I remember in the late 60's wanting to purchase one of the four 427 SOHC engines at our local Ford dealership in San Bernardino California. They were priced at $1,000 each in the crate. Of course back then, I did not have the $1,000 to buy one. I just looked up what some stock 390 ci. engines are going for, and they are around $6,000 plus.

I remember paying 5 cents for a coke, 19 cents per gallon of gas, $3,500 for a new 1965 Chevelle SS.

Now, we paid 40K for a 2014 Jeep, 52K for a 2012 PSD, and 25K for our 511ci FE engine, 10K for a supercharger on our vette, and $22 per gallon of 112 octane race fuel.

Back in 1956 I worked for $1 per hour, 2001 when I retired I worked for $60 per hour.

Yes, times have changed.

 

When I was in college in 68, the Ford dealer in L.A. had the sohc 427's for $1100 pls tx.

 

A bit OT here in FE land, but the SOHC at $1000 reminded me of a Tunnel Port 302 story from HRM. You have to scroll through the pictures to find it, but Gratiot Auto Supply had TPs in 1971 for $895.

The story:

The Story Behind Ford?s Ill-Fated 1968 Tunnel-Port 302 - Hot Rod Network

Cut to the chase link:

http://st.hotrod.com/uploads/sites/2...uto-supply.jpg

Lots of money in 289s, 302s and 427s in those days.

Which would you rather have--heck we ought to do a poll thread:

SOHC 427
Tunnel Port 427
Tunnel Port 302
One of each.

Note the fire sale prices on Boss 429s and Boss 302s in that ad as well.

 

Yes, but even at those low prices, we couldn't afford them then. Cobra's were selling for $6,000 plus.
When you are working for $3 per hour, $6,000 was a lot of money.
Heck, our first house cost us $35,000
Now that is the price of a cab-over camper.
My choice would be:

1. SOHC 427
2. TUNNEL PORT 427

 

Agreed, our 1st house was 26,000 in an upscale city.

 

10.4 on $3/hour, which at 18 I thought "$3 per hour is a man's wage..." or some silly %^&*( that you think when you are 18 and making $1.75 per hour.

 

IMO, part of the change in respect to autos is due to inflation of the dollar and things like new environmental regulations. Much of the remaining change is due to the need to have all the comforts of the living room sofa while cruising down the road with way too much power under the hood and gadgetry on the dash.

 

https://performanceparts.ford.com/part/M-6007-A50XS

Price now, $17,050 list, $14,676 online. Price adjusted for inflation in 1968: $2442 list, $2105 online.

500+ HP.

Conversely, a "427" pushrod 351W can be had for about $10K but as just a long block, no intake and no accessories.

Still not 1:1 with the 427 SOHC or the tunnel port in cost, based on inflation.

Weird.

 

Purchasing a a 427 351W for 10k seems reasonable, when we paid 10k for a supercharger, but that included a new clutch, inter cooler, high flow injectors, and labor for our Corvette. It makes 530 rear wheel hp. so I guess it was worth it, but seems overpriced when you consider the same price for a engine.

 

60 bucks a week....5K for a house in the 'burbs (rural,actually) loaf of real bread was a nickel....smokes were a dime a pack....could fill up the buggy for ~15 cents a gallon, the good stuff - nice, pretty pink and great smelling to boot...silver certificate 2 dollar bills, gold certificate 100 dollar bills..

Yessuh......

 

At the Horseshoe casino in Las Vegas they used to display one million dollars in $10,000 dollars bills, so when our bank tellers who are very young ask do we want large bills, I say no, just $100's Most people don't even know that $10,000 dollar bills were ever made.
Here is a little history

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2000/ja...llion-display/

I remember working at a gas station when I was young, and a kid came in and wanted 10 cents worth of gas, to get him home. That would be fumes today.
Plus, we checked the air in the tires, washed the windshield, checked the oil level, water level and pumped the gas. Yes things have changed.

 

I was floored not too long ago when some "expert" clown on the stupid box was advocating getting rid of "large bills" as in the $100. Anyone who has set foot in a grocery store and done a little shopping knows $100 bill will be vaporised in short order.

"Back in the day" nickels, dimes, quarters and halves had real purchasing power and circulated fast and far. That's why most of the real old ones that collectors go through are worn almost flat. "One thin dime", that's where that expression came from. They'd circulate till they were wore out!

Another thing to think about - all those old school wages and prices - that was at a time when women, for the most part, had not entered the work force in large numbers. This was the time of single breadwinner families. A feller could work a job, buy a car and a house and raise kids, maybe even a vacation now and then, maybe. Today both parents probably have to work two jobs each to try and stay even. Very sad.

 

Just curious but given all that isn't Ok that an auto worker earn $30/hour which many seem to feel is too much?

 

$30 per hour is low. Here most all shops charge $90-$100 per hour.

 

"Auto worker" = someone on the assembly line putting cars together. $30 is high for some of those folks, not enough for others. But afaik, the UAW makes sure the high achievers get kneecapped and the nappers are protected. (see robotics for the future of this job)

Shop rates of $90+ are for repair shops and dealers. At the Lexus dealer, they treat the customer like a king, and charge like he's a king as well. The mechanics do not get the full $90+.

Two different animals.