Doing a bunch of GIS this morning, I come up with the following:
Average new car cost 1970: $3,542.00 ---> equivalent to $23,770.00 in 2020.
Average new car cost 2020: $37,876.00 ---> equivalent to $5,643.84 in 1970.
The difference in average new car cost in 2020 dollars: $14,106.00
The difference in average new car cost in 1970 dollars: $2,101.00
It's not just your imagination - adjusted for inflation, for today's average American
the average new car costs a TON more comparably than it did in 1970.
Tons of factors involved as to why, of course....
If you had the equivalent money to spend in 1970 that you would spend in 2020 though,
you could have basically bought two new cars to one today.
Food for thought.