Here's an old ad from 69 for $50 off new Road Runner and the sticker off my friends 65 442.

Roadrunner list was $3138 and sale price with ad $2645. Prices converted to today's dollar is $23,017 List Sale $19,401 Still a bargain

442 would be $29,150 today

My first car - a 1970 Cuda 340, was ordered through Redford C-P. The people I bought the car from were the original owners - husband worked as an accountant for Chrysler, & his wife worked at this dealer. It was a performance-oriented dealer for sure. This is a really great ad - glad you posted it.

Absolutely amazing the amount you paid for a new car back then especially comparing truck prices from then to today, almost makes you sick.

Cars have mostly risen with inflation (maybe a little more) but trucks and SUVs have gone insane. Not sure I'll ever buy a new vehicle off the lot again.

GM said they tack $10,000 on new SUV's to help develop electric vehicles, I am sure its the same with the trucks. No way in he11 I'd pay $90,000 for a Yukon that falls apart in 6-7 years

I'd argue a new base model Mustang GT or a new Challenger is a far better value than what you would have gotten with that ad. I love seeing those old prints though, times appeared to be far simpler

No more new vehicles for me.

Back then my Dad was making $90 a week.

I went in the Navy in 1974
Went in as an E3, not E1
My pay was 277.20 a month
Carton of cigs on base was 1.50
Had to buy a calculator for an electronics school i enlisted to get. Add/ Subtract/ Multiply/ Divide and Sq Root was 40 bucks…. Now you can one with way more functions for 3 dollars.
Funny how different stuff evolved price wise

Back then $3100 and $3400 was still a LOT of money..........and one of the reasons why not too many went for the $800 '69 Hemi option too. All relative to what the average take home pay checks were for the average Joe or Jane.

I sat down with my dad (I was 18 and he had to co-sign for the car loan) and the local Plymouth dealership sales guy in the spring of '69 and ordered my '69 Road Runner: RM23 hardtop, 383, Torqueflite, 3.91 Sure grip (super track pack?), bucket seats, console, A01 light package, power steering, AM radio, Air Grabber, hood stripes, F5, with a black interior,..............my dad looked at me when the sales guy read the total of just over $3700 before taxes and delivery charge, and it wasn't the look of "oh that's not a lot of money just think how much cars will cost in the year 2021"

So let's see do you think I could have said to my dad "do you think I should go for the $814 Hemi and bump it up to $4500 or just stick with the 383"

The RR a few month after I got it:

Mike

My first new vehicle was a '74 PowerWagon bought the fall of '73. RC, sb, 318, 3-on-the-tree, PS & B. $3500 out the door. Don't remember the payment amount but it must have been within reach of a 18 y.o. fresh out of HS with his first full-time job.


Tim

I love that picture