Question for the over 60 years old and older members. - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

C377 · 12-28-2009, 04:11 PM

I would like to ask you what is the difference you see now in terms of pricing to income ratio comparing when the first Camaro came out and today's 5th generation.

If I am not mistaken, I have seen post where it is said that the price was around 2K$. How much money were people earning back then.

Let's say that a 46k a year salary, can net you now 2600$ average then you would need about 13.8 months to get an SS today.

How was it back then?

Thank you

brandotron · 12-28-2009, 04:13 PM

Hmmm, I'd be interested to know as well. I'm not quite 30 and I plan on picking one up in the next year or two.

LOWDOWN · 12-28-2009, 04:27 PM

In this area, a good working wage in 1967 was $2.50-3.00/hr. I'm talking a manufacturing job (remember THOSE?!) at a local plant, straight from highschool. $3.00/hr X 2000 working hours/yr. = $6,000 GROSS. And the "average basic" V8 Camaro was about $3,000, give or take, with "popular options". SSs ran, generally, $3,500 and up. Z28s were similar, although a/c was NOT available.

"Base" Vettes (327/250hp w/3spd manual) ran about $4,500, or 50% more than a V8/4spd (or A/T) Camaro.

1969 COPO 9561s ran about $3,500-4,000 "on the lot" (if you could find one, or a Dealer that knew anything about 'em...), while the 9560 OPTION alone was over $4,000, or 150% MORE than a Base V8 Camaro!!!

Keep in mind Mustang, introduced in April/64, with a small Falcon 6/3spd manual and optional everything, Based @ less than $2400 (+ Freight etc.)...and sold 20,000 the FIRST DAY! With 5 optional engines...Big 6, 260/2V, 289/2V, 289/4V, 289 K-Code.

The BIGGEST difference today is the amount of taxes we pay (as a % of Gross Pay), and the amount of STANDARD EQUIPMENT we must all accept.

wildpaws · 12-28-2009, 04:28 PM

Back in '69 I was making about $9,300 a year gross with overtime (and that was from two jobs, my full time job at a distribution center and my part time union job unloading trucks), the new '69 Z/28 I bought cost me $3,385 (an SS would have been about the same or a little more depending on how it was equipped).
Clyde

camaro5 · 12-28-2009, 04:46 PM

The cars are much more expensive in relative terms.

They also offer a lot more everything.

colorado pony · 12-28-2009, 08:17 PM

in 1968 working in a plating shop.. $3.02 per hr.... first car was a 1966 ford mustang 6 cyl 3 speed $1995.00.... can home from Viet Nam got a job at Knott berry farm at $ 5.00 per hr and had a 1972 nova 350 4spd ss $3260.00...

JBarnes · 12-28-2009, 10:50 PM

In 1981 I bought a new Z28 for $7200. Corvettes were right at $14K back then and I couldn't swing that kind of payment so I went with the Z28. I was making $19K a year. Making significantly more than that these days and a $36K Camaro is a much easier payment to swallow than back in 81.

OUR72GTO · 12-28-2009, 11:03 PM

In 1968 the union wage at the hotel I worked at was 1.25. I made 1.50.

The dollar was at par so the CAMARO cost the same in Canada as the USA. The car was just over a years salary.

Today I am retired and paid cash for it.

HDDAN · 12-29-2009, 07:13 AM

I generally do this equation using Harleys as a base line. In 1966 a top of the line FLH dresser was about $2,200.00. Today an Electra Glide top of the line model is about $22,000.00. I am working at the same trade that I was working at back then and I make a little more than twelve times my 1966 income. Gasoline was $.30 for premium it is now around $2.80 around Boston. With every raise comes inflation. These are the "Good old days" though, for the same adjusted prices, you get far superior products.

myold88 · 12-29-2009, 07:33 AM

I graduated high school in 1961. Summers 1959, 1960, I worked at a Pontiac dealer's parts/ser dept for about $70.00 a week. Went there full time in '61 for about the same money. 1963, 64 and 65 I was with a Chevy dealer and I never made over $100.00 a week. My first new car was a fully loaded '64 Chevy SS conv I paid $3200.00 for out the door. In 1967 I got a "good" job with a major insurance co as a outside claim rep (with co car-wow !). My starting salary was $101.00 a week. The family's new loaded 1969 Camaro was less than $3000.00.
As mentioned above the main difference between now and the 50's and 60's is taxes and government intrusion. Wives and mothers didn't have to work to pay taxes. I could go on and on about growing up in the 50's and 60's but those truely were the good old days.
PS: In 1957 my dad bought our house in an upscale L.I. N.Y. town for $18,000.00. When he passed 2 years ago we sold it for $850.000. I'll leave the math up to you guys.

HDDAN · 12-29-2009, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myold88

I graduated high school in 1961. Summers 1959, 1960, I worked at a Pontiac dealer's parts/ser dept for about $70.00 a week. Went there full time in '61 for about the same money. 1963, 64 and 65 I was with a Chevy dealer and I never made over $100.00 a week. My first new car was a fully loaded '64 Chevy SS conv I paid $3200.00 for out the door. In 1967 I got a "good" job with a major insurance co as a outside claim rep (with co car-wow !). My starting salary was $101.00 a week. The family's new loaded 1969 Camaro was less than $3000.00.
As mentioned above the main difference between now and the 50's and 60's is taxes and government intrusion. Wives and mothers didn't have to work to pay taxes. I could go on and on about growing up in the 50's and 60's but those truely were the good old days.

You are right about the taxes and intrusion. Until Mike Dukakis in the 1970's automobiles were exempt from our Massachusetts sales tax because we pay an annual excise tax on them($25 per 1000 of value every year). Under the Duke of Taxes we started paying 5%. Now, under Duval Patrick, we pay a 6.25% sales tax on motor vehicles. On my frirst job as a life guard at an indoor pool, about 10% of my wages were deducted for taxes. Now about forty five percent per pay period goes to taxes and social security and medicare. The more that the government gives to people, the more that they take to pay for it. We were better off when we spent our own money instead of having the government spend it for us.

tradosaurus · 12-29-2009, 07:56 AM

In 1966 working in Playboy Mansion I earned $6.30/hr including tips. I also looked like Sean Connory and lived a life of luxury. I owned 2 vettes and a camaro.

Ooops, that was my second alter ego.

PAUL SS · 12-29-2009, 10:21 AM

My brand new 2010 1SS Camaro cost almost ten times as much as my brand new 1973 Camaro Z28, but the 2010 is sooo much more car you can't even begin to compare them.

Back then my weekly (weakly) take home pay was about $77.00, with a little overtime I can take home ten times that.

sailfan26 · 12-29-2009, 11:16 AM

Greetings,

I purchased my first Camaro in 1976. It was an LT, 8 cyl, fully loaded with a factory 8track. A/C, Spoilers, Landau Roof, accent package and stripes. I paid $3,600.00. If memory serves me well, the list was $4,200.00. It took 6 weeks to build and deliver. Ordered it from Smyly Chevrolet (they're gone now).

12-28-2009, 04:11 PM	#1
C377 Wannabe Camaro Owner Drives: Camaro 2011 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 45	Question for the over 60 years old and older members. I would like to ask you what is the difference you see now in terms of pricing to income ratio comparing when the first Camaro came out and today's 5th generation. If I am not mistaken, I have seen post where it is said that the price was around 2K$. How much money were people earning back then. Let's say that a 46k a year salary, can net you now 2600$ average then you would need about 13.8 months to get an SS today. How was it back then? Thank you __________________ Last edited by C377; 12-28-2009 at 04:24 PM.

12-28-2009, 04:13 PM	#2
brandotron I am the internets. Drives: dangerously Join Date: May 2009 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 12,571 View My Garage	Hmmm, I'd be interested to know as well. I'm not quite 30 and I plan on picking one up in the next year or two. __________________

12-28-2009, 04:27 PM	#3
LOWDOWN Downright Upright Drives: Daily Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cruisin'... Posts: 4,145	In this area, a good working wage in 1967 was $2.50-3.00/hr. I'm talking a manufacturing job (remember THOSE?!) at a local plant, straight from highschool. $3.00/hr X 2000 working hours/yr. = $6,000 GROSS. And the "average basic" V8 Camaro was about $3,000, give or take, with "popular options". SSs ran, generally, $3,500 and up. Z28s were similar, although a/c was NOT available. "Base" Vettes (327/250hp w/3spd manual) ran about $4,500, or 50% more than a V8/4spd (or A/T) Camaro. 1969 COPO 9561s ran about $3,500-4,000 "on the lot" (if you could find one, or a Dealer that knew anything about 'em...), while the 9560 OPTION alone was over $4,000, or 150% MORE than a Base V8 Camaro!!! Keep in mind Mustang, introduced in April/64, with a small Falcon 6/3spd manual and optional everything, Based @ less than $2400 (+ Freight etc.)...and sold 20,000 the FIRST DAY! With 5 optional engines...Big 6, 260/2V, 289/2V, 289/4V, 289 K-Code. The BIGGEST difference today is the amount of taxes we pay (as a % of Gross Pay), and the amount of STANDARD EQUIPMENT we must all accept. Last edited by LOWDOWN; 12-28-2009 at 04:39 PM.

12-28-2009, 04:28 PM	#4
wildpaws Drives: 1999 Blazer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,228	Back in '69 I was making about $9,300 a year gross with overtime (and that was from two jobs, my full time job at a distribution center and my part time union job unloading trucks), the new '69 Z/28 I bought cost me $3,385 (an SS would have been about the same or a little more depending on how it was equipped). Clyde Last edited by wildpaws; 12-28-2009 at 05:37 PM. Reason: text addition

12-28-2009, 08:17 PM	#6
colorado pony Drives: 1972 nova ss Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: colorado Posts: 36	1968 in 1968 working in a plating shop.. $3.02 per hr.... first car was a 1966 ford mustang 6 cyl 3 speed $1995.00.... can home from Viet Nam got a job at Knott berry farm at $ 5.00 per hr and had a 1972 nova 350 4spd ss $3260.00...

12-28-2009, 04:46 PM	#5
camaro5 Drives: X-15 Velocipede Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Florida Posts: 4,630	The cars are much more expensive in relative terms. They also offer a lot more everything.

12-28-2009, 10:50 PM	#7
JBarnes Drives: 2010 2SS ABM, Auto, Painted GFX Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 19	In 1981 I bought a new Z28 for $7200. Corvettes were right at $14K back then and I couldn't swing that kind of payment so I went with the Z28. I was making $19K a year. Making significantly more than that these days and a $36K Camaro is a much easier payment to swallow than back in 81.

12-28-2009, 11:03 PM	#8
OUR72GTO 2010 SIM Beige RS 6M Drives: SIM RS 6M 66 Corvair Silverado LTZ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Kamloops,British Columbia Posts: 4,673	In 1968 the union wage at the hotel I worked at was 1.25. I made 1.50. The dollar was at par so the CAMARO cost the same in Canada as the USA. The car was just over a years salary. Today I am retired and paid cash for it. __________________ CAMARO.. 2010 The Heart Beat is back in CHEVROLET Now let's put it back in America

12-29-2009, 07:13 AM	#9
HDDAN Drives: 2010 Camaro 1SS 2007 HD FLSTC Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Boston MA Posts: 1,510	I generally do this equation using Harleys as a base line. In 1966 a top of the line FLH dresser was about $2,200.00. Today an Electra Glide top of the line model is about $22,000.00. I am working at the same trade that I was working at back then and I make a little more than twelve times my 1966 income. Gasoline was $.30 for premium it is now around $2.80 around Boston. With every raise comes inflation. These are the "Good old days" though, for the same adjusted prices, you get far superior products.

12-29-2009, 07:33 AM	#10
myold88 Drives: SUMMIT WHITE 2SS/RS CAMARO Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: 2018: Lakewood Ranch, Fl. Posts: 8,167 View My Garage	I graduated high school in 1961. Summers 1959, 1960, I worked at a Pontiac dealer's parts/ser dept for about $70.00 a week. Went there full time in '61 for about the same money. 1963, 64 and 65 I was with a Chevy dealer and I never made over $100.00 a week. My first new car was a fully loaded '64 Chevy SS conv I paid $3200.00 for out the door. In 1967 I got a "good" job with a major insurance co as a outside claim rep (with co car-wow !). My starting salary was $101.00 a week. The family's new loaded 1969 Camaro was less than $3000.00. As mentioned above the main difference between now and the 50's and 60's is taxes and government intrusion. Wives and mothers didn't have to work to pay taxes. I could go on and on about growing up in the 50's and 60's but those truely were the good old days. PS: In 1957 my dad bought our house in an upscale L.I. N.Y. town for $18,000.00. When he passed 2 years ago we sold it for $850.000. I'll leave the math up to you guys. __________________

12-29-2009, 07:56 AM	#12
tradosaurus Account Suspended Drives: 2010 F150 Lariat, Candy Red Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,279	In 1966 working in Playboy Mansion I earned $6.30/hr including tips. I also looked like Sean Connory and lived a life of luxury. I owned 2 vettes and a camaro. Ooops, that was my second alter ego.

12-29-2009, 10:21 AM	#13
PAUL SS The Mark of Excellence Drives: 2010 ABM 1SS RS LS3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Smallest State in the Union Posts: 8,688 View My Garage	My brand new 2010 1SS Camaro cost almost ten times as much as my brand new 1973 Camaro Z28, but the 2010 is sooo much more car you can't even begin to compare them. Back then my weekly (weakly) take home pay was about $77.00, with a little overtime I can take home ten times that. __________________ BMR, CAI, DynoMax, Elite Eng., Hurst, Jannetty, Clear Image Headers & Hi Flow cats, Jet Hot, LSR, TSW, VMax, Vredestein

12-29-2009, 11:16 AM	#14
sailfan26 Camaro driver since 1975 Drives: 97 RS, 98 SS and 2010 LT/RS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Shore, Massachusetts Posts: 178	Greetings, I purchased my first Camaro in 1976. It was an LT, 8 cyl, fully loaded with a factory 8track. A/C, Spoilers, Landau Roof, accent package and stripes. I paid $3,600.00. If memory serves me well, the list was $4,200.00. It took 6 weeks to build and deliver. Ordered it from Smyly Chevrolet (they're gone now).