#1  
Old 03-30-2022, 03:56 PM
25stevem's Avatar
25stevem 25stevem is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,744
Default Ah the good ole days!

From the May 1976 HO racing news letter for sale section, when 1600 bucks could get you a in the crate new RAV motor!
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	6B7F2E3C-5CCA-4012-82FC-EE093B0DCB7B.jpg
Views:	297
Size:	93.8 KB
ID:	587534  

__________________
I do stuff for reasons.
  #2  
Old 03-30-2022, 03:58 PM
b-man's Avatar
b-man b-man is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Sunny So Cal
Posts: 16,411
Default

Back when 1600 bucks was like 15,000 bucks.

__________________
1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42
1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/2.56
2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23
The Following User Says Thank You to b-man For This Useful Post:
  #3  
Old 03-30-2022, 04:06 PM
25stevem's Avatar
25stevem 25stevem is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,744
Default

Yup!
For me back then, yes it might as well have been 15gs!

__________________
I do stuff for reasons.
  #4  
Old 03-30-2022, 04:07 PM
Joe's Garage Joe's Garage is offline
Chief Ponti-yacker
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Las Vega$, NV
Posts: 637
Default I think I was making around $2.40 per hour in 1976.

The more things change, the more they remain the same........

  #5  
Old 03-30-2022, 04:59 PM
dataway's Avatar
dataway dataway is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Saratoga NY
Posts: 8,922
Default

In 1976 I paid $1,100 for my very nice complete, everything working entire GTO

__________________
I'm World's Best Hyperbolist !!
  #6  
Old 03-30-2022, 05:19 PM
tom s tom s is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: long beach ca usa
Posts: 18,764
Default

Gas was 25 cents!Tom

  #7  
Old 03-30-2022, 05:21 PM
b-man's Avatar
b-man b-man is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Sunny So Cal
Posts: 16,411
Default

By the time I started driving in 1975 gas was already 49 cents in CA.

__________________
1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42
1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/2.56
2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23
  #8  
Old 03-30-2022, 07:03 PM
sdbob sdbob is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Latrobe,Pa. USA
Posts: 2,538
Default

I bought nos SD Heads from them back then.

  #9  
Old 03-30-2022, 07:28 PM
Singleton Singleton is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: coastal Alabama
Posts: 1,100
Default

About $8500 in todays money

__________________

66 GTO, 495, M22, Strange S-60 w/4.10
Sold new at Ace Wilson's Royal Pontiac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUHC-Z8xhtg
  #10  
Old 03-30-2022, 07:40 PM
HoovDaddy's Avatar
HoovDaddy HoovDaddy is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Michigan
Posts: 271
Default

A page of Pontiacs from the April '84 issue of Hemmings.

Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	img010.jpg
Views:	601
Size:	188.9 KB
ID:	587539  

__________________
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=585876&stc=1&d=1646964  761[SIGPIC]
  #11  
Old 03-30-2022, 07:48 PM
HoovDaddy's Avatar
HoovDaddy HoovDaddy is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Michigan
Posts: 271
Default

I sold this in 1974 for $1,200. I used the money to help assume a 6% mortgage. In the backyard of the house I was buying was a '64 Corvette roadster that I could've had for $900.

Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	68 GTO RFa.jpg
Views:	605
Size:	57.2 KB
ID:	587540  

__________________
https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=585876&stc=1&d=1646964  761[SIGPIC]
  #12  
Old 03-30-2022, 08:00 PM
ZeGermanHam's Avatar
ZeGermanHam ZeGermanHam is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,924
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Singleton View Post
About $8500 in todays money
According to the inflation calculator I used, $1600 in 1976 equates to about $7,977.95 in today's money. Knowing what performance crate engines cost today, usually cresting five figures, that doesn't seem like too bad of a deal.

__________________

1966 Pontiac GTO (restoration thread)
1998 BMW 328is (track rat)
2023 Subaru Crosstrek Limited (daily)
View my photos: Caught in the Wild
  #13  
Old 03-30-2022, 08:19 PM
Singleton Singleton is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: coastal Alabama
Posts: 1,100
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ZeGermanHam View Post
According to the inflation calculator I used, $1600 in 1976 equates to about $7,977.95 in today's money.
I averaged four different inflation calculators between $8300-8800 to arrive at “about 8500”. It will never be an exact calculation

__________________

66 GTO, 495, M22, Strange S-60 w/4.10
Sold new at Ace Wilson's Royal Pontiac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUHC-Z8xhtg
  #14  
Old 03-30-2022, 08:33 PM
Scarebird's Avatar
Scarebird Scarebird is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ABQ, USA
Posts: 4,998
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ZeGermanHam View Post
According to the inflation calculator I used, $1600 in 1976 equates to about $7,977.95 in today's money. Knowing what performance crate engines cost today, usually cresting five figures, that doesn't seem like too bad of a deal.
It depends what crate motors you are referring to. Currently for GM the standard is the LS3; in two main flavors - 430 and 495 horse.
They run around $9k with ECM but are on backorder like a lot of things.


The Following User Says Thank You to Scarebird For This Useful Post:
  #15  
Old 03-30-2022, 10:27 PM
grivera's Avatar
grivera grivera is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Just south of Baltimore
Posts: 4,890
Default

At the current rate of inflation soon $5k will buy you $1600 worth of goods!

__________________
Will Rivera

'69 Firebird 400/461, 290+ E D-Ports, HR 230/236, 4l80E, 8.5 Rear, 3.55 gears
'64 LeMans 400/461, #16 Heads, HR 230/236, TKO600, 9inch Rear, 3.89 gears
'69 LeMans Vert, 350, #47 heads: Non-running project
  #16  
Old 03-31-2022, 12:38 AM
Dragncar Dragncar is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Humbolt County California
Posts: 8,284
Default

In 1st grade my dad used to give me a quarter to ride down to the gas station for a gallon of gas. 1971.

  #17  
Old 03-31-2022, 09:42 AM
67Fbird's Avatar
67Fbird 67Fbird is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: GA
Posts: 465
Default

In 1978-80 cigarettes were .48 cents

  #18  
Old 03-31-2022, 10:32 AM
1969GiPper 1969GiPper is offline
Senior Chief
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Saint Clair Shores, MI
Posts: 275
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 67Fbird View Post
In 1978-80 cigarettes were .48 cents
The summer of 1969 I worked in a Mobil station that had a cigarette vending machine that took 35 cents for a hard pack of Marlboro. By the end of August the price went up to 40 cents. Everybody complained but nobody quit smoking.

  #19  
Old 03-31-2022, 12:44 PM
Bill Hanlon's Avatar
Bill Hanlon Bill Hanlon is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Fredericksburg, TX
Posts: 2,349
Default

In the summer of '69 cigarettes were 10¢ a pack at the Base Exchange at Kadena Okinawa. But I was making about $200 a month.

__________________
My Pontiac is a '57 GMC with its original 347" Pontiac V8 and dual-range Hydra-Matic.
  #20  
Old 04-03-2022, 02:16 AM
lust4speed's Avatar
lust4speed lust4speed is offline
Ultimate Warrior
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Yucaipa, SoCal
Posts: 8,684
Default

Then they were cheaper overseas. In 1969 at the Vandenberg BX they were 15 cents a pack, but if you went to the base commissary and bought them by the carton they were 12 cents a pack.

__________________
Mick Batson
1967 original owner Tyro Blue/black top 4-speed HO GTO with all the original parts stored safely away -- 1965 2+2 survivor AC auto -- 1965 Catalina Safari Wagon in progress.
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:12 AM.

 

About Us

The PY Online Forums is the largest online gathering of Pontiac enthusiasts anywhere in the world. Founded in 1991, it was also the first online forum for people to gather and talk about their Pontiacs. Since then, it has become the mecca of Pontiac technical data and knowledge that no other place can surpass.

 




Copyright © 2017