Gas is high, but 1970s stunned drivers, too. KC readers recall tough times | Opinion
I’m sure you’ve noticed that gas prices haven’t halted their steady climb as a result of the war in Iran. Donald Trump is seeking to pause the federal gas tax, which would pass savings on to drivers, but it’s not so simple: Congress would have to approve the proposal, and passing along savings to people and not oil companies could be difficult to enforce.
I’m trying to drive fewer miles when possible and I combine errands when I can. How about you? Last week, the Kansas City average price at the pump according to AAA was $4.165. I paid $4.29. This week, the current average is $4.175. Of course, I’m talking about regular gas, not premium. Who can afford premium these days?
We’re not to record prices yet (the highest recorded average price, according to AAA, was in June 2022 at $4.95 in Missouri and $4.68 in Kansas), but I’m definitely feeling the pinch. Many of you are, too.
I invited you to share your concerns about the current gas crisis along with memories of times long ago. I asked you if you were worried, and 100% of those responding replied yes.
Klaus Karbaumer of Platte City said: “This will affect us for a long time, since usually businesses raise prices faster than they lower them. And as everything gets transported nowadays with fossil fuels (even electric vehicles depend on power plants running mostly on fossil fuels) every aspect of our life will be impacted. I don’t mind if planes can’t get into the air for vacationers, but people need to get to work, school, shops, etc.”
Judy Tschirhart of Kansas City thought about the younger generations: “With prices going up, you’re definitely having to make choices. I just hope the younger generations can do this. They really never had to go without.”
I heard from readers who dispute the notion that Kansas City is a walkable city and that we should invest more in reliable public transportation. One reader suggested that we bring back the idea of 15-minute towns, where people lived and worked in the same neighborhood.
Your memories of the 1970s oil crisis really brought back some fascinating times.
“(I remember) specifically: Lines at gas stations, high prices, and scarcity. Lots of speculation about price gouging. Cancelled vacation plans. In general: discussions concerning smaller and more energy efficient vehicles being a high priority.”
- Lee Kester, Leawood
“I was just 20 years old in 1973, going to community college in St. Louis. My dad told me to fill up the family car that I drove and get down to the gas station, fast. He heard about possible gas shortages. This was like at 8 a.m. I drove to our regular station and a line had already formed. I only needed about a quarter tank to fill it up. When I went to school later, I passed gas stations that had long lines. From that moment on, I drove only when there was a need. I do remember people began to adjust and eventually prices went down. Now, in 2026, I wonder if prices will go back down again to the old level.”
- Scott Bandle, Lawrence
“(I remember) having to get my first credit card so I could fill the tank, because gas was so expensive sometimes you had to borrow money to buy it.”
- Dale Wehmhoener, Lee’s Summit
“The price was high, gas was scarce, and we waited in line for hours to get a fill up, and inflation was out of control.”
- Chilton McLaughlin, Paola
“You could not ‘top off’ your gas tank. As punishment, a gas station could make you pay $20, even if you bought less than $20, so you would not top off your tank. This happened to us on a trip from St. Louis to KC in the 1970s. We were worried about not having enough gas to make it back to KC, and about some gas stations not having any gas on the way home. We topped off our tank, and had to pay the $20 for less than $20 of gas. There was no sign to warn us of this policy. We had to pay it, knowing it was better than running out of gas at night on I-70 with a car full of people.”
- C. Rubaie, Overland Park
“You had to be in line at 6 a.m. when the gas station did not open until 10 a.m.”
- Judy Hultquist, Bonner Springs
“Gasoline was 28 cents a gallon in 1958 when I got my driver’s license. During the 1970s oil crisis, you could only buy gas on certain days based on whether the last number on your license plate was odd or even. We had two cars. One license number ended with an even number, the other with an odd number. We switch plates between cars regularly in order to fill up whenever we needed to.”
- Pete Connors, Lee’s Summit
“We graduated from college in 1973 and were married that summer. There were a number of our guests who did not know if they would be able to come because of the gas shortages. They had to plan their route to make sure they could actually have gas to buy. We had to carpool to work. I drove a Corvair. My husband had a Firebird that didn’t get enough gas mileage so he didn’t drive it.”
- Toni Gelpi, Overland Park
“I remember the fuel oil the most, which was how we heated our house. We closed off most of the house and lived in about three rooms with small children. When we went some place, we made sure we had a complete list of where we needed to go, and the most efficient routes to save fuel.
- Sharon Hutchinson, Salisbury, Missouri
“I’m 70 years old and my dad used to fill up the car every Saturday. He would take me with him so I could get a sucker. He paid 22 cents a gallon and got his oil checked and windshield washed with the fill-up. Tire pressures were also checked by the attendant while he filled the tank. Times have definitely changed!”
- Gary Lightfoot, Lenexa
