One of the nicest things with browsing old magazines is to check the prices in the classifieds. We received a couple of interesting scans from Matthieu Cuppens taken from a 1912 edition of 'Morisons's Review'. To his delight he found "Second hand car offered 'Mathieu Saventhem' (Brussels) Double phaéton 12HP, 4.500 frank (112 euro) and a Benz 35km/h for 500 frank (12 euro). Ok, do we have a deal?"
What a dream to allow the fantasy to shop back then with today's money...: "a Pipe 40 HP Double Phaeton 5 seater with a top speed of 90 km/h at 6000 Francs (Euro 150), and at a lot less a more exotic Ruhl (?) with Limousie body by D'Ieteren at Euro 112,50 or a Hurtu, a Créanche, a Germain, a Vivinus, a Metallurgiqie"... Shopping is fun! ...a Bavré-Niort (ever heard of that one?)... or a Duryea (Euro 35) or Decauville at the unimaginable Euro 10 (...) Or if your purse is slightly larger a 1907 Fiat 28HP demi-Limousine Van den Plas 6 seater in perfect condition at Euro 100 or without the body(!) at Euro 85. We're not talking model cars here! And even if Matthieus' conversion rate is wrong with a factor 10...! Or even when he would be wrong with a factor 100!