Things were also cheaper back then!
When I first started motorcross at the grand old age of 9, petrol had risen sharply due to Arab-Israeli tensions, so a gallon of 2 star had risen to 76p in 1976 The winter of discontent at the end of the decade coupled with Petroleum Revenue Tax increased from 45% to 60%, saw a gallon of fuel more than double t0 £1.72 by the time I started driving in 83.
Boy racers like MG Metro Turbo, Uno Turbo 5 turbo and 205 GTI could be insured for around £500 for a 18/19 year old.