Yup, by any measure they were cheap even back in the '50s and '60s. In 1957 (senior in HS), I bought a '40 coupe with a mint body for $65. Sold it 5 months later for $75. In 1958 I bought a '35 coupe (19K miles), for $200 (big bucks at the time). In 1959 I bought a '37 2-door for $10 and drove it home. In 1960 I bought a '33 three window coupe (mint interior), for $75. I bought a used engine for the '33 for $10. I shortly found a multi-carb intake and aluminum heads which I bought for $10. Put everything together and the '33 ran like a tiger. I sold the '33 about 6 months later for $175. I still have nightmares to this day about selling it.
As for the '35, I still have it (40K miles).
Tom