Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/05/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On 5/3/04 <sdmp007@pressroom.com (Sal DiMarco,Jr.)> thoughtfully wrote: >Luggites, > According to the February 1, 1966 Leica price list.... > >M3 body- $ 288.00 >M2 body- $ 249.00 >50mm DR- $ 189.00 >50mm f/2- $ 150.00 >50mm f/1/4- $ 198.00 >35mm f/2 M2- $ 163.50 >35mm f/2 M3- $ 198.00 >Leicavit-MP- $ 55.00 > I would like to thank everyone who responded to my question about the cost of a Leica in the mid-60s. It's difficult to establish a true rate of inflation. I know you could by a Ford Mustang with a "frisky" 6 cylinder engine and a 3 speed manual transmission for about $1850. I assume a Ford Falcon would have been somewhat less. So basic transportation would have a multiplier of about 6.42 the cost of a Leica M3. Today you can find a M7 for $2695 (I had Mel Levy's weekly posting at hand to reference) which would mean that basic transport would be about $17,311 or so which would buy you a Ford Focus or, if you were good at negotiations, perhaps a Honda Element (very low end). So I guess if we benchmark "The Leica" we have a new benchmark for inflation! Once again, thank you to everyone for helping me get my historical facts lined up in a row. Adam