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Published on: 4/1/2005
Last Visited: 4/7/2005
Gary Bennett, general manager of Laird Noller Automotive in Lawrence, said that this week's prices would be cheap compared with those during the price panics of 1974.An oil embargo triggered rationing and other measures that -- if adjusted for inflation -- would be far more painful than today's prices.
"People were trading in their Dodge Chargers, Olds Cutlasses -- big, V-8 American cars, because they weren't as efficient," he said, recalling his early sales days."It was a panic thing."
These days, Bennett is busy answering customer inquiries about Ford's new Escape hybrid, an SUV that offers improved gasoline mileage through use of electric and gasoline power.He had his first one sold before it ever made it on the lot, and one of the two more he's secured since then from other dealers also has a buyer.
With gasoline prices staying high, he said, the interest should continue to accelerate.
"We get people in here every week," Bennett said.
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