I totally agree that it has no relation to current prices but it is fun to compare. Sometimes you can pick things up for a fraction of the original cost (without even figuring in inflation) and then sometimes things are outrageous. I love to look at the original prices for old muscle cars. Imagine paying around three grand for a brand new 426 Hemi Cuda back in the day and then seeing the astronomical prices a "restored to new" condition one will get now.