Some Familiar Names

[Rick Iverson]

Here

[John Nesbitt]

A Brabham BT18 roller for $1195.

[DaveW]

A Brabham BT18 roller for $1195.

In a similar vein - gasoline was under $0.30/gallon in '74... Distilled water was more expensive.

[Steve Demeter]

Those were "the good old days"

In 40 years today will be the good old days...

[JHerscher]

In a similar vein - gasoline was under $0.30/gallon in '74... Distilled water was more expensive.

I don’t know about anyone else here but I sure wish the inflation rate of everything else in this sport was the same as the gas we put in out tow vehicles. I’d pay $12k for a Brabham roller!

[John Nesbitt]

I don’t know about anyone else here but I sure wish the inflation rate of everything else in this sport was the same as the gas we put in out tow vehicles. I’d pay $12k for a Brabham roller!

Some comparisons.

From that ad, a new Lola T340 was $7150 in 1974. A new FF these days would run ~10 times that.

At the same time a new Corvette (coupe) was $6000. A new Corvette would run almost exactly 10 times that today.

The US consumer price index (CPI) was 50 mid-year 1974, and 263 today. [source: Bureau of Labor Statistics] So the CPI has gone up by a factor of 5.25 since June 1974.

So, FF and Corvette prices have kept pace over the past 47 years, both about twice the increase in the CPI.

The outlier is the BT18. It was $1200 in 1974. Using the CPI, it would be about $6300 today. Using the FF/Corvette index, about $12000. Evidently, vintage racecar prices have escalated faster than FF or Corvette prices.


On the price of gas, I wonder about the 30 cents/gallon in 1974. That may have been a 1973 price. Of course, gas prices are both regional and highly volatile. However, the US average price took a real jump after the 1973 Oil Crisis, going from mid-to-high 30s before to mid-to-high 50s after.

If the gas price in June 1974 was 50 cents/gallon, today's US average price for regular (~$2.85) is not far off the 5.25 CPI multiplier.

[DaveW]

...On the price of gas, I wonder about the 30 cents/gallon in 1974. That may have been a 1973 price. Of course, gas prices are both regional and highly volatile. However, the US average price took a real jump after the 1973 Oil Crisis, going from mid-to-high 30s before to mid-to-high 50s after....

You're probably correct - in 1976, IIRC, I added a second gas tank to my van because at 8 mpg we couldn't be sure we'd make it from one open gas station to another due to the fuel shortage and short gas station hours.

[Jerry Kehoe]

And of course, here in the peoples republic of California we pay about $2.00 more per gallon than the rest of you. Why, taxes ( never high enough for the jerks that run the State) and collusion between the oil companies!

[SteveG]

And of course, here in the peoples republic of California we pay about $2.00 more per gallon than the rest of you. Why, taxes ( never high enough for the jerks that run the State) and collusion between the oil companies!

Jerry,

There is an informative article in the San Francisco Comical newspaper. The oil company collusion is only costing us 35 cents a gallon, the rest of the difference is taxes.

Steve

[R. Pare]

Actually, the oil company profit per gallon is about 5-7 cents, with the retailers getting slightly less than that.

[provamo]

...............I only knew now what I knew then!

[Rick Iverson]

If ...............I only knew now what I knew then!

or something like that

[Rick Kirchner]

The biggest issue in California is "boutique fuels". Every air quality management district requires its own formulation. Also, pretty sure all the crude comes from either Alaska or from within the state (southern central valley) because there are no crude or gasoline pipelines coming from the east. We're also short on refining capacity, so if any refinery has an issue like a fire or unplanned maintenance, the price spikes.

[R. Pare]

While there are no pipelines carrying crude oil into CA, the state still gets almost half of its oil from from foreign sources:

https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-repor...nia-refineries

Lots of interesting stuff on the site.

[Jerry Kehoe]

Rick, so other than a few cents at most per gallon for our political gas here and even taking our ridiculous gas taxes it doesn't explain why a trip to Oregon, Washington, Nevada or Arizona with much farther transportation cost, as well as the same refiners, we pay more than $1-1.50 /gal more than they do. A question once on a radio show to a Chevron big wig as to why we pay more was answered by him "Well, you are West of the Mississippi so it costs more for transportation) Great answer but our fuel is refined here! Peter Principle at it's best!

[SteveG]

Three points on California's gasoline:
1. CA has 2 "blends" of gas, winter and summer. Both are unique to CA and only refined here.
2. Because of #1, gas can't be imported from out of state.
3. The petroleum companies charge more here simply because they can and we willing pay. There are no conspiracies or oil company collusion.

Most of what I've learned about this is many, many BBQs, parties, dinners, etc with Chevron employees.The corporate offices are 5 miles from my house and you'll find more than 1 Chevron employee at every event.

The newspaper article I referenced earlier is here https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/ar...h-16054272.php

If the article is behind a pay wall, here's the graphic they use to show the CA gallon of gas cost break down.



Facts are your friends.

Steve