FORD SHIFTS PRICES ON '71 AUTO MODELS

Florida Automotive Journal
December 1970

Ford Motor Company revised the prices on its 1971 models, raising them by an average $14 and bringing the sticker price boost to 5.1 per cent more than the cost of a 1970 model car.

"The adjustments reflect changes in competitive market conditions," the company said.

General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Corp. have announced average price hikes of 6.2 per cent and 3.7 per cent respectivley.  But both companies—like Ford when it first announced 1971 prices three weeks ago—said there may be further increases.  Earlier, Ford had announced an average price boost of 4.8 per cent on its 1971 model cars.

The changes, effective Monday, October 12, range from an increase of $124 on the Lincoln Continental Mark III to a decrease of $152 in the suggested price of the Mercury Monterey custom four-door hard top, Ford said.

Ford said its suggested retail prices on optional items also would be adjusted, but the previously announced average price increase of 5 per cent on those items would remain unchanged.

Under the new price schedule, the Mercury Monterey custom four-door, for example, would cost $4,082 compared to a suggested price of $4,234 in 1970, while the top-of-the-line Lincoln model, which bore a suggested price of $8,253 last year, will carry a tag of $8,377 this year.