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

[Bocephous]

In the evenings my wife would ask about my day and what I did? I'd tell her in small comments as men do. She would want details. She would ask who I saw today? No one. Who did you talk to today? No one. No phone calls? No. No Texts? No. That was extremely hard for her to comprehend. When I told her those days were the best she began to worry about my mental state.

Nodding my head and smiling.

 

[Oaktree]

When I got out of HS those same people were making 2.30$/hr, while a base model truck was $3000. Today a comparable truck is around $25K... nowhere near the 75K which you seem to feel people that should pay.
That 1977 pickup was rusted out within 5 years, while100k miles was considered high mileage; by then you would have changed the points/plugs/condenser several times, at least a couple of starters and alternators, new valve guides at least once... now 100K means that you need to change the plugs and filters. When was the last time that you changed a starter, or even a tire?

They sure don't make them like they used to... Thank God!

Was anyone still making vehicles with points ignition by the late 70s? Mopar went with electronic ignition around '73-74, and the '79 F-150 I bought used in '81 did too. BTW, I'm not sure you'd get much new for $3k in 1977. I paid more than that for the aforementioned F-150 used, and it was a strippo model...2WD, 302, 3 on the tree. Lasted a whole lot longer than 5 years though...sold it in '97 to buy something with 4WD...even that old I got $1200 for it. The Japanese trucks of that era were rustbuckets to be sure.

You're right though about longevity...100k is barely broken in today.
Not sure what Oldpath is getting at with manifolds...both of my vehicles (an '02 and an '06) have the originals. I did have to replace the manifold bolts on the Dakota, they had pretty much rusted away. Dunno if that was unique to the 4.7 though.

 

[ovrszd]

but then a new truck is nearing 25 times that rate, so you should be making $31.25 per hour to meet the same ratio. Alot of people are making $12 per hour, so there worse off today than they were way back when

If they buy a new truck with a $12 p/hr wage they are stupid, not worse off.

 

[ovrszd]

I'd take that pickup, in a heart beat.

Most people today wouldn't be able to crank it on a cold morning.

 

[Jstpssng]

Was anyone still making vehicles with points ignition by the late 70s? Mopar went with electronic ignition around '73-74, and the '79 F-150 I bought used in '81 did too. BTW, I'm not sure you'd get much new for $3k in 1977. I paid more than that for the aforementioned F-150 used, and it was a strippo model...2WD, 302, 3 on the tree. Lasted a whole lot longer than 5 years though...sold it in '97 to buy something with 4WD...even that old I got $1200 for it. The Japanese trucks of that era were rustbuckets to be sure.

You're right though about longevity...100k is barely broken in today.
Not sure what Oldpath is getting at with manifolds...both of my vehicles (an '02 and an '06) have the originals. I did have to replace the manifold bolts on the Dakota, they had pretty much rusted away. Dunno if that was unique to the 4.7 though.

They might have been getting a bit better about rust by 1977.
I was just out of high school, and remember seeing D100s advertised for $3000. They were stripped, although they did have the venerable slant six of the era. My father bought a new Power Wagon in '75... within two years he rebuilt the front axle on his own dime, because it was off the 12,000 mile warranty. That same year he bought my sister a 1973 Ford Torino which have previously been used as a pool car by an insurance company... everybody commented on how good the body was on that 3 year old car.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Where does one go for a SEARS SUCKER SUIT now? Can someone tell me what that even means?

#TBT A Brief History Of (Political) Seersucker : It's All Politics : NPR

 

[Oldpath05]

Gee it sounds like there were never any good ole days to anyone here, sounds like everyone walked to school uphill in both directions in subzero weather, everyone must be in the good ole days now then, awesome..............

 

[Big Barn]

Gee it sounds like there never was any good ole days to anyone here, sounds like everyone walked to school uphill in both directions in subzero weather, everyone must be in the good ole days now then, awesome..............

Nope. I had good ole days on the farm with my dad. Great memories.

 

[Jstpssng]

There were a lot of good old days, yet these are the best of times. I would hate to think that my best days really were when I was in HS and that it was downhill ever since then.

 

[two_bit_score]

Gee it sounds like there were never any good ole days to anyone here, sounds like everyone walked to school uphill in both directions in subzero weather, everyone must be in the good ole days now then, awesome..............

There were a lot of good old days, yet these are the best of times. I would hate to think that my best days really were when I was in HS and that it was downhill ever since then.

2020 brings to mind, “it is the best of times and the worst of times”! Hat Tip to Charles Dickens.