I got my driver's license in late July 1973. I had a weekend and after-school job and was driving a Falcon Sprint with a 260 V8 at the time. I had about two months of freedom, which I didn't really get to enjoy that much because I was working weekends and after school. Then the Arab Oil Embargo hit in October 1973, and gas prices went up drastically. My dad was running a garage and sold used cars at the time. I had a Honda CL125 that I rode around our property. My dad put a tag on it and I used it to make parts runs and grocery store runs, plus I rode it to school on days I had to work.
There was a good side to the gas rationing, used musclecars were cheap. My dad had a dealer's license, and went to the auto auction about every other week. I used all of my savings to buy a 1968 Torino GT convertible with a 390 4-spd with only about 60K miles. Price was about $250 plus a small auction fee. I remember trying to talk my dad into buying a nice Corvette, which was only $1000 at the time.
I hope those days never come back. My work hours were severely cut, and it was tough on everybody. I finally had my driver's license and freedom, but no money to do anything.
Mike
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