Truck Prices Then vs. Now…

[Ingomike]

If my math is right a loaded 1978 K20 Silverado could be had for under $7500, and adjusted for inflation that truck is under $30,000.

This is an interesting site with a lot of articles on various vehicles and how to as well.

https://www.cjponyparts.com/resources/1978-chevy-truck-specs

 

[femurphy77]

Corporate greed. They'll double and triple prices on consumer products but keep the minimum wage grounded squarely in the '80's.

 

[Frosty]

I remember going truck shopping with my dad when I was 8, I found a truck I liked and convinced him to get it, an ‘85 F-250 with the 300 I-6, and I distinctly remember it being under $10,000, closer to 8 but I can’t remember the exact cost now. It was the stripped version, vinyl bench, rubber floor cover, no a/c, no power windows or locks.

 

[WebSnyper]

Corporate greed. They'll double and triple prices on consumer products but keep the minimum wage grounded squarely in the '80's.

Minimum wage is a factor of the govt (not saying lobbying has no effect though), and honestly increasing minimum wage is a bit of a fool's errand from an economic standpoint.

 

[MrSmitty]

I remember going truck shopping with my dad when I was 8, I found a truck I liked and convinced him to get it, an ‘85 F-250 with the 300 I-6, and I distinctly remember it being under $10,000, closer to 8 but I can’t remember the exact cost now. It was the stripped version, vinyl bench, rubber floor cover, no a/c, no power windows or locks.

That 300 straight 6 is probably still running!!

 

[Frosty]

That 300 straight 6 is probably still running!!

Probably, I drove that truck for a couple years in high school, the ‘ol girl had it rough but she just soldiered on! They should bring it back but make it an ecoboost, that would be fun!

 

[armalitesheepdog]

Alot of that cost is to cover government mandated safety and emissions control's.

 

[firecadet613]

2019 Ram I ordered in 2018 had a MSRP increase of $2,000 in the 45 days it took from order to delivery.

An identical 2023 stickers at a touch over $80,000.... it was $69,000 msrp back in 2019... to make matters worse, aside from adding HUD, they've pulled features from the truck while increasing the price.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

2019 Ram I ordered in 2018 had a MSRP increase of $2,000 in the 45 days it took from order to delivery.

An identical 2023 stickers at a touch over $80,000.... it was $69,000 msrp back in 2019... to make matters worse, aside from adding HUD, they've pulled features from the truck while increasing the price.

I can't imagine paying that much for a vehicle. Those numbers used to be reserved for Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

ETA: I know those are much more than that today, but still... 70-80k was a high end luxury car, not a pickup.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

My first home that I bought was $56k for reference.

 

[KellyinAvon]

I'm driving my 97 Ranger 4.0L 4X4 extended cab until the wheels fall off. Paid $3,800 in 2014 when it had 141K miles on it. It has 156K now.

 

[Frosty]

I can't imagine paying that much for a vehicle. Those numbers used to be reserved for Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

ETA: I know those are much more than that today, but still... 70-80k was a high end luxury car, not a pickup.

The other day I saw a Ford F-350 dually diesel in the limited trim level. That’s got to be a $100,000 truck at this point.

Edit- just went and looked, couldn’t find the dually option but it was still north of 100 grand!

 

[***Ironhead***]

I'm driving my 97 Ranger 4.0L 4X4 extended cab until the wheels fall off. Paid $3,800 in 2014 when it had 141K miles on it. It has 156K now.

It should last at 1700 mile per year, lol.

 

[firecadet613]

I can't imagine paying that much for a vehicle. Those numbers used to be reserved for Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

ETA: I know those are much more than that today, but still... 70-80k was a high end luxury car, not a pickup.

Keep in mind, that's MSRP. If you're paying that, you're doing it wrong...

15k off MSRP on a '14, '16 and '19 I ordered....

Back then I had a car allowance vs a company car, now I'm back to a free car and the truck just sits...

Look at a top tier pickup... they are a high end luxury vehicle...

 

[BehindBlueI's]

I can't imagine paying that much for a vehicle. Those numbers used to be reserved for Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

ETA: I know those are much more than that today, but still... 70-80k was a high end luxury car, not a pickup.

Pickups are high end luxury cars now.

A base Ford F-150 XL 4x4 is right at 40k and is probably more "loaded" than the "loaded" 1970s trucks were, and I've driven quite a few 70's trucks.

 

[L C H]

I'm driving my 97 Ranger 4.0L 4X4 extended cab until the wheels fall off. Paid $3,800 in 2014 when it had 141K miles on it. It has 156K now.

Mine has well over 300k, same year but 3.0. Problem with mine is frame is rusted out to almost nothing.

 

[Ingomike]

My first home that I bought was $56k for reference.

You were a big spender… $41k here.

 

[Ingomike]

Pickups are high end luxury cars now.

A base Ford F-150 XL 4x4 is right at 40k and is probably more "loaded" than the "loaded" 1970s trucks were, and I've driven quite a few 70's trucks.

I predicted in my mind when I posted the thread you would post this point. LOL

Now a top of the line loaded truck is 233% higher AFTER adjusting for inflation.

 

[firecadet613]

I predicted in my mind when I posted the thread you would post this point. LOL

Now a top of the line loaded truck is 233% higher AFTER adjusting for inflation.

But much more feature packed than ever before... the new GMC Serra's have some pretty impressive self driving, my Ram has adjustable air suspension...

10 years ago, the top end trucks just had leather, heated seats, and a small sunroof...

 

[BehindBlueI's]

I predicted in my mind when I posted the thread you would post this point. LOL

Now a top of the line loaded truck is 233% higher AFTER adjusting for inflation.

I've driven enough old cars to remember when seat belts and the passenger side mirror were options. My first car had an AM radio with a single speaker, and that was an option. Compared to the truck I have now, it was barely a step up from a covered wagon.

I think one of the reasons I like to travel to historical sites, from Graceland to Crusades era castles, is because it reminds me "this is as good as you could do then." It didn't matter how much money or influence you had or how connected you were, *that* was the tops in that day...and a modern lower middle class family has it better in pretty much every way materially.

Of course we've lost some things, too. You probably don't have serfs to work your garden and you can't beg, borrow, or steal a new car with t-tops. But all in all, technology has enriched our lives a lot, even if people don't like to admit it. We may lie to ourselves and others we'd still like to have "the good ol' days" trucks, but if we really wanted to have one as a daily driver we could. They still exist, you can still buy one, still keep one running, and daily it if you want. I loved my Scout, but I've gotten used to having AC now .