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Other Telephone Information => Off Topic => Automobiles, Trains & Similar Things => Topic started by: Kenny C on March 07, 2010, 02:52:00 PM

Title: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Kenny C on March 07, 2010, 02:52:00 PM
I know it is a weird question but i want to know.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Greg G. on March 07, 2010, 02:56:25 PM
27 cents a gallon for regular in the early 70s, pre-Arab embargo days.  I was still on my first car, a 61 Ford Fairlane, 6 cylinder, 3-speed column shift.  I could drive around all night on a bucks worth of gas.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Phonesrfun on March 07, 2010, 03:40:43 PM
25.9 cents in the mid 60's for regular.  (No unleaded, it was not even sold).

I could fill er up for about $4.  It was not unusual for a poor high school kid like me to put 50 cents at a time in just to go on a date.  My dad would send me to the gas station with a quarter to fill the one gallon gas can so I could have the pleasure of coming back home and mowing the lawn.

-Bill Geurts
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: foots on March 07, 2010, 03:54:01 PM
  The lowest I remember gas was 88 cents a gallon around 1995 or so.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Dennis Markham on March 07, 2010, 03:54:20 PM
Bill, funny story about mowing the lawn.

I remember it being  24.9 a gallon when I was a kid and going to the gas station with my father.  Later when I was driving I could stop on my way to school for "a dollar's worth" and get 2.8 gallons.  That would last me a while.  So that was about 34c a gallon.  That would have been 1973.  Many of the gas stations gave away a gift with a minimum purchase too.  There was a station in my area they called  "Sugar Jake's".  He'd give 5 pounds of sugar with a fill-up....and he even pumped it for you.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Dan/Panther on March 07, 2010, 04:53:32 PM
1953, I remember my Mom Stopping at the Shell station, and remarking that Gas had gone from 18 cents to 22 cents a gallon, I also recall that I really liked the smell of pumping gas, it doesn't smell the same anymore. The owner of the Station was crippled, he had a hump on his back and I remember feeling sorry for him, as he limped out to pump the gas.
D/P
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: bingster on March 07, 2010, 05:06:18 PM
In the late 1970s, I remember my grandfather watching the gas prices go up and swearing if gas got to be more than 75 cents, he'd stop driving.  He never had to, as he died not long after.  But years later, in the mid 1990s, gas prices plummeted, and on top of that, a few gas stations had a price war.  I remember watching gas go down at those stations to 1.10, then 1.00, then .90, .80, and it finally got as low as 70 cents.  I thought of him when I saw that low price.  Of course, it didn't last long, but it was nice while it was going on.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Phonesrfun on March 07, 2010, 05:08:49 PM
I remember the price wars of the '60s and now to really date myself.  ........  Are you ready for this?....... S&H Green Stamps.

-Bill Geurts
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: bingster on March 07, 2010, 05:26:58 PM
My parents wound up with books and books of those when they stopped that service here in the 1970s, and I have them now.  I have no idea why I'm still holding on to them.   I guess I'm hoping they come back, and I can get a nice toaster or something. :P  There was another one... Top Value, if my memory is correct.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Dennis Markham on March 07, 2010, 05:40:17 PM
Bingster, your story reminded me of another time when the price of gas was mentioned.  I was taking French in the 9th Grade.  That was the fall of 1969. Our French teacher had just returned from a summer trip to France.  He asked, "Do you know how much gasoline is in France?......FIFTY cents a gallon!!"  The classroom gasped at such a high price.  Oo-la-la.

I too remember S&H (Sperry & Hutchinson) green stamps and also Top Value.  I also recall the A&P Grocery Store had Plaid stamps.  My mother saved all three of them.  When I was about ten a new Winn-Dixie opened up down the street.  I entered my name to win a bunch of green stamps.  My ticket was pulled for 3rd place...10,000 S&H Green Stamps.  I got the catalog for the redemption center and bought a big silver flashlight!  It held about 4 D sized batteries.  Imagine how many stamps it took to get a bicycle.  Not in my life-time.  I'm pretty sure I still have that flashlight.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: baldopeacock on March 07, 2010, 05:45:41 PM
I remember 24.9 in the early/mid 60s.

When gas first topped 50c/gal I was in high school and working at a gas station.   Our pumps could not go higher than 49.9, so to get to, say, 51.9 we had the pumps set at half that price and charged double what the total sale meter read.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Dennis Markham on March 07, 2010, 05:48:41 PM
baldopeacock, now that you mention that I remember stations around here doing that too.  That was before digital numbers were on pumps.  the numbers rolled by like those on the odometer of the car.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Bill Cahill on March 07, 2010, 05:55:33 PM
17.5 cents a gallon. Price wars. 1972
Bill Cahill
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Dan/Panther on March 07, 2010, 05:56:53 PM
Quote from: baldopeacock on March 07, 2010, 05:45:41 PM
I remember 24.9 in the early/mid 60s.

When gas first topped 50c/gal I was in high school and working at a gas station.   Our pumps could not go higher than 49.9, so to get to, say, 51.9 we had the pumps set at half that price and charged double what the total sale meter read.

I remember in the late sixties gas 24.9, cigarettes 25 cents a pack, and a line of bowling 35 cents. You could make a good date for 5 dollars, Ripple wine 39 cents a bottle. I had a girl friend that was walking out of the store with a couple bottles under her jacket, when she dropped one. The clerk never said a word.
D/P
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Craig T on March 07, 2010, 06:15:28 PM
.99 cents a gallon in 1999. Not that long ago. Just look at what a difference 10 years can make.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Doug Rose on March 07, 2010, 06:44:53 PM
23.9, but I was a big shot and went for the 27.9 for premium. My father would always (expletive deleted), as he remembered gas at 8 gallons for a $1. A '62 Thunderbird with a 400, its amazing I'm alive, that car was fast....Doug
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Kenny C on March 07, 2010, 07:05:48 PM
last year i remember gas being 1.39 in jackson tennessee
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Netdewt on March 07, 2010, 09:00:50 PM
Quote from: Craig T on March 07, 2010, 06:15:28 PM
.99 cents a gallon in 1999. Not that long ago. Just look at what a difference 10 years can make.

Ditto. I maybe remember 89 cents a little earlier, but it was 99 cents when I was 16 and started driving.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: McHeath on March 07, 2010, 11:44:42 PM
I recall when mom would fill up in the 70's it might be in the 59 cent a gallon range, but then it leaped up to $1.39 in 1981 and dad, a confirmed Ford man, bought a Toyota to get good mileage! 

Personally, the lowest I ever paid for gas was .79 cents a gallon in the late 80's.

Bought gas today and it was $3.29 a gallon. 
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Dennis Markham on March 07, 2010, 11:49:23 PM
Regular unleaded was $2.64 today when I drove past WalMart.  They're almost as cheap as Costco.  (Detroit area).
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: benhutcherson on March 08, 2010, 12:01:42 AM
My memories only go back to the first part of the '90s, when I can remember prices of about $.85.

I can remember not too terribly long ago when gas hit $1.50 a gallon, and everyone was amazed at how expensive it was.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: bwanna on March 08, 2010, 12:30:49 AM
i can't quite remember the exact prices (i got old-timers ::) ) but in 1974,  for a buck i could put a gallon of gas in my vw bug, plus buy a pack of smokes & a small pop at burger chef ;)  i made my spending money babysitting @ 50cents an hour/ 75cents if the parents got home after midnight.

by the next year i was making $1.50/hr plus tips, waitressing. boone's farm tickle pink was $1.25
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: AET on March 08, 2010, 04:11:12 AM
I can't remember particularly, I just remember my dad swearing that nobody would pay more than a dollar a gallon for gas when it peaked over that price. 

There is also a tow shop that was also a gas station when Dad was a kid.  (Our cabin that my grandpa built in 58 is a mile down the road from my house now, but that's another story) but he used to ride his mini-bike from the cabin with a gallon can and a quarter and go fill it up.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: foots on March 08, 2010, 04:25:30 AM

I remember in the late sixties gas 24.9, cigarettes 25 cents a pack, and a line of bowling 35 cents. You could make a good date for 5 dollars, Ripple wine 39 cents a bottle. I had a girl friend that was walking out of the store with a couple bottles under her jacket, when she dropped one. The clerk never said a word.
D/P
[/quote]

Hey Dan/Panther, speaking of Ripple  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D  


Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: jsowers on March 08, 2010, 09:08:46 AM
Freg G. Sanford, and the G stands for GAS.  :)  I loved that show. He would mix Champagne and Ripple and make Champipple.

My earliest memory of gas prices is when I was a college student, riding down the street in a bus (there was almost no student parking on campus). This was about 1980. Gas hit $1.00 for the first time and I wondered what the world was coming to.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Bill on March 08, 2010, 11:41:33 AM
I remember 19.9 cents per gallon in the periodic gas wars in my central Maine hometown. Must have been mid-to-late 1950s, since I was way too young to drive. My Dad loved it. Our little two-bit town had three gas stations, enough for a three-bit town at least, and they periodically tried to drive each other out with a gas war.

By the way, S&H green stamps apparently still have some value. Google it, or go to greenpoints.com.

Bill
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: McHeath on March 08, 2010, 10:01:22 PM
QuoteRegular unleaded was $2.64 today when I drove past WalMart.

Wow, it's practically free in your part of the US!  Oh to only pay two and halfish dollars a gallon. :)

There is definitely less traffic here than there was years ago before the price went really high, it's pretty much stayed high here the whole time.  Fewer cars and trucks, a lot fewer trucks actually and a lot more small cars, and a lot of bicycles being ridden around.  Must see a dozen bikes a day go by the house now, and that's with adults riding them and not kids, which you never used to see. 
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: AET on March 09, 2010, 04:47:25 AM
It's 2.72 a gallon here right now.  The most I paid was 4.07.  I had just bought my Station Wagon and on top of getting 15 mpg tops in town, it was almost out of gas and it cost me about 75 bucks to fill it.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Kenny C on March 09, 2010, 12:48:45 PM
Oh i love station wagons. They are like the 20th century mini-van. More than a car less than a truck. I love that. what model is it.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: AET on March 09, 2010, 02:20:49 PM
It's a 1987 Chevy Caprice Estate

I'm actually selling it right now for 800.
(http://i334.photobucket.com/albums/m416/CaledoniaCustoms/1987%20Chevrolet%20Caprice%20Estate/ce11.jpg)
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Kenny C on March 09, 2010, 06:34:53 PM
I love the 55' Nomads.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: savageje on March 09, 2010, 08:32:04 PM
Lowest price I can remember was 88 cents in the late '80s.  (I was born in 1976.)  I can remember my great grandfather complaining about having to pay $1.85 a gallon in the early 1980s and have often thought what he'd say if he were still alive today.  Of course, a dollar went a lot farther 30 years ago than it does today.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: AET on March 10, 2010, 03:42:27 AM
I like the 57's myself.  I'm more of a sucker for something with Woodie Paneling!

Quote from: Kennyc1955 on March 09, 2010, 06:34:53 PM
I love the 55' Nomads.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: DavePEI on August 13, 2012, 10:31:27 PM
I don't remember the exact cost per gallon, but I used to drive my 1970 Fiat Sport Spider 850 from Toronto to Brockville, Ont. and back again on $5 worth of gas - almost 500 highway miles. Of course, it wasn't exactly a gas guzzler, either.

Dave
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: twocvbloke on August 14, 2012, 12:45:05 AM
The lowest I recall Petrol being was somewhere in the 30p range in the late 80's/very early 90's, per Imperial Gallon of course, then they switched over to Litres, which just confused matters and they made even more per Gallon than the Litres were showing... ::)

And back then we had Leaded 4-Star, Unleaded and sulphurous Diesel, Now you can only buy Unleaded (and it's "super higher octane" and percentage-of BioEthanol varieties which makes no damned difference in an un-tuned car!!!) and ULS (Ultra-Low-Sulphur) Diesel, there are a very select few places who still acquire and sell Leaded 4-star, but, you'd have to use a lot of fuel to fill'er up in just finding the places... ???

And the prices today, just about £1.40/Litre for Diesel, and £1.38/Litre for Unleaded, that's about $8.35/Gal for Petrol, and $8.48/Gal for Diesel, after converting Litres to US Gallons and £s to $s and all that, so, you guys have it cheap over there.... :o

There's also LPG too, which I think is about 50-60p/Litre, but you don't get as much bang for your buck with LPG on most engines that are converted with aftermarket kits but not properly re-tuned, usually something like a 30% drop in power, so you use more fuel to get going, so not really much of a saving, plus you have to drive around with a loaded bomb in the back in the form of a pressurise gas cylinder, not quite one you'd use for a barbecue, but a slightly more toughened up one, not really a very comfortable drive... :o

But, if you buy an old Diesel car like say a Mercedes W123 300D or a Vauxhall Diesel with an Isuzu lump under the bonnet, you can just pour good ol' fashioned Vegetable oil (pretty apt too, seeing as Rudolf Diesel never actually made his original engines to run on what we now refer to as diesel, he used Peanut oil!!), which is still cheaper per litre than road diesel, despite it's increased use as a fuel. You can also run most diesel engines on Biodiesel, which is a refined form of veg, oil to make it thinner and easier for fuel pumps to pump from tank to engine, but a lot of modern GM Diesel engines will not run on it because of some silly reason that only GM knows... ???

Plenty fuel for thought there... ;D
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: TelePlay on August 14, 2012, 12:53:56 AM
Depends on region, or state. In Wisconsin it was 25 to 30 cents a gallon in the mid-1960's. They had to truck the stuff in from refineries hundreds of miles away. Dollar a carton for cigarettes, quarter in the machine at the end of the bar. Large glass of beer was 10 cents, large pitcher was a buck. Juke box was nickle a play - "Put another nickel in, In the nickelodeon, All I want is having you, And music, music, music." And life was good!  ;)
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: dpaynter1066 on August 14, 2012, 10:50:30 AM
25 cents a gallon at the Esso station when I got my first car and started caring. It was a white Impalla convertable with red leather seats.  I lost half of my social life when the brakes failed on Thrill hill one night.  The gas pumps were rounded on top and there was a little dome sight glass on the side with a colored cork in it that would swirl around as they pumped gas for you.

I suppose people didn't trust that gas was actually going into the car if all you could see was the metal number wheels turning.  

Old man Varnadore ran the Esso station and chewed and spit tobacco  and told me : "Them bastids wont be happy till they get the price up to a dollar a gallon, That's what they gonna do!" He grumbled as he watched the attendants check the oil and water, wash the windows and put air in the tires.


Sure enough, when the Gas embargo eventually ran prices up to a dollar a gallon, the gears didn't go up that high to change the price, so they set it at 25 cents and put a sign on it that said "price times four".  That really challenged the gas pump attendant who filled your tank for you because he wasn't that good at math in the first place.  If you were one of the rare birds like my dad who had a credit card, you had to go into the office where they put the card into an embossing machine to imprint the raised card number onto a receipt.  Eventually they got a new set of gears and upgraded the pump to display dollars.

The price dropped back down below fifty cents for awhile and everyone bitched about the high price.  Around that time they hoisted up a new sign and re labled everything to say "Exxon".

I asked Mr. Varnadore about that, and he rubbed grease off his hands on a red rag and said " Yep, they was wanting to sell gas overseas and found out that  Esso means something  sexual and dirty like in Japan so they named it Exxon coz that don't mean nothin in any language"
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: AE_Collector on August 14, 2012, 01:00:35 PM
Something like 46 to 48 cents an Imperial gallon in Canada when I started to drive in 1973.

In more recent years (late 90's? or was that early 21 century... when ever it was that oil dropped to about $10 a barrel for a bit) it dropped as low as 34 cents a litre in Vancouver area and as low as 22 cents a litre just across the border in Washington State. Where my cabin is at Point Roberts WA they sell gas by the litre (well probably "by the LITER" there :) ) since there are many more Canadian customers than US customers.

Terry
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: david@london on August 14, 2012, 05:20:22 PM
i remember in the sixties, petrol here in england was about 5 bob (shillings) a gallon. that's 25p in modern money, about 40 US cents at today's exchange rate.

you got green shield stamps and free gifts like an esso man key ring........or a tiger's tail to hang on your bike.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: DavePEI on August 14, 2012, 05:26:17 PM
Esso (Imperial Oil) here used to give away Tiger tails to go along with their ditty, "You've Got a Tiger in your Tank!" A lot of them wound up on bikes here, too. They were designed to hang out of your fill cap. I also remember service companies giving out first aid kits and mini tool kits to their customers.

The last time I remember a gas station giving anything out was about ten years ago when one of the companies gave out Stanley wrenches - one with each fill-up.

Dave
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Russ Kirk on August 14, 2012, 06:05:30 PM
The earliest I remember was 1971.  I snuck out of the house with my Mom's 1967 Mustang.  I was only 15 and I haven't even got my learner's permit yet.   No license - but when you are a teenager you never think you'll get caught.

I picked up some friends and off we went. Cannot remember what we did but I know I drove a lot and used way too much gas.  So I pulled in the cheapest place I knew.  I told my buddy we need to get some gas in the tank so my parents would not know I  took the Mustang.   Oh no!  We were both broke and not a cent on us!  So I frantically searched the car for spare change, found almost a dollars' worth under the seats and floor mats  - almost 3 gallons at 36 cents a gallon.  

Got home before my parents - I got away with it!  What can I say?  I was dumb teenager!

So, as a parent I remember those days.  I chalked my tires, locked away the keys and wrote down mileage, just in case. Guess I raised my daughter right,  now in her 20's she says she never took the car out.  

Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: AE_Collector on August 14, 2012, 07:18:44 PM
Quote from: DavePEI on August 14, 2012, 05:26:17 PM
The last time I remember a gas station giving anything out was about ten years ago

No, they still gove away air....as long as you pay for it and even then that is only if the compressor and coin acceptor are even working. Recently I discovered a nail in my tire and the tire was REALLY low. I figured if I headed to the gas station for air I could just make it otherwise I had to get out the spare and the jack etc. Did a quick guestimate of whether I was better heading North to the Esso station or south to petro canada. Chose Esso and lost. Just made it there only to discover the air pump not working at all. Jumped in the car and headed to Petro Can as fast as I could and got it filled up. Cost me a dollar there where as the non working Esso was only 50 cents.

Terry
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: twocvbloke on August 15, 2012, 02:32:52 AM
And that's why buying a 12v mini-compressor to throw in the boot of your car is a great idea, saves wrecking your legs with a foot pump and saves you paying silly prices for air, especially when the compressors at fuel stations don't work... ;D
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: old_stuff_hound on August 16, 2012, 08:01:19 AM
Quote from: Dan/Panther on March 07, 2010, 04:53:32 PM
I also recall that I really liked the smell of pumping gas, it doesn't smell the same anymore.

A half-dozen years ago or so I was traveling somewhere and as I was pumping gas I noticed the odor of it and thought, "Hey! This is what gas used to smell like! It smells different now!" Up to that point it hadn't occurred to me that it had changed. I don't know when it changed but you're right -- it has. And I've not smelled the old aroma since.

Speaking of odors, when I was a kid my Grandad and I would wrench on various mechanical things and for cleaning parts he had an old aluminum milk can full of "solvent." That's as specific as he got with it. "Go get me some solvent." I don't know what it was -- Varsol, probably. But that's another smell I haven't smelled in a long time.

Cheapest gas I remember was about 70¢, probably early-mid 1980s....
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: McHeath on August 17, 2012, 08:25:26 PM
Gasoline here in California looks like water these days, it's clear, and has very little smell.  Man back in the 70's I'd be siphoning it out of mom's car to power my go cart and if you got a mouth full you'd be hurting!  It was awful strong, and fouled your mouth and sinuses forever.  Even getting it on your hands was hard to get off, but not anymore.  So I guess that's one advantage eh?

I've got an old Ford F250 that holds nearly 50 gallons, it will most likely never have that much gas in it's tanks every again!

Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: AE_Collector on August 17, 2012, 08:34:50 PM
Quote from: McHeath on August 17, 2012, 08:25:26 PM
I've got an old Ford F250 that holds nearly 50 gallons, it will most likely never have that much gas in it's tanks every again!

A full tank and it might be worth twice what it's value is when on "E".

Terry
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Dennis Markham on August 18, 2012, 12:26:34 PM
As a youngster watching my father put gas in the family car, I remember seeing gas prices at about 27 cents a gallon.  When I was in high school I'd stop and get "a dollar's worth" .  That gave me 2.8 gallons, or about 35 cents a gallon.  (1973).
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Just4Phones on August 18, 2012, 12:39:18 PM
When I first got my license it was .50 cents a gallon. (1977)   I remember this because I couldn't afford both gas and a car at the time so 4 of us would chip in .50 each and we were set for the night  ;D
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: AE_Collector on August 18, 2012, 04:49:55 PM
Quote from: Dennis Markham on August 18, 2012, 12:26:34 PM
or about 35 cents a gallon.  (1973).

Must have been just before "all H**L Broke Loose".... I was just reading about the oil embargo with reference to the size of North American cars and gas went from something like 36 cents to 58 cents almost overnight.

Terry
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Dennis Markham on August 18, 2012, 05:04:16 PM
I also remember buying "white gas" right out of the pump during the 60's.  It was a special pump of course, similar to a special pump for Diesel fuel.  White gas was used in camp stoves and lanterns.  Now one has to buy that type of fuel in a can.  Maybe they don't even sell it anymore but probably do.....like Coleman stove fuel.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: AE_Collector on August 18, 2012, 06:35:25 PM
Yes white gas is probably $14.99 a gallon or $6.99 a quart! I never recall it in a pump but I do recall a local gas station having it in a 45 gallon Imperial (55 gallon US) drum with the hand pump on it that they would fill your own container from.

Terry
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: McHeath on August 19, 2012, 02:16:33 AM
QuoteI've got an old Ford F250 that holds nearly 50 gallons, it will most likely never have that much gas in it's tanks every again!

A full tank and it might be worth twice what it's value is when on "E".

Terry

Ha!  You might be right!  Now that would make an interesting ad eh?

"For sale, old truck, $400 with full tanks of fuel or $200 with empty."
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Nick in Manitou on January 27, 2014, 11:02:56 AM
Terry[/quote]
Ha!  You might be right!  Now that would make an interesting ad eh?
"For sale, old truck, $400 with full tanks of fuel or $200 with empty."
[/quote]

This comment reminded me of a story I heard from an aviation friend.  His father had purchased several surplus B-25 bombers after the war.  He flew them the short distance from the military airfield to his crop duster field - drained out the fuel which was worth more than he paid for the planes, then sold the aircraft to whoever wanted them.  Whatever he was paid for the aircraft themselves was all profit!

Nick
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: dencins on January 27, 2014, 11:51:22 AM
In 1968 I lived in Pawtucket, RI and worked in Hartford, Ct.  It was a 78 miles each way daily in a 1966 Olds 4-4-2 that got about 15 mpg if I coasted downhill.  Since it had a 20 gallon tank I filled up every other day at a place about halfway for $.19 per gallon.  I remember that I was upset spending $10 a week on gas.

Dennis Hallworth
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: DavePEI on January 27, 2014, 03:56:02 PM
Quote from: Dennis Markham on August 18, 2012, 05:04:16 PM
I also remember buying "white gas" right out of the pump during the 60's.  It was a special pump of course, similar to a special pump for Diesel fuel.  White gas was used in camp stoves and lanterns.  Now one has to buy that type of fuel in a can.  Maybe they don't even sell it anymore but probably do.....like Coleman stove fuel.
In modern useage, White Gas is Naptha or camp stove fuel. However,  can also be a name for pure gasoline, without additives. This was commonly used when leaded gasoline was the norm, to prevent fouling in situations where the properties of the lead additive were not required. [See Wikopedia]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_gas

Dave
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: JimH on January 27, 2014, 05:50:06 PM
57.9 at Speedway self-serve.  It was about 1977, I was 12 and we took a trip and kept track.  In those days, it was rare to pump your own gas.  My dad (born in 1925) said he remembers "Ten gallons for a dollar" back in the late 30s early 40s.

Jim
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: JorgeAmely on January 27, 2014, 11:14:47 PM
I remember 29 cents for a gallon in Puerto Rico when I was growing up. Back then, gas was reddish in color.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: DavePEI on January 28, 2014, 04:53:55 AM
Quote from: JorgeAmely on January 27, 2014, 11:14:47 PM
I remember 29 cents for a gallon in Puerto Rico when I was growing up. Back then, gas was reddish in color.
Around here, coloured gas [marked gas] (i.e. red) was reserved for only off road vehicles (farm and marine). There were hefty penalties under the Motor Fuel Tax Act if it were found in any automobile. Legal Automotive gas was always clear. Dye packets were thrown into the gas at the distributor if it was sold without the road tax.

Dave
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: twocvbloke on January 28, 2014, 06:16:10 AM
Over here the only dyed fuel we have is Red Diesel, which is for use on agricultural vehicles, boats (such as Narrowboats), diesel generators, or cars that are declared as SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notification) that won't be used on roads (such as MOT failures, offroaders that just play in the mud, etc.), and many other non road-going vehicles, any regular road-going vehicle caught using red diesel on the road can be fined heavily, even if they used it once, the dye remains in the tank for a long time, so even if the driver thinks "Oh it'll just be this once, they won't get me for that when I refill with regular diesel", they'll get caught, the only way to get rid of the dye marker is a complete strip down and cleaning out of the entire fuel system, which would cost a pretty penny, ontop of the fine they received for using red diesel... ;D

I think there used to be other dyed fuels here for tax purposes, but they've long since disappeared since the various governments over the years have just thought "Sod it, tax the lot at the same rate", and there's often rumours of Red diesel going the same way, so people would have to pay full duty at the pump even if they're not using the stuff on the road... ::)
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: wds on January 28, 2014, 08:09:10 AM
During the gas wars, my brothers and I pumped 25¢ gas in our old 68 RS Camaro convertible, 69 camaro SS, Dodge Yellow super bee, bright orange Ford Cougar with the spoiler, 396 Chevelle, and many others.  Not only was the gas cheap, so were the cars.  My kid is getting his drivers license today  :(, and his memories are going to be $3.25 gas and a Honda accord.  Sad.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: twocvbloke on January 28, 2014, 08:21:59 AM
Quote from: wds on January 28, 2014, 08:09:10 AMand a Honda accord.  Sad.

Nothing wrong with that, my friend in the lone star state has one of those and despite driving pretty much every day, he only fills up maybe once a month, and he's often leaving the current generation of american-made cars at the lights (bearing in mind that this is an automatic transmission, 4-cyl engined Accord versus V6 and V8 american "muscle"!!), so, with all that added up, the Accord is a much better car for your son, and will hold it's value much longer than most of today's grotboxes on offer... ;D

I'd have an Accord myself if I could drive (though the Accords we have are called the Acura TSX over there), though I'd be going for the 2.2L i-DTEC diesel powered Tourer (Estate, or Station for those across the pond) model, plenty of power, plenty of torque, plenty of MPGs and being the Tourer, plenty of room for phones in the back... :D
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: wds on January 28, 2014, 08:33:28 AM
yeah, but if you don't drive much , gas mileage is irrelevant.  My very first car was a 69 camaro, all white, white vinyl top, white interior, automatic on the floor, A/C, Power steering, V8.  Actually a pretty rare car for the times.   If I had that car now it would be worth well in excess of 6 figures.  I would trade my Honda Accord for that 10 mpg car any day of the week.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: twocvbloke on January 28, 2014, 08:46:45 AM
I'm of the nature where I like to get the most bang for my buck, 10MPG(US) versus 60 to 70MPG(Imp., about 50 US), I'm choosing the latter, it's a waste to be using so much fuel in such big engines and getting such bad mileage... :o
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: wds on January 28, 2014, 09:09:17 AM
Sometimes you have to live a little.  35 mpg in a tin can, or 10 mpg in a car that can rip the tires off the rims.  An extra tank of gas is equal to a meal out?  I admit if I was driving cross county, I would opt for the tin can.  I guess I'm trapped in the 60's - 70's era of hot cars.  I sure do miss those days. 
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: twocvbloke on January 28, 2014, 09:23:44 AM
I'd rather live on the road than live in a petrol station, that's the problem with big engined, low-efficiency cars (regardless of the country of origin), and why there was such a huge problem with the fuel shortages in the 70s over there, they had to consume so much fuel just to idle, and then getting them moving took even more, it's just a big waste...

Todays high end cars like a McLaren MP4-12C, they can do as you say, tear the tyres from the rims and give you the thrill of a fast, powerful car, but not use so much fuel just to sit there puttputting at the lights, of course you'd have to pay a premium for the car, but, it's refinement over the crudeness, now don't get me wrong I do like classic cars, but, american ones, they don't have any appeal for me beyond their looks, they're too inefficient and just too, well, redneck...
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: poplar1 on January 28, 2014, 09:36:13 AM
At the equivalent of $10 per imperial gallon ($8 US gallon) in UK, perhaps mileage is relatively more important than safety. Recent tests where new small cars, such as the Honda Fit, hit an object with the corner of the front bumper, rather than head on, have shown almost all the mini-cars are unsafe, even if they "meet" US Gov't standards.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: wds on January 28, 2014, 10:00:36 AM
Interesting.  wonder why it's $8 gal. in the UK, and $3.25 in the US?
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: twocvbloke on January 28, 2014, 10:49:13 AM
Quote from: poplar1 on January 28, 2014, 09:36:13 AM
At the equivalent of $10 per imperial gallon ($8 US gallon) in UK, perhaps mileage is relatively more important than safety. Recent tests where new small cars, such as the Honda Fit, hit an object with the corner of the front bumper, rather than head on, have shown almost all the mini-cars are unsafe, even if they "meet" US Gov't standards.

You have to remember that not all the cars on the roads here in the UK are "mini cars", and people who own the Honda Fit (which is called the Honda Jazz here) are usually owned by older folk in their 70s and 80s, so they never drive more than 23mph, and if they do crash, it's usually when reversing... :)

A lot of the cars on our roads are average sized cars, looking out my window I can see an Audi A4, a VW Golf, a couple of Vauxhall Zafiras, a Peugeot 206, a Ford Fiesta, an MG ZT (Rover 75 with an MG badge), a Daewoo Matiz and a few Ford Transit vans, all of which (aside from the Daewoo perhaps) are usually high-scoring vehicles, so, safety is standard, unless you choose a little car which has about as much get up and go as an out of balance washing machine... ;D

But yes, we do tend to consider the efficiency more than just raw power, unless it's Jeremy Clarkson, but he's an idiot anyway, we do have plenty to choose from though, all of which have plenty of power under the bonnet, often a lot more in BHPs than what's on offer across the pond (torque's a different matter and is only useful if you're towing heavy loads, which most people aren't), and from much smaller engines too, we just happen to be more sensible with what we pick, plus huge engined cars bring in bigger insurance and tax costs, so, there's that aswell, there is a niche market for american cars here, but, it's generally only for enthusiasts, who have too much money to spare... ???
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: twocvbloke on January 28, 2014, 10:50:03 AM
Quote from: wds on January 28, 2014, 10:00:36 AM
Interesting.  wonder why it's $8 gal. in the UK, and $3.25 in the US?

Same reason you guys did that Boston Tea party thing, taxes, the actual cost of the fuel is probably the same as the US, but the government slap about 4 layers of tax on it to bump up the cost... :)
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: wds on January 28, 2014, 01:38:35 PM
here in Ohio, we pay 46¢ state including 18¢ federal.  Which is about 45¢ too much.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: twocvbloke on January 28, 2014, 02:14:18 PM
Here it's fuel duty at about 32%, VAT at 20%, and of course they tax the oil imports from abroad, and tax the refineries, which they don't publish the percentages, and of course the pump operators charge 5p a litre, so something that starts out at 48p/Litre from the refineries becomes £1.38p/Litre at the pump... :-\

Last year when I bought some fuel for my mower, it was £7.02 to fill a 5L can (though I did get just over 5L in there so probably about 1.3 US Gallons), all for a lawnmower, I wish they'd sell agricultural petrol, cos that's too steep to run a 148cc engined mower.... ::)
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: AE_Collector on January 28, 2014, 08:46:44 PM
Quote from: JorgeAmely on January 27, 2014, 11:14:47 PM
I remember 29 cents for a gallon in Puerto Rico when I was growing up. Back then, gas was reddish in color.

Were they American or Imperial Gallons in PR then Jorge?

Quote from: wds on January 28, 2014, 09:09:17 AM
Sometimes you have to live a little.  35 mpg in a tin can, or 10 mpg in a car that can rip the tires off the rims.  An extra tank of gas is equal to a meal out?  I admit if I was driving cross county, I would opt for the tin can.  I guess I'm trapped in the 60's - 70's era of hot cars.  I sure do miss those days. 

That Camaro on the road south (south west I guess) to where your Avatar Picture was taken....Hmmm...Where do I sign up...I'M IN!

Terry
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Mr. Bones on January 28, 2014, 11:44:22 PM
    15-25¢/gal,, when I went and got lawn mower gas, prior to 1972. Saw it get down 14-15-16-17-18¢/gallon when on vacation with my folks, during the gas wars. Most usually, as we went west from MO, ie.: Kansas/Colorado/Nebraska/Wyoming, the cheapest on the Interstate was at Stuckey's... pretty decent grub, too.

     Was 50¢ ±/gal. for ol-skool, leaded, purple-tinted Premium (AKA as Ethyl) circa '76-'80, when I started to drive('76, at least legally), and had high-compression vehicles with an octane addiction. None nearly so cool as mentioned above!  ;D Mostly SS Chebbies.... I distinctly do remember seeing many of the 'cooler' cars getting smaller in my rearview mirrors, though. ;D

     It would definitely stain the inside of your carbs reddish-purple; easy to tell if somebody ran Ethyl, or regular, as a rule...

Best regards
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: wds on January 29, 2014, 07:24:04 AM
My second car was a Red 10 mpg 68 camaro.  Nice 327 v8.  Shortly after I bought it I pulled the motor, put it on the picnic table, stripped it down to the crank shaft and rebuilt it.  First time I had ever pulled a motor, and wasn't sure what I was doing.  The next weekend I threw 3 of my buddies in the car and drove to Homestead Florida (from Ohio) to meet another buddy who was in the air force.  Spring Break.  And then on down to Key West.  About half way to Florida the throw out bearing locked up and I had to drive the rest of the way there with no clutch.  I repaired it on Base down there, and had a blast the rest of the trip.  Of course Homestead was wiped off the map a few years later, but boy did we have fun.  I don't remember how much gas was back then, surely less than a $1, but split 4 ways it wasn't bad.  Looking back at my lack of experience rebuilding motors I'm surprised the car made it out of Ohio. 
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: old_stuff_hound on January 29, 2014, 09:19:45 AM
Quote from: wds on January 28, 2014, 01:38:35 PM
here in Ohio, we pay 46¢ state including 18¢ federal.  Which is about 45¢ too much.

I don't know how it is in Ohio but in NC the gas tax helps fund the roads. No gas tax, potholes don't get filled. Gotta pay to play!
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: tallguy58 on January 31, 2014, 06:38:22 PM
Here's our sad tale.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Nick in Manitou on February 01, 2014, 12:41:35 PM
This response may take up a little too much vertical room, but I was surprised at what I understood from it!  Looking at the price of gas from when we were younger makes the gas sound much cheaper, but thinking about what average incomes were then can change the perspective a bit.  While in high school I pumped gas and the price per gallon was much less than it is now...but then again, at that point I was only making about 1/6th of what minimum wage is now...

(I modified it a little to adjust for formatting here.)

Average Annual Retail Price of Gasoline, 1929 - 2011 Year
From: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2012_fotw741.html

Year  | Price then |That price in 2011 $   
1929    0.21    2.29
1930    0.20    2.21
1931    0.17    2.10
1932    0.18    2.51
1933    0.18    2.56
1934    0.19    2.57
1935    0.19    2.52
1936    0.19    2.57
1937    0.20    2.53
1938    0.20    2.55
1939    0.19    2.47
1940    0.18    2.40
1941    0.19    2.35
1942    0.20    2.31
1943    0.21    2.20
1944    0.21    2.16
1945    0.21    2.09
1946    0.21    1.90
1947    0.23    1.90
1948    0.26    2.02
1949    0.27    2.09
1950    0.27    2.07
1951    0.27    1.93
1952    0.27    1.93
1953    0.27    1.92
1954    0.29    1.99
1955    0.29    1.98
1956    0.29    1.92
1957    0.30    1.91
1958    0.31    1.94
1959    0.30    1.88
1960    0.31    1.86
1961    0.31    1.87
1962    0.31    1.83
1963    0.31    1.80
1964    0.30    1.76
1965    0.30    1.73
1966    0.31    1.73
1967    0.32    1.72
1968    0.33    1.71
1969    0.34    1.65
1970    0.35    1.62
1971    0.36    1.58
1972    0.36    1.55
1973    0.36    1.45
1974    0.39    1.43
1975    0.53    1.80
1976    0.57    1.81
1977    0.59    1.77
1978    0.62    1.74
1979    0.63    1.62
1980    0.86    2.03
1981    1.19    2.58
1982    1.31    2.68
1983    1.22    2.40
1984    1.16    2.19
1985    1.13    2.08
1986    1.12    2.01
1987    0.86    1.50
1988    0.90    1.52
1989    0.90    1.46
1990    1.00    1.57
1991    1.14    1.73
1992    1.13    1.67
1993    1.11    1.60
1994    1.11    1.58
1995    1.15    1.59
1996    1.23    1.68
1997    1.23    1.65
1998    1.06    1.40
1999    1.17    1.52
2000    1.51    1.93
2001    1.46    1.83
2002    1.36    1.67
2003    1.59    1.92
2004    1.88    2.20
2005    2.30    2.60
2006    2.59    2.84
2007    2.80    2.99
2008    3.27    3.41
2009    2.35    2.43
2010    2.79    2.85
2011    3.53    3.53
Notes: Retail price includes Federal and State Taxes.
Price is for Regular Leaded Gasoline until 1990 and for Regular Unleaded Gasoline thereafter.
Constant dollars calculated using the Gross Domestic Product Inflation Index.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: DNO on February 04, 2014, 11:20:03 PM
I welll remember 39 cents for an imperial gallon in the early '70's here in Toronto.  I'd often stop and get one dollar's worth of gas (not self-serve, either)...that would keep my '63 Chevy 2 rolling along for a while.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: N7LTH on February 05, 2014, 12:52:16 PM
I remember the gas wars of the late 1960's- saw it as low as $0.229/gallon... too bad I was only old enough to drive a pedal tractor then :)
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: McHeath on August 15, 2015, 12:24:07 AM
Oddly enough on our recent trip from Calif to Oregon and Washington gas prices were not all much cheaper up North.  No where was gas more than 25 cents a gallon cheaper than we are paying here in central Calif.  In fact in Washington prices were pretty much a dead wash, the same thing more or less. 
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: Phonesrfun on August 15, 2015, 12:30:27 AM
In my county (Walla Walla) in southwest Washington, our gas prices are appalling. 
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: dsk on August 15, 2015, 05:42:59 AM
It has always been ekspensive, some days ago I spotted NOK 16/liter or approx $7.5 pr gal.

>:(

dsk
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: AE_Collector on August 16, 2015, 07:29:55 PM
Throughout North Anerica the underlying theme since oil went in half in the last quarter of 2014 is that refined gasoline hasnt dropped much at all. Probably even more so (less so!) uin Canada and particularily in Greater Vancouver where we are said to have the highest gasoline prices in North America .

When oil went in half from about $90 a barrel to $45 a barrel last fall, our gas prices slowly dropped 1/4 in price from $1.35 Canadian per liter to $1 per litter which is probably reasonable considering that crude oil prices might make up half the cost of gasoline. But then oil recovered between 1/4 and 1/3 of its losses back to around $58 through the late winter and spring which "ironically" caused our gas prices to "spring" right back to where it had been last October, $1.35 a liter.

Now oil has plummeted to an even lower price of about $42 and our gas price has so far slid to $1.27 a liter.

Companies that only produce crude have understandably lost 50% to 75% of their share value. Companies that only refine gasoline have share values that are way up in value and companies that do both have seen little change in their share value since the killing they are making on the refining  side offsets the loss on the crude production side.

Ridiculous......

Terry
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: NorthernElectric on August 16, 2015, 08:31:33 PM
Quote from: AE_Collector on August 16, 2015, 07:29:55 PM
Throughout North Anerica the underlying theme since oil went in half in the last quarter of 2014 is that refined gasoline hasnt dropped much at all. Probably even more so (less so!) uin Canada and particularily in Greater Vancouver where we are said to have the highest gasoline prices in North America .

When oil went in half from about $90 a barrel to $45 a barrel last fall, our gas prices slowly dropped 1/4 in price from $1.35 Canadian per liter to $1 per litter which is probably reasonable considering that crude oil prices might make up half the cost of gasoline. But then oil recovered between 1/4 and 1/3 of its losses through the late winterand spring ionically caused our gas prices to "spring" right back to where it had been last October, $1.35 a liter.

Now oil has plummeted to an even lower price of about $42 and our gas price has so far slid to $1.27 a liter.

Companies that only produce crude have understandably lost 50% to 75% of their share value. Companies that only refine gasoline have share values that are way up in value and companies that do both have seen little change in their share value since the killing they are making on the refining  side offsets the loss on the crude production side.

Ridiculous......

Terry

Agreed!  It seems like whenever the price of crude drops half the refineries shut down 'for maintenance' thereby artificially reducing the supply of of gasoline when falling prices stimulate demand.  So prices stay high and the refiners save money on wages.  The federal and provinicial governments won't do anything about it as long as they are getting percentage based revenue.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: 19and41 on August 17, 2015, 02:24:34 PM
I started using gasoline at around 50 cents/gal.  I was in the military at the time and my earnings came to $401/month.  I don't think I have ever seen truly cheap fuel.  Only seemingly cheap fuel after price spikes which only serve as practice for a price increase.  :)
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: andre_janew on August 17, 2015, 03:25:27 PM
I think I started driving when gas was 50 cents/gal.  I have noticed that whenever there is a rumor of someone contaminating gas by spitting in it, the price goes up. 
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: 19and41 on August 17, 2015, 03:37:51 PM
Here is one market watchers' explanation if the current state of affairs, at least for the U.S..

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-gas-prices-are-rising-as-oil-falls-to-6-year-lows-2015-08-15
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: TelePlay on August 17, 2015, 06:29:46 PM
Quote from: 19and41 on August 17, 2015, 03:37:51 PM
Here is one market watchers' explanation if the current state of affairs, at least for the U.S.

Funny that his explanation didn't include the known fact that the US has not allowed a new refinery to be built in some 40 years while demand has grown each of those 40 pushing each existing refinery to capacity so if any problems, actual or manufactured, at a refinery would have a big effect on supply. Also didn't mention that demand also plays a part. Most of the gas stations I see each day, and I drive some 200-300 miles a day so I see a lot of them, have but one or two cars filling up at stations that have 16 to 20 pumps, anytime of the day. Morning rush has no lines for gas, a daily common event with reasonable gas prices (un-spiked gas prices). And if consumers once again become trained into driving less, as when gas was over $4 a gallon (sorry, you liter guys, it is cheaper in gallon areas it seems), crude supply will be huge and once again full capacity refining will flood the market with gas dropping the price substantially. I see people predict gas will drop below $2 a gallon once the refinery is "fixed." Ah, they're just playing with us, finding way to more quickly vacuum hard earned money out of our pockets, I fear. But, then I might be wrong in all this so please, never mind.
Title: Re: what was the lowest you remember gas????
Post by: 19and41 on August 17, 2015, 06:52:11 PM
Our refining capacity has been a sore point since the Katrina debacle, at least here in the southeast.  Our prices ballooned to extortionate levels in two days, then dried up completely.  It took months to get back to normal.  It was at first like the embargo days again that first couple of weeks.