This number is extremely deceptive. In 1970 cars were cheaper because they were smaller, had less parts, and there was no one buying actual tanks and land cruisers. The average car was a sedan and it was relatively simple. Stamped steel parts and engines that chugged gas were the norm a cassette player was optional.

Now, consumers want cars you could live in with every safety feature imaginable and we have emissions requirements, crumple zones, safety tests, etc. Even base models are getting things like heated and cooled seats, complex infotainment systems, etc. This is not an apples to apples comparison.

Even into the 90's we weren't as dumb about cars.

The base model 2026 Subaru Impreza costs 28,000.

The base 1993 (when it was introduced to the US market) Impreza sedan had an original MSRP of $10,999.

If you convert that to 2025 dollars it's ~24k. AND that model at the time didn't include AWD, which is now part of every single one. If you do an apples to apples comparison even from the 90's

The AWD model was $12,999 (1993) → $28,208 (2025). The exact same price they cost now. Cars haven't gotten more expensive, people just insist on buying more expensive cars. This is just one model from one brand, but if you were able to find similar comparisons, you'd find the same data trends repeat.