gas price and your first rig

[chevykid65]

alright so i thought this could be fun. in 2000 i got my licence and gas was $1.36 gallon. my grandpas lil 72 f*rd courier only had about a 14 gallon tank so i wasnt in too bad of shape. how about you guys?

[Clyde65]

1980 got my license, gas was about .90 a gal, but premium ( leaded gas) was way up over $1.00 a gal and I had to go to the airport to get the high octane premium since they wer fazing it out shortly after.

I had a 68 Cutlass 2door and I really didnt care what mileage I got, never checked it in the 5 years I owned the car.

[markeb01]

I started driving in 1964 and gas was about 26-28 cents a gallon. My high school car was a 1954 Chevy. Back in those days few people had money for a “fill-up”, you just put in a couple dollars worth and that lasted quite a while.

Here it is in the high school parking lot in 1965.

[Rich 5150 69]

Originally Posted by markeb01

I started driving in 1964 and gas was about 26-28 cents a gallon. My high school car was a 1954 Chevy. Back in those days few people had money for a “fill-up”, you just put in a couple dollars worth and that lasted quite a while.

Here it is in the high school parking lot in 1965.

I can remember the gas wars on some corners that were crazy, dropping as low as 18 cents a gallon, that was in `67, I drove a `62 ss 409/4 speed, never knew or cared what milage it got. Hamburgers then at Micky D`s were 19 cents.....

[61_FL_Apache]

Started driving in 82 in my 69VW Bug and gas was just $.90ish per gal.

[lakeroadster]

In January 1977 gas was $0.62 per gallon. I was driving a '70 Nova that got about 14 mpg (6 cyllinder 230 with 3 on the tree). Also sometimes drove my dad's '72 C20 which got about 8 mpg.

We never really checked mileage back then.. different times.

Are gas prices really that high? Lets do a comparison:

A Chevy Vega cost $3,249 in 1977
A Chevy Cruze costs $16,525 in 2011

$16,525/$3,249 = 5.08 ratio increase

5.08 x $0.62/gallon fuel in 1977 = $3.15 per gallon gas in 2011... Todays (04-25-2011) average US price is $3.85/gallon

Whatever that's worth to ya.

[bobcostas]

I got my license in 1999 and I think reg 87 octane was just over a dollar. My first ride was a '91 Wrangler and it only cost ~$15 to fill it up.

Great idea Chevykid.

and Mark, that picture is awesome. Very cool memento.

[csa daddy]

got my permit in 1996 an i think it was around 80 or 90 cents a gallon an i got about 16 or 18 mpg in a 84 jeep cherokee

[NCD1966]

got my license in 1997. I was driving my 66 stepside, gas was about $.99. I didnt really care about fuel cost my parents were paying the bill, as long I was in high school and driving my 2 sisters to school.
I did work however; either was cutting grass, helping a electrician, or pushing buggies at the grocery store. Had to pay my insurance and liked spending money on hot rod parts.

[A.T. RockDriller]

I remember, as a little boy, when gas prices per gallon passed up the price of a lb. of ground beef for the first time......at about $.40....in about '66.

In '75 I spent $.52 per gallon in my first car....1955 Chev 4 dr Sedan.
I think it was still more expensive than ground beef at that time.

[PGSigns]

When I got my license in 74 I think it was about $.48 a gallon here in Virginia. Never put more than $5 in the tank. Got my first truck in 75, a 63 short wheel base step side. Would put lawn chars in the back at the drive in.
Jimmy

[gimmy 64]

got my liscence in 64. i had for my first car a 61 chevy with a built 348 and 4spd. 4:11 gears ex drag car. i put the best gas at the time in it chevron white pump .27 cents a gallon

[Captainfab]

What a coincidence.... I got my license in '74 and got my first truck in October of '75.....a '63 long fleet If I remember correctly, at that time gas was aroung .44 a gallon.

Originally Posted by PGSigns

When I got my license in 74 I think it was about $.48 a gallon here in Virginia. Never put more than $5 in the tank. Got my first truck in 75, a 63 short wheel base step side. Would put lawn chars in the back at the drive in.
Jimmy

[dallas71]

I got my license in 1976 and my first car (Dont Laugh!) was a 1971 Gremlin and the gas was somewhere around 60 cents

[jimmydean]

I think I got my license in '89, my first car was a '72 Grand Prix that got about 6mpg @ just about a buck a gallon.

My fuel gauge was busted, but my folks gave me a gas card. The first month, I would just fill up every other day or so to keep from running dry. When the bill came, it was just over $400 for the month and my folks flipped out. They owned a Camary and the bill had never been over $60 for a month worth or gas.

[az65]

1990, 74 Dart Swinger with 318/2bbl. gas was cheap enough that if I spent 5 dollars I'd get pretty close to 5 gallons.

[Surfdaddy]

When I got my licencse gas went from .48 to 55 cents a gal. I had a friend who had a 71 Camero Z28 (set up in the typical 70's drag style with the tail lights in the sky) He said that gas was too much and sold it and got a VW Bug. I had a 73 Vega and only got 18-20 MPG. Back then 4 bucks got me to the beach and back with gas left over to go out on a date and work the next day. Today I can't even get to work on 4 bucks.

[jonzcustomshop]

got mine in 88, gas was 90-1.00 a gallon, had a 71 camaro

[1966Stepside]

Got my license in 2000 and gas was in the $1.25 range. Had a 94 camaro and drove it till the wheels fell off. Still have it, just waiting for it to get "old" before I rebuild it.
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[bama63]

lets see...1977 1970 chevelle ss 396 4spd

5gal gas=$3.00
2 large burgers with fries and a huge drink=$2.50
2 movie tickets=$6.00

total=$11.50

now

5 gal gas=$18.25
2 average burgers,fries and drink=$13.00
2 movie tickets=$16.00

total=$47.25

kinda easy to see why kids get in trouble now days, they cant afford to go out with friends for a nice evening

[Hottrucks]

Originally Posted by bama63

lets see...1977 1970 chevelle ss 396 4spd

5gal gas=$3.00
2 large burgers with fries and a huge drink=$2.50
2 movie tickets=$6.00

total=$11.50

now

5 gal gas=$18.25
2 average burgers,fries and drink=$13.00
2 movie tickets=$16.00

total=$47.25

kinda easy to see why kids get in trouble now days, they cant afford to go out with friends for a nice evening

Did I date your sister because I know after I dropped her off I think it was you who had to get the beer....and that cost as much as the gas...before we went and burned the last 1/2 tank and the tires in my Chevelle!!

[6tfo]

Regular 33 cents a gallon. Somebody pumped it for you, washed your windshield using a squirt bottle, checked your oil, and gave you contest stamps. 1969. Give me a dollars worth mister.

[mikie 1954]

Got my license in 1970, cheapest gas I can remember paying was .25 cent per gallon at a self serve that you used quarters like a vending machine. Gas elsewhere was about .30 cpg. I drove a 65 dodge coronet, 318 2barrel ,auto,and have no idea what the mileage was.

[javadoc]

Fun topic!

I got my license in 1986. Gasoline was about $0.90/gallon in the 49th State, and my trusty ride was a 1975 brown Toyota Corolla that I affectionately named "The Turd." You CAN polish a turd.

Fond memories of filling that car by literally using my spare change.

[Indian113]

here I go again showing my age! Hey Mark do you remember gas wars when you could buy gas for 19 cents a gallon and they washed your windows and checked your oil ? I worked at a gas station in 1965 for .75 a hour and bought gas for my 55 chevy for .21 a gallon. My dad had a 65 Pontiac Ventura with a 389 and 4 speed he bought premium for .27 Moms 58 Biscayne wagon with a 348 burned regular