According to the omniscient wikipedia (in their article on Rationing)

During the 1973 oil crisis, coupons for gasoline rationing were printed, but never used.

Please re-read the wikipedia article. In 1973, there was gasoline rationing in the US, based on odd/even days and license plate numbers. They never got around to using coupons, but there certainly was rationing.

Those who lived through it won't easily forget.

endorendil is right. I remember the odd/even days, even though I was only 13 at the time. And mile long lines at the gas stations to fill up with 45-50 cent a gallon gas (which was nearly a 100% increase at the time).