I remember the 70's. Gas lines and leapfrogging price increases. Cars from Detroit were big and popular and fuel efficient junk from Japan went for above list, if you could get a snotty dealer to sell you a ricer.

American cars got 8 to 12MPG. A 73 Olds 88 had miles of pipe trying to burn off the bad gases so we wouldn't lose our Ozone layer in the south pole. 1973 Olds 350 engines ran at 260 degrees F and had a life expectancy of 50,000 miles. Most dieseled to a stop when shut off in the driveway. Mine often needed a hosedown in the summer to shut off. Not Kidding!

Energy independence was a small scientific breakthrough away.
An article in the Wall Street Journal said," The rapid growth of nuclear power over the next two decades is viewed as virtually assured." Sure.

US automakers were in dire straits. Again from the WSJ, "It looks as if half the dealerships in the country have stopped selling cars. How long can things like this go on deteriorating?" It was the end of the good times.

The federal Government was a great help, offering such novel solutions as a 4 cent a gallon tax (now 18.4 cents) to cut energy consumption. Called "Project Independence" it was aimed at severing the country's dependence on foriegn oil. Yeah, congress's solution to everything,....tax it. See how well it worked.

But Americans got it together. We didn't give up our life style like Jane Fonda's movie "Rollover" suggested. Cars got better not smaller. Up to three times more fuel efficient and yet more enjoyable. Reliablity and durability improved threefold.

The Ozone hole over the south pole inexplicably healed 50 years sooner than predicted by the experts. The mini ice age miraculously became "Global warming," named such by the same experts.

We are told on the one had we are the most productive society on the planet and on the other , we are the most selfish consumers of it's resources.

Big Oil is still considered evil despite providing us a reliable supply for 30 years and people still look to Washington for all the answers. And the novel new answers given; more programs, more regs, more taxes. Sounds like real change doesn't it?

The good times are over? No I don't think so. Thirty years from now our kids will likely be having the same conversations.

And, if St. Peter will let me thru the gate with it, I will still be driving my Crossfire Roadster.

roadster with a stick