Looking back at ads from the first gas crisis
While we are currently paying more at the pump than ever before, many of our readers likely remember that this is not the first time the country has faced a sudden increase in gas prices and the desire for higher fuel economy. In the early seventies, both new emissions regulations and a shortage of gasoline in the U.S. turned the auto industry upside-down in just a few years. In fact, the first horsepower wars reached an apogee in 1970, with cars like the original Hemi Mopars, Chevrolet Chevelle LS6, and the GTO Judge reaching ever-higher into the horsepower stratosphere just to be knocked down a notch in '71 and again in '72. The muscle car days were officially on hiatus, and fuel economy was the new measuring stick.Sound familiar? While cars today are producing more power than ever, fuel economy now seems to be just as important, if not even more so, than the horsepower figure. With that in mind, lets take a trip down memory lane (via the gallery below) at the advertisements immediately following the first gas crunch to see what may be in store for us in the coming years. If you have a favorite, click here to visit Oobject and vote.
Gallery: Early Seventies Car Ads
[Source: Oobject]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
42 2:56PM (7/08/2008)
Oh god, thanks for resurrecting the 35-years-dead Datsun jingle in my head.
"Suddenly it's gonna dawn on you... Datsun saaaaves!!"
aaaaaaa *blam* *blam*
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Dustin 3:35PM (7/09/2008)
I like the "Who in America would build a car like this?". The answer is "Hopefully, no one," right?
And in the last one with the MG, I assume her mother wouldn't approve of how she's dressed, either...
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JR 10:38PM (7/09/2008)
It's not the first time America had to skimp on fuel, although before it was for the benefit of national security. See the old WW2-era posters:
Most of us can conserve more gas by driving less, carpooling, and taking pubtrans (a more radical lifestyle change) over the long term than just going out and buying a new, more fuel-efficient car. That being said, my next car will hopefully be a hybrid.
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JR 10:39PM (7/09/2008)
Apparently image tags are prohibited. Here is the URL:
http://www.andsuchandsuch.com/media/hitler.jpg
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JR 10:42PM (7/09/2008)
Apparently image tags are prohibited. Here is the URL:
http://www.andsuchandsuch.com/media/hitler.jpg
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I.Adam 12:46PM (8/29/2008)
Yes, Must be taken seriously.
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