Yes, nowadays they couldn't build or sell the pickup I'm talking about.
Instead we get a couple-three tons of plastic and aluminum, more gloss and comfort than my living room, for about twice as much as I paid for my first home.
Though I did just buy a 1980 Jeep CJ for running around in, and that DOES have a manual transmission AND makes a guy appreciate at least some of the amenities of newer rides.
Go put the original MSRP of your CJ into an inflation calculator and then look at the price of a new Wrangler (CL equivalent). You’ll see that there’s not a lot of difference.
A 1983 Jeep CJ Renegade had a list price of $11,449. If you go by the consumer price index (which isn’t entirely accurate, usually on the low side) that would be $27,600 today. The Wrangler starts at $23,995 and you can get a Renegade equivalent for $27-28K. Allowing for inflation, the price hasn’t really changed that much.
Also, uh, if your living room has less gloss and comfort than a base truck these days, may I suggest upgrading your living room and furnishings to something not from the 1970s? :P