Flathead prices back in the day

[1931flathead]

Picture I found of flathead prices

[old Tom]

How much were we making an hour back than?

[Flathead Fever]

Pasadena Independent, 1953

[50fordcoupeman]

Bought my first 50 Ford custom deluxe coupe (original) in '66 for $100 and was much nicer than my present one. I was making about a dollar an hour as I was going to college.

[Ol' Ron]

I remember when adjustable lifters went up to 20 bucks from 12.50 a set early 60's.

[40 Deluxe]

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Originally Posted by 1931flathead

Picture I found of flathead prices

If this was in the era of $1 an hour wages, and with shipping and misc., the total cost was about $80 or two weeks wages. Today, a $15 an hour wage two week's wages will still buy a rebuilt engine.

[Ol' Ron]

In Vermont, when Mc Donals goes to 15 bucks an hr. Most people will quit their jobs and go to work for Mac Donals. Not sure if I know anyone making that much here YET!!!

[Tinker]

You could rent a place for $100 bucks too. Now my electric bill is twice that. Add gas and internet. well...


think average mechanic shop prices are around $200 plus an hr.

[corvette8n]

I remember going into Montgomery Wards Menands NY store in the early '60's and seeing dozens of rebuilt flathead's on display, I was just a kid and had no money but I was in awe.

[mike42]

Sears also sold short blocks too ! I was making a $ 1.00 an hour and their price was too high and think it was $ 50.00 !!!! How times have changed !

[RalphG]

From my 1955 Varcon (Macleods) catalogue you could buy a short block rebuilt Mercury flathead for $269. If the old block you sent in was re-usable they would refund you $35. According to the fine print 35% of the engines returned to them were not re-usable.

[oldskool]

bought my first car 1946 merc coupe bone stock in 1958 for $375 my dad said I paid too much for an old car,i was 16 y/o

[V12Bill]

Bought my first car in1950 for $25.00. Solid 2 door with running 4cyl engine. I was 14 and my wages were, cut grass for $1.oo, Shoveled snow for $1.00, In 1962 I was in the Army stationed in Hawaii, and rented an apartment in Waikiki for $105.00 total, with 2 friends. $35. each. Wages then were 3 hots and a cot plus $150.00 a month

[modeleh]

Originally Posted by 40 Deluxe

If this was in the era of $1 an hour wages, and with shipping and misc., the total cost was about $80 or two weeks wages. Today, a $15 an hour wage two week's wages will still buy a rebuilt engine.

Please let us all know where we can buy rebuilt flatheads for $1200

[slowforty]

Most of the time now,when I fill up one of my vehicles ,I spend more than I paid for my first TWO cars.

[bobgc]

Bought my first Ford when I was fourteen from a farmer who lived about 4 miles away. It was a 48 coupe and had a damaged right front fender, I paid him 25.00 and he hooked his tractor to the front bumper pulled it out and away I went, happy as a clam. As I think back it was otherwise a real clean beauty but that diden't last long once my brothers and I started running it through the fields around our place. OH what a shame but we sure had fun. I bet we weren't the only ones to have ever done that.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by modeleh

Please let us all know where we can buy rebuilt flatheads for $1200

A figure I have seen for a short-block with stock heads ~$2,500. And that may be a bit old and out of date.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by modeleh

Please let us all know where we can buy rebuilt flatheads for $1200

Didn't say 'flathead' rebuilt. Today's equivalent to a flathead then would be a 302 Ford, which you can find for around 1200.

[modeleh]

Originally Posted by 40 Deluxe

Didn't say 'flathead' rebuilt. Today's equivalent to a flathead then would be a 302 Ford, which you can find for around 1200.

Well you’re still using an obsolete engine as an example. The 302 hasn’t been used in a new production vehicle for over 20 years. You aren’t going to get a current model rebuilt engine for two weeks of average wages. Prices of auto parts have increased and continue to increase. Yes maybe there are anomalies that are due to economies of scale like the fact that a reproduction upholstery kit for a 65 Mustang is less than a 58 Edsel, but the fact remains, and I believe the OP’s original point was to show how far our dollar used to go.

[Ol' Ron]

I've often wondered how this all happened? I understand that over time all money seems to loose it;s value and we blame allot of things for this, but it still doesn't make sense. AS a young lad growing up in Chicago , before the war (WWII) we would go down the alleys "JUNKIN". Looking for returnable milk bottles. along with other things we could sell. The milk bottles were very scares do to the fact they were wort from 3 cents to a nickel and during the depression, that was allot of money. At the end of the day we eould go to a store on the cornor of central and Sunny side (Building is still there) If we made 10 cents, one thin dime we could buy a candy bar and a 12 oz Pepsi and split both. After 85 11/12 I figgered out who is to blame. Congress, why not?? Today a very small Milky way cost 15 cents and is so small?? but them were the good old days, I;m told just think when most kids of today they will live in the 2100's and be telling their stoiies of how it was hard to live on only 100,00 a year.