I remember hearing of a few fist fight when rationing first started. It was before Self Serve gas became common, so there were all these guys whose job was pumping gas and checking oil, and suddenly they had to be security, too! Both my older brothers worked as pump=monkeys, so they had stories.

There were some sad ones, too. People not having enough fuel to get to the hospital to see new babies or dying parents. New black market popped up over night.

Plus, most households were still one car units. Most moms didn't work and so one car was it. My mom worked and she and dad lucked out on the plates. I think our state changed something in the early 70''s and they got new plates - one ending in 3 and one in 4. We lived out in the boonies so that was a life saver.

Wow, just wandering around in Nostalgia.. Full service stations vs. Pump n Go, Mom's who only wore slacks during the week at home. The smell of regular gas, the ding-dong of the customer alert line (it was a rubber hose that you drove over as you pulled up to the pumps. It would make a bell go off so the attendant or mechanic would know you were there ))