I have gone through several of these scanned newspapers from different places throughout the US. Most often, when the cars were new, they even posted the VIN within the advertisement. I have cataloged a hundred or more of them in the VIN List. Very neat, and tempting to build a time-machine and go back and buy them all up...
Apparently the '70 in the ad was a high option model... The base price of a '71 Stripper was $2175, whereas a year prior was $1995... These prices were for base car with 170, three on tree, rubber floor mat etc... I'd guess the average 6cyl Mav went out the door with at least another $300 in options... A/C was by far the most costly at $374, automatic $183, 302 $169, P/S $95, radio $61, prices could climb in a hurry... Price on the sales contract for my Comet was $3600(I don't have the window sticker for it)...
A Maverick with the bigger engine, radio, heater, automatic transmission, whitewalls and full disc wheel covers, vinyl seats cost more than $1996.
I just remember the days when the price of a car went down quite a bit once it was driven off the lot - I was expecting it to be cheaper than that for being 1 year old
My grandpa was on the "thrifty side." He got the strip model '71. ZERO options. I probably spent more on wheels and tires than he did for the car. Micah
I love the Burbank Ford ad. A '62 Fairlane for $295, full price! Just out of curiosity I looked it up on Google Maps and it's still a car dealership but it's a Chevy store now.
Funny thing is I owned two of those used car specials(well ones just like them)... I had a '62 Country Sedan Sta wagon for around six months, bought it in Dec '67 paid $199 for it(yeah it was a POS had 100K mi).. Just after I graduated HS I bought a '64 Galaxie Fastback that was 289 & three on tree... That was a year prior to the ad, paid $900 from a neighbor who bought it new, had 63K mi... At 60-70K mi was when most people who wanted to keep a dependable car, without a lot of maintenance going forward bought a fresh one... Back in the day used cars were pretty much worn out by 100-120K mi, so didn't hold a lot of value...
