the vehicle we buy today is no comparison to the vehicle we bought in 74, 84 or 94 due to government regulations and the desire for options which are much more complicated and expensive. Soe people say they don't want all of the stuff that comes on one but a lot of it is non optional. The entire braking systems are different and require bigger brake hubs, meaning bigger wheel and tires, the exhaust systems are probably 20 or 30 times the cost, the collision portions of the front ends which are more absorptive than the old steel ones are vastly more expensive, the safety systems are here now that were never here before. Most people want more options, Overall the vehicles aren't comparable. My first new pickup was a 74 ford 1/2 ton (after many old trucks), 302 V*, manual transmission, power steering and brakes, radio, (no cigarette lighter I added that), no ac. no power windows etc., I thought it was the greatest thing in the world and cost $3,006.50. (A corvette would have been about 5500) You couldn't buy that truck today set up like that and most except for us old die hards wouldn't want it. people want nice stuff and are willing to pay for it. The prices are going through the roof but look at the difference in labor to build one and in reality the vehicles of today last longer. 200,000 miles in not unusual any more, most vehicles at that mileage still have the original exhaust system, that never happened 50 years ago. When you look at today's vehicle prices (and I bought my first 109 acres for less than a D3500 Ram costs now) there really isn't a comparison on the vehicles of today and 74