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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 429
 
Location: McCleary WA | Here's a question for old timers and experts - when our FL cars were new, did they have window stickers showing options and prices? Being of 1949 vintage myself, I was a bit too young to remember that detail. Assuming they did, is there any source for seeing what they looked like? I'd love to see one for a '57 Dodge. I'd like to make up a show sign for my convert based on the design of an original window sticker. In addition to options, it would also credit the paint shop, upholsterer, chrome shop, s/s polisher etc. Just a thought. |
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Expert
Posts: 2312
Location: Arizona | From: http://www.phs-online.com/window%20sticker%20information.htm
WINDOW STICKERS
Did you ever wonder why new vehicles have window stickers? Many people think they are meant to show your neighbors that you bought a new car, or to annoy you with the glue residue on the window, but this is not the case.
In March of 1958, Senator Michael Monroney, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Automobile Marketing Practices, proposed a bill that would take the mystery out of new car prices. This bill required every automobile manufacturer to attach a label to the window of each new vehicle, which would show the manufacturer's suggested retail price, transport methods, freight charges, and accessory prices. This would be the first time in twenty years that a consumer could walk into an automobile dealership and find an itemized, accurate price tag on a new vehicle.
Prior to the proposal, there was often a large discrepancy between the showroom price and the actual price of the new vehicle. The fact was that existing price tags did not tell the full story. Most customer-quoted prices were for "stripped-down" models and did not include additions for preparation charges, freight charges, federal, state, and local taxes, or optional factory-installed equipment requested by the purchaser.
These hidden charges were used by some dealers to increase the selling price while giving the new vehicle buyer an inflated idea of their trade-in allowance. This price confusion led to a slump in auto sales during the early 1950's. Senator Monroney's bill was designed to prevent the abuse of the new vehicle list prices, but would not, however, prevent dealers and buyers from bargaining over vehicle prices.
Senator Monroney received widespread support for this bill from both consumers and dealers. Dealers viewed the Monroney Label as an opportunity to restore the confidence of the new vehicle buyers, which they hoped would result in a more successful sales year.
On July 7, 1958, Monroney's bill became law. Beginning on September 1, 1958, every automobile manufacturer was required to securely affix a label to the window of the vehicle, disclosing information concerning the vehicle and its price. Any manufacturer who failed to comply, could be levied a fine of not more than $1000 and/or imprisonment of not more than one year.
Once enacted, the law increased both dealer morale and auto sales. Customers grew more confident in their ability to make an informed decision and get the best deal possible. This law was instrumental in brightening industry-wide automobile sales during that time, by increasing consumer confidence.
In this day and age, we tend to take window stickers for granted, but the next time you are out shopping for a new Pontiac or GMC, you can thank Senator Michael Monroney for making you job much easier. |
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Expert
Posts: 2308
Location: The Bat Cave, Fairborn, OH | In this day and age, we tend to take window stickers for granted, but the next time you are out shopping for a new Pontiac or GMC, you can thank Senator Michael Monroney for making you job much easier. Good luck with that then as GM axed the Pontiac a few selling seasons ago. :laugh: The new car sticker has been successful in helping the car buyer understand what he is getting for his money, but it hasn't been carried down to the used cars on his lot. I have been looking for a used car myself lately, and I've noticed that a lot of used car lots don't have stickers on their wares. If you're lucky, you'll see a sticker on the car that says if the car has any remaining factory warranty left or, if there is none, a note that says the car is sold "as is" with no warranty. You won't often see a sticker that says how much the dealer is asking for the car however. Presumably you have to do your homework before you set foot on the lot by looking in the price guides such as Kelly's Blue Book or Edmunds. You could always place yourself in the hands of a clever car salesman by asking him to show you a few cars in a set price range,but that is rarely a satisfactory way to buy a car as he could easily try to sell you a car that is an overpriced dog or stripper.
Edited by 58 DESOTOS RULE 2015-02-03 5:00 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1348
Location: Valley Forge, Pa. | Ah, but one thing you can still do with Pontiac is get a copy of the original build sheet. I was even able to get a copy of the original window sticker for my 67 GTO. As far as I know, they were the only major manufacturer that kept all their records + one real handy thing, Pontiac saved their factory assembly manuals and I was able to get a copy of that for a 1967 Tempest/LeMans/GTO down to every nut and bolt. That's worth its weight.
I was born in 53 and I remember my Dad's white on black 1956 Chevy Nomad. He saved every piece of paper associated with all his cars and I am fairly sure I saw the window sticker for the 56. |
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Location: Under the X in Texas | You could not have seen the Monroney for your dad's '56 Nomad. They simply did not exist until the 1959 cars were introduced.
Something very similar to assembly manuals existed at Chrysler Corporation and someone in the hobby was supposed to be working on printing them for our era and later. Whatever happened to that project? |
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Location: Indiana |
I prefer old cars, even for the "daily driver", *hate* the DEPRECIATION of "new cars"...
So I tend to trade the "daily driver" in for something "new-to-me" every couple of years...
I was sitting at a lunch counter several years back and some kid was talking to a guy about buying a car and was talking about the "no-haggle price guarantee" sticker on the window...
Small mom-and-pop place, everybody hears everybody, all the regulars know each other (ie, i wasn't "eavesdropping", lol)...
I chuckle out loud and am inserted into the conversation, "that no-haggle price guarantee is just a d@mn sales gimmick...
The guy agrees, even brings up "false advertising" if the salesman does end up selling for a price not on the "sticker"...
Long story short, it turned out that the guy was a car salesman at a used car dealership on the edge of town and that's why the kid was talking to him...
I've bought half a dozen vehicles off the guy since...
He brings me into the back office, opens up the file cabinet, pulls out the paperwork...
He'll tell me how much he made on my last trade-in, he'll tell me how much he gave for trade-in on what I'm looking to get, he hides nothing...
I know he needs to make a profit on a sale, he knows we'll agree on a respectable profit margin, he knows I'll be back in a year or two, he knows the car will be WELL-CARED FOR and that he'll actually WANT it back...
Long story short, I still believe those "stickers" to be nothing but a sales gimmick - I'd rather see what's in the filing cabinet in the back office...  |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I have no use for new cars (anything made after 1970). So, the entire notion of
honesty and a window sticker is just plain silly. It is fun to see old paperwork for
cars like ours, including window stickers though. But the cars I want are very specific,
hard to find, and price is determined by what I have in my pocket and the aggravation
level of continuing to hunt for one. "Depreciation" makes no sense in this equation.
My cars are my passion. Some people spend money on beer or sports or golf or
whatever .... It's called "mad money". What we spend on our pleasures in life.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 429
Location: McCleary WA | So back to the original question - can anyone provide or point me to a '59 or so FL window sticker that I can use as a model for a show sign? I'd like to get the appropriate layout and artwork, if there is such. |
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Expert
Posts: 2312
Location: Arizona | Here's mine for my 60.
 (window sticker front s.jpg)
 (window sticker back s.jpg)
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 window sticker front s.jpg (147KB - 329 downloads)
window sticker back s.jpg (197KB - 203 downloads)
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 429
Location: McCleary WA | THAT'S what I'm looking for! Thanks. Anyone else?? |
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Regular
Posts: 60
| Hi Darryl,
Below is a recent thread link, that has more information on the car window sticker law and it also has a photo of a 1959 Plymouth Fury car window sticker.
http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=55786&start=51&posts=95 Thanks Rick |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1115
Location: Wild Wonderful | Here is the Plymouth sticker from that other page. Also, here is one for Dodge that I made from a blank one. I modified it and used a 1950s typewriter to type the info on it.
Edited by 58DeSoDodge59 2015-02-05 6:30 PM
 (59Plymouth.jpg)
 (dodgewindowsticker.jpg)
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59Plymouth.jpg (204KB - 167 downloads)
dodgewindowsticker.jpg (90KB - 200 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 1508
Location: new york | From my 1955 Imperial! NOT CHEAP! HAPPY MOTORING!
 (phpNlaOQlPM.jpg)
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phpNlaOQlPM.jpg (31KB - 186 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 1348
Location: Valley Forge, Pa. | yeah, I wasn't positive. His next car was a 59 Nomad, might have been that one? I'm fairly sure the sticker was from the 50s for a Chevy Nomad. The next car he had was a 1962 and not sure if the Nomad was still available then?
The Pontiac assembly manual is basically the blueprints used in the factories. I'm sure Chrysler had to have the same thing. Hopefully they will show up? |
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Expert
Posts: 2312
Location: Arizona | <p>Using 58DD59's blanks I made this for my 60 based on my original...</p>
Edited by jimntempe 2015-02-07 12:47 PM
 (MY MATADOR FILLED IN s.jpg)
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MY MATADOR FILLED IN s.jpg (265KB - 186 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 3575
Location: Netherlands | Nice, but I would've used a vintage typewriter font for a more authentic look.
Google for 'harting font' or 'vintage typewriter font'
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 429
Location: McCleary WA | Very good. The wealth of knowledge and resources on this forum is amazing. Now where can I find prices for a '57 Dodge convert, for both car and options? I have an options publication coming off ebay, but doubt it includes prices. |
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Expert
Posts: 2312
Location: Arizona | <p>More or less final version with various errors in the prior version corrected and a different, more vintage, typeface.</p><p> </p><p>It's interesting that a nickel difference in price was significant.</p>
Edited by jimntempe 2015-02-07 9:47 PM
 (MY MATADOR FILLED IN modern type16 3box s.jpg)
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MY MATADOR FILLED IN modern type16 3box s.jpg (271KB - 205 downloads)
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 967
Location: Canada | My 59's
 (InvoiceNEWYOKER.jpg)
 (Beach 160.jpg)
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InvoiceNEWYOKER.jpg (201KB - 194 downloads)
Beach 160.jpg (78KB - 193 downloads)
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 967
Location: Canada | Expedite $99.80 plus Delivery Date June 19 / 1959... Does it make sense mine was an early ordered car? |
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Expert
Posts: 2312
Location: Arizona | The 99.80 was for the radio. There was no charge for the expedite. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 429
Location: McCleary WA | Thought I would try this again - can any of you provide, or point me toward, prices for my '57 Dodge convert and accessories etc. I have the window sticker template and just need that info to fill it in. |
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Expert
Posts: 2003
Location: Branson, MO | I see some nice window stickers for Dodges above and would like to get a reproduction sticker / Monroney Label for my '59 DeSoto Firesweep.
Can anyone provide anything that could help get one? If I could even get a copy of one I have a guy that can reproduce one locally.
Thank you.
"It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto" |
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window stickers when new?
