I guess I
lucked out a bit on this trip for gas. I mean, gas was quite high a while
back but came down to a reasonable level for this trip. And remember,
this is an early-70s 400 CID muscle car I'm driving. A bit ironic that
this model year, 1973, is the last year car engineers could ignore gas
mileage concerns.
I decided before I left to only burn premium gas. Don't want none of that "pinging" and "knocking" on my journey. That meant 183 high-octane gallons for this trip. I'm doing my part to lift this economy out of the recession.
I'm getting about 14 mpg, but consider an average speed of 80 mph. It may get better if I slow down to 55 mph like the president ordered in 1974, but I'm not willing to find out. I'm keeping it between 80 and 90.
To the left: I keep forgetting that the gas goes in behind the rear license plate. Each time I bend my ass over, I think, "No wonder they moved it up to the side!"
The disruption caused by the Arab oil embargo has caused the British government to institute a three-day workweek. In the U.S., Federal Energy Director William Simon announced standby gas rationing which would limit most most motorists to 8 gallons per week.
Mama Told Me (Not to Come)....Three Dog Night
73
facts about the GTO
Fuel economy was not on the minds of many people in the
60s because gas was cheap. I remember a particular gas station on my paper
route in 1968. Gas was 19 cents a gallon at one point! However, MPG of
cars was on the radar screen of some automotive magazines. One of the
selling points of a GTO was that it was truly a multipurpose car--suitable
for both racing on Saturday nights and going to church and a nice leisurely
drive on Sunday. To help validate such a claim, consider this Motor
Trend fuel economy statement for the 1965 GTO:
"......The Pontiac GTO for 1965 has everything and a few big plus items. Comfort with good handing, utility with beauty, performance with economy. This last combination was the subject of retesting, especially with the GTO. Here's a car with 389 cubic engines in the engine, acceleration that's almost unbelievable, yet is capable of over 18 mpg at 65--70 mph highway cruising speeds...."