I was looking into an acquisition recently and trying to justify the hideously high purchase price. It was a Holden V8 ute purchased for $3,800 new. I plugged the purchase year and amount into one of those online inflation calculators and boom... out pops just over $18,000. Pretty sure you couldnt buy a top spec holden v8 ute for even twice the 18K now but now you get more than twice the car with 50x more features and power... maybe it is all relative.

anyways the fella selling wasn't 'making a profit' or his ute hadn't appreciated if he sold for anything below 18K once you factor inflation.