Used car prices from decades ago

[Donald]

Yep, I've had some dangerous jobs too.

My point was that minimum wage then, is comparable to today.

So my Dad ran a tree nursery. I would often go with him to the nursery. When I was 5 he would pay me $0.25 an hour to go away and play so he could get some work done. Latter I was employed for $0.60. I thought that was great. A penny a minute.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I believe the prices were relatively related to inflation today. I remember the local dealership was selling striped down Chevy square box pickups for $4,200 brand new. The trucks were two wheel drive 6 cylinder 3 speeds. I believe that was right around 1977. My big brother bought a brand new 75 Corvette for $8,500 and it was white with a white convertible top, extra hardtop included and it had leather and an automatic transmission with the lowly L-48 engine instead of the L-82. The good ole days are right here folks.

 

[Donald]

I am still grumble grumble that a few pickup to replace my F250 PSD would be $75K to $85K. I will keep saying maybe next year.

 

[andrew_j]

Cars before mid 80s were throw away at best after 4-5 years especially New England. The resale reflected that.

I made $4.50/hr in 80s and drove a really nice 5 year old Subaru Loyale wagon 4wd that needed exhaust and rockers were so rotten. I picked up for $500

 

[KrisZ]

I feel the next few generations will be amazed to hear that we actually used to own stuff instead of subscribing to it.

 

[Number_35]

We had one air cooled VW, a 1981 Vanagon, and it in no way sucked. The heat was enough to keep the windows clear in cold weather, although not shirtsleeve warm. The gas heater would have been a good add, too bad ours didn't have one.
The Type 1 is very entertaining to drive, while the Type 2 is a cult classic and priced accordingly. The Type 3 and 4 cars also have a following.
These air cooled VWs had a lot of appeal new in a way that nothing from this country or Japan did. Name some basic cars from either country that are considered collectible today. Oh wait, there aren't any.
But you already knew all of this.

There was in interesting article on Curbside Classic defending the air-cooled VWs and their oft-maligned heating systems. The cars were so tight that the blower had trouble forcing warm air (scavenged from the engine bay) into the passenger compartment.

The solution was to crack open the driver's window slightly.

*******

As far as old domestic and Japanese base models not being collectible, you're probably right, but I'm the wrong guy to ask.

I would be delighted to have the following in my garage (and delighted to have the garage to hold them all):

- an early Corvair (with the suspension mods to alleviate the rollover tendencies)

- a '69 Biscayne with 3-on-the-tree and the big inline 6 (probably a 250 by 1969)

- a '68 Valiant or Dart, 3-on-the-tree and Slant Six

- a '67 or '68 Plymouth Fury I, again with a 3-on-the-tree and Slant Six

- a '71 to '73 Datsun 510

- a '71 to '75 Corolla

- a '69 or '70 Datsun 1000

- a '74 Datsun B210

- a '69 to '71 Mazda 1200

- a '69 to '71 Mazda 1500/1800

For whatever reason, I prefer this sort of car to its sportier and/or more luxurious siblings. At car shows I skip over the bling and drool over the daily drivers. But yeah, I realize I'm an outlier ...