That looks like a fun machine..

 

 

I believe this to be the opening of the new Interstate 90 freeway over Snoqualmie Pass, West bound, staging from the new on-ramp at Cle Elum, about 90 miles East of Seattle, 1958. Watch KING-5 TV, film at 11.

 

Posted on a local FB page... I don't remember Pintos costing that much?!

 

I agree. Almost certain my mother bought a 74 Pinto for about $2300 and it came with most of the options available on a Pinto such as AT, AC. I am thinking high $3000s for the ralley wheels and Starsky and Hutch Torino racing stripes. Inflation was bad then for sure but I don't think any Pinto ever sold for $5K. I know for sure I bought an 80 Pinto my JR year of college so it was about 4 years old and they were easy to find for $800-1000 fairly clean and half wore out because they didn't last long. Thanks for the flashback anyway.

 

I have a book that shows the base price of a basic, boned out Pinto in 1980 was $4117. The Runabout Hatchback shown started at $4717. With all those options, and the bag of beans, it's probably about right.

By comparison, a 4 door Fairmount started at $5011, the Granada was $5664, LTD base 4 door $7003, Mustang hatchback $5194. 5 years later, in 1985, the Mustang topped 10K.

Inflation definitely sucks.

 

You must be right as those are correct prices for a Fairmont/Granada. I hate to bash North American iron here but I am still amazed they survived a very bad 15 years. You needed to buy an LTD or F150 to have much hope of a vehicle that wouldn't be junk in 4-5 yrs. Gas was already expensive so that wasn't a great option either. Next up the venerable 80-83 Escort with an interference designed motor. Worked my way through college changing cylinder heads on cars with 60-80K miles. It was very rare when we didn't have a few of them waiting to come in the shop. I really think the F150 was the only thing that kept the blue oval somewhat solvent.

Guess I'm getting off on a tangent.

 

 

Four pictures from Maine. If you look closely at the one with the Beetle being yanked out of the water you will see some smirking sailors in the background. I'm guessing they were drunk the night before and tossed it in the water.....

 

 

 

OK! What's going on here?

 

Looks like the fire department is going to give him a bubble bath..

 

Looks like a young Harrison Ford - testing how far the fire departments foam canon will blast him across the parking lot.