Just went down a rabbit hole looking at historical car prices and honestly it's wild how much things have changed. Started wondering how much did a car cost in 1950 and found this whole database of prices adjusted for inflation. A new car back then? Around $14k in today's money. That's actually not too bad when you think about it.

What really got me was comparing across decades. The 1960s had some decent options - you could grab a VW for under $15k adjusted, but luxury cars like the Jaguar XK120 were pushing $49k. By the 1970s prices started climbing faster. Then the 80s recession hit and things got interesting with used car markets tanking.

The jump from 1990s to 2000s is where it gets crazy though. Prices kept creeping up steadily. A Honda Accord went from around $26k in 1998 to $31k by 2004. And don't even get me started on the 2008 crash - the auto industry got hit hard along with housing.

What's crazy is looking back at how much did a car cost in 1950 versus now. That $14k purchase back then? Today's average new car is running $30-40k easily. Even adjusted for inflation, modern cars are significantly pricier. And it's not just luxury models - even basic transportation costs way more relative to what people earn.

Makes you think about how car ownership has changed. Back in 1950, buying a vehicle was actually pretty achievable for an average family. Now it's one of the biggest purchases most people make. Wages haven't kept pace with how much cars cost anymore.