Well if I remember correctly, and I wouldn't bet on that, most oils retailed for somewhere around 50 cents per quart, but I don't remember the price of filters. Of course, I figured making a dollar an hour was good wages. As far as stop and go traffic, well you have to remember that there weren't near as many cars on the road as now. Also most people , at least here in rural Nebraska, didn't drive to far to work. My job after graduating from trade school as a mechanic (and was then making about $4 per hour average) was 20 miles from home, and most mornings I only met a few cars on the way to work. And that was on a major cross country highway. Also gas was 32.9 cents /gal. and my 6 cyl chevelle got 20 mpg.