Price of petrol 1961 - 2011

Hadrian

I've calculated that in my 50 years of motoring that the 'cost' of petrol to me is 10% more expensive over this period of time. Petrol was 2 shillings (10p) a gallon in 1938, I'm told, and 4 shillings (20p) in 1961, the latter I know for certain. Those were the days when one was served petrol by a nice old guy who asked if you wanted the oil checked. Once one had to dole the stuff oneself it was easy to get exactly to the penny a 'round pound' on the pump. Nowadays I try the same and over or undershoot by miles. Ah! those were the days. But we oldies forget that an average 1200cc car did only 30mpg, if you were lucky. I haven't bothered to take into account that but surmise that petrol is cheaper mile for mile than 50 years ago. :TAnyone go further back that '61?
PS.I well remember 'pushing and shoving' in a queue for petrol when it was going to go up from (the equiv of) 21p to 22p!!

[Deleted User]

Yet another price of petrol thread.

wealdroam

2/3d here, although it doesn't say when that was.

adamc260

10p a gallon... Those were the days eh

wealdroam

adamc260 wrote: »

10p a gallon... Those were the days eh

Yes... so that's around two pence a litre.

andy111

wealdroam wrote: »

2/3d here, although it doesn't say when that was.

Not too sure if that price is photoshopped onto the pump, and if it is a later photo of an early pump - colour photography was in its true infancy in the early 1900s when this was the price.

Petrol was 2/3d in 1903 and 1908 according to the AA;

http://www.theaa.com/public_affairs/reports/Petrol_Prices_1896_todate_gallons.pdf

Anyone on here driving back in 1908?

john1

In 1956 petrol was 4/- a gallon along came the Suez invasion with channel closed. Petrol went up to 5/- a gallon due to oil coming via Cape Hope. Country told only temporary increase whilst on longer route



When Suez re opened petrol dropped to 4/6 never did find out who had the other 6d :j

Flying-High_2

I'm only 33 so can't go back as far as some of the guys on here.

When I passed my test a day after my 17th in 95, Diesel was 55p a litre...

adamc260

I passed my test 5 years ago when I was 17.. can't remember how much petrol was then to be honest!

SteveJW

15th February 1971
I used to work part time on the petrol pumps to supplement my appentice wage.
Prior to D day (Decimilisation) petrol was 6/8 a gallon (six shillings and eight old pence) With 240 pence to the pound, three gallon cost exactly a £1.

Used to have a customer came in every other day for a £1s worth

The decimilal equivalent of 6/8 was 33.5 pence, three gallons came to £1.005. I gave the customer three gallons for a £1 what a telling off I got

Mind you what a tight get the boss was, always had to ask if the customer wanted the oil and water checking, if they wanted oil we had to open the small pint containers carefully and then fill them up from a 45 gallon drum afterwards,. Remember he once went to auction and bought around 200 gallons in bulk, he thought he had bought the tank as well, he hadn't