[poncho-mike]

Yes, I had a typo on the years.

And gas did hit over $1 a gallon during the embargo. It caused problems because most pumps were not set up to price gas more than 99.9 per gallon. There were signs on pumps that said to pay double what is shown on the pump.

[johnta1]

Well, here's my recollection.

In 1973/74 the gas price didn't really go up (around 35 cents), there was just none around.
We had to go on certain days (by the plate even or odd days)

Every year or two the gas went up a few cents or so.
Not until 1979/80 did it jump like 50% to around to over 70 cents? (maybe 80 cents)

I and everyone else said they were going to quit buying gas when it got to 1 dollar. Well it did. Then not going to buy it anymore if it went to 1.25. It did.

And so on till now. Still buying gas.

[Held for Ransom]

I should have said I wouldn't know prices in '73. But, I'm sure gas was $0.75/0.80/gallon in '78.

[jhein]

Here's a link to a site with average gas prices by year. Kind of interesting really.

https://www.creditdonkey.com/gas-price-history.html

[Transamric]

FWIW,...premium Chevron White pump in 1974 was $1.11 here in western WA. That's why I sold my 9 MPG street machine then, because I didn't think I could afford to fuel it any longer.

[johnta1]

WOW!

I lived in Central Illinois.

I went to Florida and Disneyland in 1974. Took about $40 there and back. (regular gas)
(70 Maverick Grabber of my wife's) Hotel room was $25 a night at one of the bigger places.

I know I never paid $1 for gas until around 1980. (or maybe later)
Then it started going up quite often.

[poncho-mike]

When the embargo hit, there was definitely some price gouging going on, and for a brief period, gas was over $1 a gallon. People were paying whatever it took to get gas, and there was a brisk business done after-hours for friends of the gas station owners. I can believe average prices for the year were in the $.60 range, but it was the wild wild west for the first couple of months. My dad was driving about 50 miles round trip to work and back every day, and he used to send me and my mom to wait in line at the pumps. I was driving a Falcon Sprint with a 260 3-spd dad bought when I got my license. Dad took over the Falcon because his driver was a gas hog, and I bought my Torino GT convertible. We also had a Honda CL125 motorcycle that was street legal. We put a tag on it, and I rode it to town to pick up groceries and supplies. I rode that little Honda through the winter until gas prices came down and fuel was more readily available.. My dad kept saying that prices would get back to normal. He wanted our government to cut off the sale of food to any Arab country. Sounded like a good idea to me.

After the initial shock, gas prices declined but were still much higher than before the embargo.

[Formulabruce]

FWIW We had customers at My dealer in the late 70's who still brought their cars in for service and many thought the Honeys were Aluminum. Seems the sales person just agreed when asked...

[keith k]

Originally Posted by boardog

Bought this one last week. Been sitting since 1974. One family owned. Was 30 miles from the dealership. It's rough and needs a lot. Still trying to find all the parts. Black car ordered to run fast. Manual brakes, manual steering, no console and only a 8 track as convenience options. Has to be very few optioned like this one. It's rough but we'll fix it.

I'm late to the party on this one, but wow - congrats! What a killer car this was, and could be again.

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

Built to go fast, but ordered with an 8 track and heavy ass honeycomb wheels.

Parked since 74? They weren't going fast for long lol

'71 was the first year for honeycombs, and based on this car's build date, I doubt very much anyone in Martinsville, VA had weighed (or possibly even seen) an actual honeycomb wheel when this car was ordered.

[VCho455]

Originally Posted by keith k

I'm late to the party on this one, but wow - congrats! What a killer car this was, and could be again.

'71 was the first year for honeycombs, and based on this car's build date, I doubt very much anyone in Martinsville, VA had weighed (or possibly even seen) an actual honeycomb wheel when this car was ordered.

Exactly my point!

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by boardog

A couple more pics. The car was taken apart for some reason and the parts got scattered. Still looking for the motor.

Appears to have an engine it. So it was heavily abused if a transplant had already occurred.
Which was perfectly typical for most of the roundports in this area.

Martinsville is just a short jaunt from Greensboro NC up Hwy 220 , first town across the state line.
I know of at least 100 people in GSO that would have sold their mother to get ahold of that car at any point and time.
Have never heard a peep about it before.

Congrats on locating and buying it.
I wouldn't put 71 fenders back on it. fwiw

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

No extra charge for Black on a 71 is peculiar, sort of.
Have been told Black was N/A on 71's.

High school buddy had a factory black 71 350 2bbl Bird that was good looking from a distance.
The further away , the better it looked.
Paint cracked all to hell.

[FASTASSBIRD]

I have some absolutely gorgeous 71 fenders I’m gonna sell if you need a set….

[Judge273]

The weird thing about Starlight Black was standard color in 70-71. 72 special order. Not sure why…