Just ran across something that mentioned the average cost of unleaded gasoline in 1980 was $1.25/gal.

According to the inflation calculator at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2012 terms, that would be $3.44 - ten cents less than it is at the cheap station down the road from me.

In 1980, my car got 17 MPG.

In 2012, my car gets around 30 MPG (though, to be fair, I've had cars that have gotten as much as 62 MPG and in the 40s - cars which I no longer have - and yes the 62 was a one-timer when I was in no rush to get where I was going)