Anybody Remember Back When?

[Looking4new]

And the only time you were 'legal' weight wise was when you were going to get the load. I remember those days well. My boss used to say,' if you are going to haul a load, it might as well be a good load. I was legal with 10 tons on my (mine to drive) single axle and the boss would tell me that the box would hold 15 tons.
IF you got an overload ticket back then, it was a flat rate of $52.50. It didn't matter how heavy you were, $52.50 that was it.

 

[ultrarunner]

The 70s/early 80s were a dismal era for cars...I'd be hard pressed to name even one decent one from those days.

This was the time when the government started setting fuel economy and pollution standards, for which the technology didn't really exist yet to be able to get both and still have something that could get out of its own way. To get the weight down they were using thinner and thinner sheet metal, which meant they'd rust out sooner. Lucky to get 5-6 years out of anything back then.



No they weren't speed demons, but they did the job. Still felt like a dragster compared to the 4 cyl foreign cars of the day.
As you said, they were one of the most bulletproof engines ever built, the 318 was another one.

Trouble was the pollution crap took a toll. They'd put slants in full-size boats like the Fury or pickups in the pre-emissions days. You weren't going to get many speeding tickets, but they got you where you wanted to go. It's not like today where they put turbo'ed engines even in econoboxes.

I did pull a slant six that developed a bad rod knock... still have it in the barn... lots of miles and served me well... had a 73 Valiant slant given to me with a thrown rod... to just for fun I dropped the pan and took the cutting torch to sever the rod... ran it around like that off road...

Tried to buy a 1973 Camaro Z28 that the Dealer took in trade... 4spd manual with 350 and loved the way it drove... was able to take it home on the weekend...

When I came to work Monday... the sales manager was looking for it... I was OK because I asked and received permission but it was sold sight unseen to a Camaro guy... it was night and day so much more car than my stock 1968 Z28...

 

[Ken45101]

Seattle was having some kind of gas war over the winter and that's why gas was 19.9. I think it was, normally, around 22 or 23 cents.

Hard to believe that a product now costing $3.29 pre gallon was ever that cheap.

Actually, accounting for inflation, gas is even cheaper now than it was back then. That is how much the buying power of a dollar has been eroded by inflation.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I am convinced that back when my wages were $3.00/HR we had more spendable income than we did when my wages were $60.00/HR and life was a lot simpler back then. Government entities did not take as high of percentage of income back then either. Now on my fixed retirement income I am starting to realize that I soon may be living from paycheck to paycheck which never occurred when I was working.

Ron

 

[ovrszd]

Actually, accounting for inflation, gas is even cheaper now than it was back then. That is how much the buying power of a dollar has been eroded by inflation.

Very, very, very few people understand that. Same with a lot of other consumables.

 

[ovrszd]

I am convinced that back when my wages were $3.00/HR we had more spendable income than we did when my wages were $60.00/HR and life was a lot simpler back then. Government entities did not take as high of percentage of income back then either. Now on my fixed retirement income I am starting to realize that I soon may be living from paycheck to paycheck which never occurred when I was working.

Ron

In 1973 I moved my little family to Kansas City and got a job with the teamsters union. Paid $6.50 an hour. Couldn't imagine that much money. Bought a new Ford station wagon for $2500. Life was very good.

 

[bcp]

In 1973 I moved my little family to Kansas City and got a job with the teamsters union. Paid $6.50 an hour. Couldn't imagine that much money. Bought a new Ford station wagon for $2500. Life was very good.

That new car cost 385 hours of your work.

Bruce

 

[Doofy]

You left out those other American compact cars: Chevrolet Vega, Ford Pinto, AMC Gremlin 典he flying fishbowl.

And the worst car I ever owned, by far, Triumph Spitfire.

The little Pinto Runabout was fun to drive and the Vega felt like you were in a row boat. My most comfortable and smooth riding small car was a 1961 Plymouth Valiant.

 

[ultrarunner]

I am convinced that back when my wages were $3.00/HR we had more spendable income than we did when my wages were $60.00/HR and life was a lot simpler back then. Government entities did not take as high of percentage of income back then either. Now on my fixed retirement income I am starting to realize that I soon may be living from paycheck to paycheck which never occurred when I was working.

Ron

Yes... very much so.

Life over all has become much more complicated and I see with all of my senior friends living independently in their homes.

First... there is the ever increasing knowledge/lifestyle necessary to function... speaking of simple things.

For almost 150 years garbage was picked up at the residence... now it is curbside. The steep streets in many places make it impossible for some to physically do this... then there is the requirement to sort waste stream... this is one where otherwise smart elerly are getting caught tangled...

For instance... a pizza box goes in the Green Waste with Lawn Clippings... a box goes to Recyclable... food container glass goes to recyclable but any other glass does not.

Only certain plastic is recyclable and other is trash... or palm fronds are trash and not green waste or bacon drippings go in the green waste with lawn clippings... etc.

The fines for comingling are steep and often the customer doesn't know until months after the face when the invoice arrives.

Driving written test has questions on Hands Free, Infant Carriers, Front Facing, Rear Facing, Airbag, Drinks and Weight for Blood Alcohol... etc... my senior friends simply drive to church and market... and they are having a lot of problems after driving 60+ years.

City is notorious for sending out legal notices for abatement of trees and weeks but several of my senior friends receive these in error... the hazardous tree is on city property and neighboring property...

One poor woman was so distraught... she received a non compliance letter certified... hired a landscaper for $800 to remedy... turns out the notice was for the vacant parcel next to her... the original citation was written, "Vacant Parcel next to 123 Elm Street" and she lived at 123 Elm Street and notice was sent to 123 Elm Street.

Tech is a huge burden... before you got up and turned on the TV without having 50 or more buttons to foul you up... senior friends are often having trouble with new tech... TV, Telephones or needed information and being directed to a website... but they don't own computers.

We have to make information available in 27 languages but we can't have it so a senior can speak to a person to accomplish a task.

A water bill in the old days was quite manageable... often of little consequence... today, expect to pay about $65 dollars a month in fees and fixed charges BEFORE a drop of water flows...

Opting in and Opting out is another one... like Electric Service since there is a new regional seller of electricity... so you would have different companies to call for different problems.

One thing I have helped many seniors with is getting rid of cable... digital convertor and they can watch the news and Jeopardy in peace and save $80 a month.

One of my friends had a new Furnace installed... I went to her house and she was bundled up... said she can't understand how to work the thermostat... and it is a WiFi unit with remote monitoring… optimal start stop with several Run Programs...

I took it out and replaced it with a simple analog stat... off to the left and slide to the right for the temp you want... She was ecstatic… made a friend for life and I am not kidding.

 

[ultrarunner]

The little Pinto Runabout was fun to drive and the Vega felt like you were in a row boat. My most comfortable and smooth riding small car was a 1961 Plymouth Valiant.

Owned all three and the original Pinto with stick and 1600 cc was fun to drive with radial tires...

Never cared much for Vega in any form... although the Cosworth was interesting.

Valiant/Dart simple and dependable!