Spiffing issues up for simply $87.
Whereas $87 might not look like a lot, it went a good distance again in 1978. Take this advert for the Dodge D100 pickup truck. The truck depicted boasts a base worth simply over $4000, and given its humble entry-level nature, seems to be fairly spiffy, all issues take into account.
However there are two issues that basically give this primary Dodge a little bit of aptitude. First, there’s the yellow paint job, and second, there’s the white-sidewall tires and shiny wheel covers. And for a truck that’s, at $4147, fully bereft of another choices or options, it seems to be fairly good. Now, we don’t know if the striped seat upholstery comes commonplace as effectively, however we prefer it.
However it’s the white-wall tires and “deluxe” hub caps that basically elevate the look of this budget-friendly workhorse, and per the small textual content within the advert, they contribute $87 to the underside line. We’d say the tires and wheel covers are cash effectively spent. This can be a nice-looking truck.
The advert doesn’t go into a lot element in regards to the truck technically, however we are able to make certain that this bottom-line Dodge is powered by Chrysler’s ubiquitous Slant Six engine mated to a 3-speed handbook transmission.
What this truck didn’t include was air-con, a dome gentle, or radio—in fact such luxuries had been obtainable, for a worth. And about that worth: $4147 is about $16,000 in 2025 {dollars}, which looks like an unimaginable cut price to us. The least costly new Ram pickup now lists for simply over $40,000, however is laden with know-how and tools not even obtainable in 1978. Nonetheless, 40 massive looks like rather a lot.
Talking of shade, we’re a bit of confused by the Fireplace-department stuff on this advert. The truck is white, and the man’s jackets are grey. The place’s the crimson? Solely the canine appears to be of applicable livery.
Whereas our major takeaway from this advert is that pickup vehicles have gotten costly, we’re additionally impressed by how far $87 used to go. To learn extra Favourite Automotive Adverts, click on right here.
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1978 Dodge D100 Footage
Click on beneath for enlarged photos
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