Gasoline

Gasoline was one of the most essential items rationed throughout the war. Due to military consumption, the US was falling 500,000 barrels per day short of its needs in 1943. To account for that difference, rationing was necessary. Every day, 1.8 million barrels were filled, but the military only required 600,000. The previous year, numerous gasoline tankers had sunk in the ocean while en route to maintain supplies, which added to the severity of the problem. The gray market was ready.

In May 1942, gas rationing was instituted in 17 states. By the end of the year, that amounted to 48 states. Drivers were given stamps that contained their allotted amount of gas. To encourage gas conservation, the speed limit was lowered, and carpooling was promoted. But to meet demand, the illicit market also arose.

During the time of gas rationing, chiselers were widely used. Chiseled gas was gasoline that a person was able to purchase at the going rate even though it was legally against the law to do so. In essence, a chiseler would enter a petrol station and con the proprietor. Gas was meant to be rationed, but if you had cash and no one was looking, you could negotiate a deal. Although not all gas stations did it, many did. In 1943, a writer for Colliers magazine drove across Mexico and into Canada using only chiseled gas as fuel.