Reading the recent thread about the persecution of 4 x 4s, I saw that 'petrol rationing' was mentioned. This reminded me of a time - I think about 1973 - when I was allocated petrol coupons for my motorbike. I'm not sure, however, that I ever had to use them - maybe the crisis passed. I remember, at the time, being pretty miffed because owning my motorcycle only entitled me to a reduced number of coupons compared to, say, a car. I felt that everyone should be entitled to the same amount of fuel and should be allowed to use it as they wished.
Can anyone confirm when petrol rationing coupons have been issued since ww2 - and if they were actually used?
Also, if we should end up in a situation where petrol was rationed again, should the owner of a thirsty car be entitled to more than, say, a fuel efficient motorcyclist?
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I remember the 1973 ones, they were issued but never used. Yom Kippur war, October 1973 was the catalyst. Motorcyclists should get more of course.
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I've still got mine, but they are for my 1600cc Lotus
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They were issued as a precaution in 73 but rationing was never implemented. Also at time of Suez crisis in 1956, too young to remember if they were used on that occasion.
Hoarders of the Suez items observed that the '73 coupons were identical and pondered the consequent black market opportunity!!
Rationining must be part of contingency plan for any new conflagration in the middle east, but presumably by more sophisticated means than paper coupons.
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There are generic plans in place led by the DTI called the Downstream Oil Emergency Response Plan. There are some vague details on the Internet. The plan covers any eventuality that may result in a shortage. There is very little excess capacity in any area of fuel distribution, but incidents like Buncefield demonstrated that the industry can cope with some disruption without too much disruption.
AFAIK there won't be any plans for rationing as such, but the availability of fuel may be restricted to those who are deemed to be of greatest need.
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I suppose that, if coupons were to be unfairly distributed as before, then the trick would be to register your gazz guzzler(s) and get the coupons, but use the fuel in your 100mpg motor scooter to get from A to B without walking ;-)
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The rationing might take the form illustrated in this document: www.tyndall.ac.uk/research/theme2/final_reports/t3...f
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Several posts say that rationing was not implemented in 1973.
It was actually, but informally, by individual petrol outlets. '5 gallon limit' etc. I was a minicab driver at the time and sarf of the river we minicabbers were privileged to jump the sometimes enormous queues and buy as much of the precious fluid as we wanted, provided we paid the correct bribe or premium.
Most forecourts in N. Clapham were run by hard-bitten and rather masculinized women, tough cookies but underpaid. Self-service was still relatively rare.
I still remember how it did my heart good to see these dollies with massive wads in their back pockets. Oh yes! It's an ill wind etc...
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I am fairly sure that petrol was rationed after the Suez crisis in the 1950's can't remember the year, the Suez canal was blocked by sunken ships and suddenly all the oil tankers had to go around the Cape of Good Hope adding a long time to the journey.
This caused a shortage in fuel supplies to Europe and therefore rationing.
This resulted in much bigger tankers being built which of course could not get through the canal after it reopened!!
Another side effect was the sudden popularity of "bubble cars". Who remembers the Isetta, Messerchitt and ? Bond.
All used small m/cycle based engines and had very good fuel consumption for the period.
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I remember the 1973 issue of coupons. My dad had a Jag at the time, which he ended up selling for a song as the values of large engined cars naturally bombed. I think he wishes he'd held onto it now.
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Yes, petrol coupons were issued and petrol rationed at the time of the Suez crisis in 1957, and I am pretty sure I still have some of the coupons somewhere.
Garages were pretty strict for a couple of weeks and demanded the coupons but after a short while the attendant filling the car (Who remembers this???) tended to forget to ask for them. A small tip had a similar effect.
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Did a little bit of digging to pass some time.
Petrol rationing was in force from end of Sept 1939 to 26th May 1950 during WW2 and then reimposed during Suez from Dec 1956 until 14th May 1957.
Coupons were issued in November 1973 but were never formally used, the price hike of 70% coupled with an output cut of 25% by OPEC caused the shortage on the back of the Yom Kippur War. I had just started driving then and remember that many petrol stations had informal rationing by serving 'regulars only' and introducing maximum amounts they would sell, the queues also helped. I seem to recall that our local garage only opened for a couple of hours a day as well so it was pretty much rationing in all but name. I also remember being told that petrol would be a £1 a gallon, (22p a litre), within a few years; how we laughed at that......... petrol, a £1 a gallon, ha,ha.ha, mmmmmmm.............. Mind you, I was an apprentice on £7.21 a week at the time!
Can't imagine a regulars only policy being able to be applied in this day and age of large supermarket chains, how many people use a regular petrol station these days?
It seems the policy during the fuel blockade was for certain stations to be designated as Government bunker sites with police control and only authorised 'essential' users permitted to buy. Whether, given more notice, coupons would ever be issued again is open to question, probably more likely to be some sort of credit/swipe card type system I would imagine, if things carry on going the way they are perhaps we'll find out.........
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Did a little bit of digging to pass some time.
Thanks - I remember now the 'regulars only' policy and the queueing. At that time, my only mode of transport was my Triumph T21, but I can't remember how long the petrol shortage went on for, or how it personally affected my ability to get around.
The significant thing that I remember was that, as a motorcyclist, I got fewer tokens than a car driver. I don't think that the public would be so understanding these days if a (non-essential) driver of a 16mpg machine was allowed more fuel than someone who had a 40mpg car or who was prepared to rough it on a 100mpg motor scooter. The only fair system would be for everyone in the country to have an identical share which they could either use or trade with - I guess like the carbon-trading idea.
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>>>I suppose that, if coupons were to be unfairly distributed as before, then the trick would be to register your gazz guzzler(s) and get the coupons, but use the fuel in your 100mpg motor scooter to get from A to B without walking ;-)<<<
That is exactly what I did in 1956/57. I had saved up for a Lambretta and purchased same in 1955 (oh how I loved that machine:o). Somewhat unexpectedly, I was provided with my first company car in the spring of 1956....a Ford Anglia...not exactly a gazz guzzler... and when rationing came along I was able to travel on two wheels with the petrol intended for the car....back then skidlids had only just been invented and they did not *have* to be used.
Ah, those were the days!! Imagine driving by scooter from Manchester to London and back, using the A6 throughout....and enjoying every moment.
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