realize his terrible mistake.
Ouch. Actually, an attractive little car but a piece of junk. The Pinto was a piece of junk and ugly, too. No wonder by the mid-70s, most people were buying imports. Okay, I admit it, I had a Corolla by the late 70s.
My ride in ‘73 was a Buick Electra 225 Limited. 434 w 4bbl. I made it through the shortage by treating the gas pedal like it was an egg. I still remember when the shortage ended and things got better.......... I floored it and never looked back......