Ah, the gasoline "shortage" days. Let's see, my licence plate has an even number so I can buy gasoline tomorrow. Gas station closes at noon so get in the gas line at 06:30, get gas by 07:30, be at work at 08:00.
White '65 Impala sport coupe behind a '70 Impala custom coupe. Looks like a green '71ish Dodge Dart sedan on left of that.
Not a clean car in sight. Remember the speed limit was initially reduced to 50 mph to save gas, and reluctantly increased to 55. Fun times.
I remember getting my first speeding violation for doing 71 mph in a (newly designated) 55 mph zone which was previously posted at 70 mph. I had to appear in court, pay a fine and court costs. $10 fine for speeding and $15 court costs. No points on my license. Still 25 bucks was a lot to pay for a front seat look at the big clunky Vascar box.
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
Anyone old enough to remember the tiger tail giveaway when one purchased Esso Extra? One tied it below one's gas cap showing "You had a tiger in your tank".
Anyone old enough to remember the tiger tail giveaway when one purchased Esso Extra? One tied it below one's gas cap showing "You had a tiger in your tank".
Yup, that's why I mentioned it in the caption. The ultimate would be to have an Esso tiger in your tank and Uniroyal Tiger Paws tires.
I wonder why they changed from Esso (for Standard Oil) to Exxon. Apparently the Esso name is still used in Canada.
Anyone old enough to remember the tiger tail giveaway when one purchased Esso Extra? One tied it below one's gas cap showing "You had a tiger in your tank".
Yup, that's why I mentioned it in the caption. The ultimate would be to have an Esso tiger in your tank and Uniroyal Tiger Paws tires.
I wonder why they changed from Esso (for Standard Oil) to Exxon. Apparently the Esso name is still used in Canada.
I remember the tiger tails up here. They were a hot item to get around '65 or '66 IIRC.
As for the name change, they were Esso nationwide up here as the Canadian market was served by a Standard Oil subsidiary, Imperial Oil. But I understand in the US they had a few different brand names depending on the part of the country. Esso, Enco, plus others I don't recall. The Exxon brand was created to unify the branding across the USA.
I remember dad had an Esso credit card and on the back were all the logos of stations in the US where it was accepted. It was a great many different brands.
Ironically, over the last year or two they have rolled out the Mobil brand here for the first time as an exclusive brand used by the gas bars of the Loblaw grocery chain.
Anyone old enough to remember the tiger tail giveaway when one purchased Esso Extra? One tied it below one's gas cap showing "You had a tiger in your tank".
Yup. Got those filling up at a station in Oxford in grad school.
Yes, the reason was to do away with the three brand names and have just one in the US. This was done in 1972 when Jersey Standard became Exxon Corporation.
Yes, the reason was to do away with the three brand names and have just one in the US. This was done in 1972 when Jersey Standard became Exxon Corporation.
Yes, it's all Exxon now but not just plain Exxon but rather Exxon/Mobil
Yes, the reason was to do away with the three brand names and have just one in the US. This was done in 1972 when Jersey Standard became Exxon Corporation.
Yes, it's all Exxon now but not just plain Exxon but rather Exxon/Mobil
Wonder why two names?
In 1999 Exxon and Mobil, previously separate companies, merged to form the new ExxonMobil organization. Interesting in that originally they were all part of Rockefeller's original Standard Oil Trust before being forced to be split into Jersey Standard (Standard Oil of New Jersey, Esso/Enco/Humble at retail) and Standard Oil of New York, or Socony, which later was renamed Mobil.
When I was a student, I recall a quirky older woman professor (probably 65 years old then) had one, a red turbo GT just like that. This was in the mid 90s, and the car was somewhat obscure even then.
FoMoCo marketers were thinking of the Mazda-based Probe to fill in the gap for the Mustang which they thought would soon be discontinued. Why they thought a FWD V6 could substitute for a RWD V8 has never been understood and Fox-body Mustang sales went up in the 80s since V8 'Stangs were light and fast and the suits figured they should keep offering it.
"Probe" may have been the worst model name in history.
The late '80s/early '90s were another dark era in a continuing series of same from Ford.
I had two different Fords from that era, both bought used:
-1986 Mustang GT 5.0/5 spd convertible. It was really fast, handled well as long as you didn't overdo power "oversteer". I think it was one of the performance bargains of the era although the interior was pretty tacky (too much cheap plastic) and overall quality control was so-so.
-1992 Taurus SHO/ 5 SPD. A great engine in search of a good car, like all Taurusi the bulid quality was abysmal and I had nearly as many electrical problems as with my '66 Triumph. A real blast to drive when things were working right and as good in snow as a SAAB but....
My family had a few Fords of that general era - 85 F150, 85 Tempo, 93 Taurus, and my uncle had an 86 and 91 Taurus. I don't recall build quality being an issue, probably as good as any mass market car (especially domestic) of the era, and the Tempo stayed in the family until 190K (!) miles. However, one Taurus (3.0) lost a transmission at 100K, another (3.8) a head gasket at 80K. The cars seemed much more modern than many of the era (especially domestics) which must have helped them sell in the huge numbers they enjoyed during that era.
Tempos seem to be what I call a "hit and miss" car - some people had endless troubles and the cars were done at 100K, others seemed indestructible. Ours was the latter. Sold off in 1999 to a mechanic who was going to rebuild the front end and give it to their kid. I saw it in town about 5 years later, still looked OK.
Taurus on the other hand, I think everyone with a first or second gen 3.0 or 3.8 car had either a transmission or head gasket problem.
Tempos seem to be what I call a "hit and miss" car - some people had endless troubles and the cars were done at 100K, others seemed indestructible. Ours was the latter. Sold off in 1999 to a mechanic who was going to rebuild the front end and give it to their kid. I saw it in town about 5 years later, still looked OK.
Taurus on the other hand, I think everyone with a first or second gen 3.0 or 3.8 car had either a transmission or head gasket problem.
MY SHO never had transmission or engine problems but I did have to replace the clutch.
The Tremec 5 speed in the Mustang GT was fine but after replacing two clutches in less than 80K miles, I installed a Ford Motorsport unit which solved the problem.
My brother had a Topaz. Had some issues but nothing major. But it was just such an awful car to drive that I dunno how anyone could have called it a good.
That's right up there with the "grounded to the ground" spots for the sporty Camry. Though the Camry's engine was far less wheezy than the lump in the Tempo.
I'm pretty certain the fintail could dust the Tempo in a 0-60 run. Probably better overall than the Fairmont it replaced though, which seemed to me like a 60s car in a 70s body still sold in the 80s.
Those TRX wheels on the commercial car are a guilty pleasure, never saw them in real life.
While all 1961 Dodge Darts were not Senecas, all 1961 Dodge Senecas were Dodge Darts. It was based on the 1961 Dodge Dart trim levels, the Seneca, Pioneer, and the Phoenix.
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Fun stick-on rear window heating element on the Nova sedan at left beside the Dart/Valiant in line at left.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
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2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
I wonder why they changed from Esso (for Standard Oil) to Exxon. Apparently the Esso name is still used in Canada.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I wonder why they changed from Esso (for Standard Oil) to Exxon. Apparently the Esso name is still used in Canada.
I remember the tiger tails up here. They were a hot item to get around '65 or '66 IIRC.
As for the name change, they were Esso nationwide up here as the Canadian market was served by a Standard Oil subsidiary, Imperial Oil. But I understand in the US they had a few different brand names depending on the part of the country. Esso, Enco, plus others I don't recall. The Exxon brand was created to unify the branding across the USA.
I remember dad had an Esso credit card and on the back were all the logos of stations in the US where it was accepted. It was a great many different brands.
Ironically, over the last year or two they have rolled out the Mobil brand here for the first time as an exclusive brand used by the gas bars of the Loblaw grocery chain.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
In less than 13 seconds.
Wonder why two names?
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
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Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
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2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
"Probe" may have been the worst model name in history.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
-1986 Mustang GT 5.0/5 spd convertible. It was really fast, handled well as long as you didn't overdo power "oversteer". I think it was one of the performance bargains of the era although the interior was pretty tacky (too much cheap plastic) and overall quality control was so-so.
-1992 Taurus SHO/ 5 SPD. A great engine in search of a good car, like all Taurusi the bulid quality was abysmal and I had nearly as many electrical problems as with my '66 Triumph.
A real blast to drive when things were working right and as good in snow as a SAAB but....
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I think the twin cars that Ford did with Mazda were a highlight, as well.
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It lasted over 10 years and close to 100K before we replaced it with a '97 Escort.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
Taurus on the other hand, I think everyone with a first or second gen 3.0 or 3.8 car had either a transmission or head gasket problem.
The Tremec 5 speed in the Mustang GT was fine but after replacing two clutches in less than
80K miles, I installed a Ford Motorsport unit which solved the problem.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Then again, compared to peak malaise just a few years earlier, maybe this wasn't so bad.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Those TRX wheels on the commercial car are a guilty pleasure, never saw them in real life.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
It was based on the 1961 Dodge Dart trim levels, the Seneca, Pioneer, and the Phoenix.