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Specifically, in newspaper classified ads from the 1970s and 80s, the phrase was often intended to be (estimated miles per gallon) or "six mpg," referring to the fuel efficiency of older vehicles. Due to the quality of the original print or the scanning software, characters were sometimes misread, leading to the nonsensical string "sex mpg" appearing in digital search results. Historical Context: The 1985 Car Ads sex mpg
: If letters like "e," "s," and "t" (from "est.") are too close, the software might combine them into "sex." AI responses may include mistakes
In mid-1980s classifieds, car dealers often listed fuel economy to attract buyers during a time when fuel efficiency was a major selling point. For example, a June 1985 issue of the Fort Walton Beach Playground Daily News featured listings for older models like the '76 Gremlin and '74 Mustang, where OCR errors translated technical specs into "sex mpg". Why OCR Errors Happen Due to the quality of the original print
While the term might look like a modern internet slang or a specific automotive metric, it is almost exclusively a of archiving historical print media.
: Folds or stains on the original paper can distort characters during the scanning process.
: Old newsprint often has smudged or faded letters.