Originally Posted by notinmybackyard

I paid $50 for my first car. I bought it in the late 50s but the car was 3 years old and had only 15k miles.

There was no rust... no holes... the engine was 100% user serviceable... I could lay down in the back seat and stretch out

I didn't need to have insurance... Sand was used in winter instead of salt... etc etc

Here's some more horror for you,
In 1965 I bought my first house for apx $9k and managed to pay it off within 3 years.