The cars you had the chance of buying during the gas crunch....

[WileE]

The second "shortage" was 1979 if I recall.

 

[MGKelly]

In 1984 I went to look at a car listed in the “Want Add Press” as a 1970 Sunbird. 440 4 speed Superbird sat in the sellers sisters garage for 14 years, offered him all I had at the time $6800. Car sold for $7200 next day.

 

[GetX'd]

I bought my 68 GTX in the Winter of 71 for $1100. Every winter in Minnesota I bought a $100 car to get me thru to the next Spring. Kept the GTX until about 6 months ago and sold it to a very good friend. Those were the days. Never cared lick about the gas crisis, I wasn’t going to sell that car. But actually I barely remember the first round. It was the one in the late 70’s that was the most memorable to me. Long lines, and stations running out and the advent of the $1.00 gas. I was in college and the professors would teach that we were going to run out of oil in the next 20 years. Forty years later and we have more than we know what to do with.

 

[copper67sat]

Wasn't really directly associated with a gas crisis, but the one that got away from me was a 70 RR conv, 383, pistol grip 4-sp, air grabber that I tried to buy in in S FL in 1988. B5 blue, white stripe, white top & interior. Car was pretty clean and mostly original - it was missing the air grabber air cleaner and was sporting dual quads. I could only come up with $4k and the guy was firm at $5k. Probably for the best as we were still living in a rented townhouse with limited parking so I didn't really have anywhere to put it and saving that money helped us buy our first house the next year. The guy brought out a photo album showing his old backyard in NY that was full of Mopar muscle. He bought all the big block and hemi cars he could get his hands on during the 73 crisis, most for a few hundred bucks. Must've been a couple dozen cars - B & E-bodies, hemis, 6-paks, you name it. He slowly sold them off over the years as they started gaining value and then retired to Boca. The RR and a 65 Mustang conv were the only ones he had left when he moved to FL and he was selling those.

 

[DeltaV]

'61 (?) Pontiac 421 Super Duty, 4 speed. Elderly couple was asking around $700.

'68 Buick GS 455. Owner was asking around $2,100

Fury I, 440 cop cars. The winning sealed-bid was usually around $600. Saw one go for $850.

 

[33 IMP]

I had a 57 chevy with a new 360hp lt-1, with a 61 rochester fuelie unit on it, with a four speed. But i wanted a big block automatic car to bracket race. (You must forgive me, i was raised in a chevy family).
There was a hotrod used car dealer on Colorado blvd. In Pasadena (rose bowl and rose parade, Lol). They had a corvette they couldn't give away. They were asking $2500. Nobody wanted it, it had a hydraulic cam, and a powerglide. I really liked it, but sure didn't have the asking price without trading in my 57. They offered $500 for my 57, i had just put $1000 new motor/overhauled fuelie unit in it! I told them they could keep the vette.

Oh, did i mention? This was a factory air, wood wheel, side exhaust, knockoff style wheels, (no real knockoffs on a 67) 67 roadster with both tops, 400hp triple deuces engine. And the glide.
I cant feel too bad about it, cause i would have beat the thing to death, but still...... $150k car now, all day long!

 

[Slap Stick]

1979 gas crunch.
I was driving a 73 Charger SE 318 and a 74 Polara 400 4bbl cop car.
What? Me worry?

 

[Kern Dog]

Are you sure the dealer couldn't get rid of those Chevelles simply because they were ugly?
View attachment 991951

That car is perfect for Demo Derby with those gigantic bumpers.

 

[Photon440]

I had a 57 chevy with a new 360hp lt-1, with a 61 rochester fuelie unit on it, with a four speed. But i wanted a big block automatic car to bracket race. (You must forgive me, i was raised in a chevy family).
There was a hotrod used car dealer on Colorado blvd. In Pasadena (rose bowl and rose parade, Lol). They had a corvette they couldn't give away. They were asking $2500. Nobody wanted it, it had a hydraulic cam, and a powerglide. I really liked it, but sure didn't have the asking price without trading in my 57. They offered $500 for my 57, i had just put $1000 new motor/overhauled fuelie unit in it! I told them they could keep the vette.

Oh, did i mention? This was a factory air, wood wheel, side exhaust, knockoff style wheels, (no real knockoffs on a 67) 67 roadster with both tops, 400hp triple deuces engine. And the glide.
I cant feel too bad about it, cause i would have beat the thing to death, but still...... $150k car now, all day long!

Just wow...they built only 207 Corvettes with that engine/transmission option. With a 3:08 rear, you could do 90 mph in first gear.

 

[Nate S]

A guy I used to work with told me about his mom driving a ‘69 Hemi Daytona 4-speed because his dad got it for really cheap. She hated it. Said the only thing good about it was that you could find it in a parking lot because of the wing.

 

[33 IMP]

Just wow...they built only 207 Corvettes with that engine/transmission option. With a 3:08 rear, you could do 90 mph in first gear.

Yep, it was the absolute most motor you could get with an automatic that year, and a factory airconditioned roadster to boot. The new bodystyle for 68 had enough tunnel room for the turbo 400, and lots more corvettes got automatics.

 

[68BabyBlue]

Bought my first GTX during this period. I was driving a tractor trailer over the road, so my car didn't see many miles, and $1 dollar a gallon gas didn't bother me. The '70 GTX was a beautiful 2-owner car that had been adult owned and cared for. I took care of it as well, and sold it in 1981 for more than the $1500 it cost me in 1977. The '68 I replaced it with cost me $1800 in 1983. I still have it today.