Grandpa, tell me bout the good ole days............

[Larry Caldwell]

I was trying to hold back but....i can't. Govt pensions........

20 year retirement but don't forget, i think they get credit if they were in the service. Go in at 17, retire at 37. Is this a great country or what? Maybe work in a little disability.

Our only hope is the many many trillions of dollars of unfunded pensions. Although the apparently limitless ability to print money seems to be a short term stop gap?

In Oregon there's no pension until you turn 65, though if you have 30 years in you can retire at, I think, 57. I know one woman who put in 38 years. The magic of compound interest and 38 years of contributions is giving her a pretty cushy retirement, particularly since her husband owns a successful small business.

My brother-in-law retired after 22 years in the Army on half pay, but kept on working.

I think cops and fire fighters have a special pension contract that lets them retire earlier.

 

[goeduck]

Yes - I DO remember when trucks were cheap. 1948 my father bought a brand new GMC one ton pickup. His annual salary in 1950 - $3450. I don't remember what he had to pay for that pickup. Historical records indicate it would have been around $1500. Half his annual salary for a new pickup. I remember it had no radio and no cabin heater. Radios in vehicles were almost nonexistent. Heaters were a definite optional item.

Winter trips in that pickup were really hellacious.

That would be a good buy today, basic truck or not.

 

[Oaktree]

Back then...kits were cheap! Actually enjoyed rebuilding carbs.

Well that makes one of us. :laughing:

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Yes - I DO remember when trucks were cheap. 1948 my father bought a brand new GMC one ton pickup. His annual salary in 1950 - $3450. I don't remember what he had to pay for that pickup. Historical records indicate it would have been around $1500. Half his annual salary for a new pickup. I remember it had no radio and no cabin heater. Radios in vehicles were almost nonexistent. Heaters were a definite optional item.

Winter trips in that pickup were really hellacious.

That's pretty close. My Dad got a new company pickup...a 1953 Chevrolet 1/2 ton; six cylinder with heater...$1800 and change. Ran like a sewing machine...for an old vehicle. I loved to drive it; not fast, but it was smooth, tight and quiet.

Speaking of carburetors; we bought a new Chrysler Cordoba in 1977 (not Corinthian leather) with a 400 cubic inch V8; it had three new carburetors put on it under warranty...and still only got 10MPH around town. Sharn Jean's job required her to have a car to make deliveries; our gas bill was out of sight. Traded it for a new Honda Accord; saved enough on gas to make the payments.

 

[Dftodd]

This EFI is half the reason why you cant see the engine anymore when the hood is lifted so now when check engine light comes on, it really means go to nearest dealer and hope its still under warrantee.....

I keep a code reader in the center console of my truck for easy diagnoses of the check engine light. If the codes for a sensor that doesn't require half the engine to be removed for access, I'll do it myself.

 

[JethroB]

Here is a copy of the window price sticker of a Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme in 1977. They stuck it to us for floor mats (vinyl) then too. $337 for AM/FM 8-Track. I recall a legit 8-track tape was about $8.

 

[turnkey4099]

Ya, but you could buy 10 trucks for the price if 1 nowdays. Remember when trucks were cheap.

And it took just as many hours of work to pay for one back then as it does today. Inflatation... Although I am hearing of 7 to 10 year financing now. Back then it was a 3 year.

 

[ultrarunner]

You're right, not F150 but F100. This one. Same color, even.

The car lot pickup was similar but plain... 3 on the tree, no radio and no trim... sure did a lot of work over the decades...

I remember driving it and hitting a bump... nothing bad but the whole front shimmied... need new king pin bushings and good as new... bushing were cheap... but labor and reamer required...

 

[Tinhack]

My first car was a 1951 Chevy Coupe. I was 14 and bought it from my older brother for $50. Paid cash! I turned around and bought a Sears rebuilt engine for, I think, $125. That was a lot of money in 1965--About a month's wages for most. I had been saving my grass cutting money for a year. Spent the next two summer months cleaning, polishing and adding chrome "goodies" to the engine. I even polished the top of the radiator to new looking brass. I was ready for my first year in High School. I already had my driver's license and wouldn't turn 15 until October. School started in September back then.

I had a new to me car, a bright new school parking lot pass and gas was $0.19 a gallon. I was ready for the World. Except my Dad said; to and from school only until I was 15. Man, that was the longest six weeks of my life.

As a note: I took Driver's Education after school in Junior High. They weren't going to let me take it because I was 13 when the class started. But I would be 14 before the end so they let me in. Ya Hoo!

 

[ultrarunner]

Mowed a lot of lawns and painted a lot of fences to buy my first car... just shy of 14...