Classic Cars

$3,000 or less for the typical family car
1959 Ford Galaxie

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There are 17 comments for this item.

Posted by Jacqui at 11:35 am (PST) on Mon December 13, 2021   
I bought a left-over Ford Fastback Mustang in 1970 for $2,500 with only 10 miles on the odometer.  At the dealer's, Dad offered to fill the tank if I let him drive it home, so I agreed.  About 4 hours, 1/2 a tank of gas and 150 miles later, he finally pulled into the driveway.  The first words out of my mouth: "Where the hell have you been?"  I suddenly realized that, for a moment only, our roles had just been reversed.
Posted by GlenEllyn at 9:44 pm (PDT) on Sun April 18, 2021   
@rschem - I can identify with that!  It's ridiculous how much cars cost these days!
Posted by buickman at 1:44 am (PST) on Fri November 18, 2016   
I had just gotten my license and took a city corner too fast in my dad's green and white 59 Fairlane 4 door. End result was the wreckage of three parking meters with coins flying everywhere, a dented Ford and loss of license for 30 days. Dad traded the Ford for a new 61 Impala 4 door which we both liked better.
Posted by rschem at 8:34 am (PDT) on Mon October 3, 2016   
I can relate to those prices.
Posted by rschem at 6:21 am (PDT) on Sat September 10, 2016   
Duff I rember those prices..02 for a liquerice cegar.I was a kid in the 50's .05 for a pop or chocolate bar..80 for a pack of 20 cigarettes.
Posted by rschem at 9:45 am (PDT) on Mon July 25, 2016   
I had a 1959 ford .Bought it with no reverse and drove it for about a month like that .I had to be careful where I parked.when I had the auto tranny rebuilt it cost $300.That was alot of money.
Posted by rschem at 9:41 am (PDT) on Mon July 25, 2016   
My Dad had a 1959 farlane 500 4 dr.
These cars had style.
Posted by unclekipsy at 12:54 pm (PST) on Wed December 4, 2013   
New 1965 Dodge Dart I believe Dad paid around $2,400 (225 / slant 6 )
Posted by jovan66102 at 1:06 am (PST) on Sun December 1, 2013   
I turned 18 in Kansas in '65 and could legally drink 3.2 beer. An eight oz. glass of draught cost a dime and a long neck, 12 oz. bottle cost a quarter. A guy could get drunk for two or three dollars. Of course, I was only making $254/month at a State civil service job!
Posted by Omo Kabish at 9:16 pm (PDT) on Wed July 3, 2013   
When gas prices looked like they might eventually approach $1.00 per gallon, I traded my brand new Dodge Challenger for a new 1972 Volkswagen. In 1977, an improper left turn ended up with the "bug" demolished all the way to the windshield. Because I liked it so much, rather than getting another car, I used the insurance money to have the front end rebuilt. I went on to drive it for another decade, the last four years without an oil change, under the premise that the worse you treated them, the longer they would last.
Posted by CubanDaveT at 2:21 am (PDT) on Sat June 29, 2013   
I got a '68 VW Bug as a HS graduation gift in '72 ... for $800! What 4 year old car costs that little these days ... unless it's radio-controlled! Wink
Posted by trawnta at 8:54 am (PDT) on Mon October 15, 2012   
Paid $1700 for a demo Peugot
Posted by Rivvy at 12:11 pm (PST) on Sun November 27, 2011   
My grandfather who never bought Christmas gifts, instead choosing and researching some family in need, then sneaking food, toys and clothes to them in the dead of night, but once bought me what had to have been one of the first "remote controlled" cars...it was a two-tone green-on-green Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner, maybe eight or so inches long...there was a control box about the size of two decks of cards, a rubber tube several feet long, and that's how it worked...I think he just wanted to play with it too...
A neighbor had a salmon pink Edsel, decided it was no good, ended up hacksawing it to bits and making an odd camper thing out of it...
Posted by packratjohn at 8:43 am (PST) on Sun November 27, 2011   
My first car was a 59 Chevy Impala two tone, four door, and perfect. Bought it in about 67 or 68 from my Aunt for $100......
Next car was a one year old 68 Plymouth Valiant, purchased, obviously, in 69 for $1400.....
Hey, at least gas dipped below $3 a gallon here over the last few days.
Posted by packratjohn at 9:12 pm (PDT) on Thu May 12, 2011   
My Uncle ran the local "drug store", including a soda fountain. The largest soft drink was 22 cents.
Posted by Katbear at 10:11 pm (PDT) on Sun August 16, 2009   
I think in 1962 , comics were already 12 ¢.I was reading them and saving up for them with the returns on Coke bottles....A six-pack of bottles got me 12¢.
Posted by Duff at 6:16 pm (PDT) on Sat May 30, 2009   
Ours was a 1959 Ford Galaxie Fairlane 500, like the one pictured here, but black. I tend to gauge inflation by how much things cost when I was 12, in 1962. For example, it cost

5 cents for a candy bar or a pack or baseball cards,
10 cents for a comic book,
25 cents for a quart of milk, and
35 cents for a milk shake.

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