Actually that must mean depreciation was even harsher in those days. I've told this story before: 1986 or so husband and I have $26,000 in our hot little hands to settle on a block of land in Brisbane; the weekend before the settlement we see a 308 in the window of the local 'exotic' dealer (the one near the Valley pool for locals) for EXACTLY $26k... very fretful weekend deciding but we did the 'sensible' thing... And the budget for the house to be built on said land was $60k
I knocked one back for $58K in 86 - had a sport pack on it, too, but I just couldn't afford it. And I really wanted a 246, which was half the money.