Back in '79 I picked-up my first bike, a new custom pieced together Team Mongoose. I think it set my mother back about $350.00! 1 year later I got bored with it and traded for a used Redline Pro-Line, 6 months later I traded it for a used FMF with a cracked seat post weld. Luckily I got to trade it back for my Pro-Line.
Back then I remember anyone with a Champion or a Cook Bros. or an FMF was REALLY cool. I also remember anyone with a Redline, DG, Cycle Pro Spoiler or Foiler, Thruster, Torker, PK, Team Mongoose being just cool. Then there were the kids with the Webco, Mongoose, Diamond Back and some Cycle Pro's that were just the norm and nothing special.
Curious what do you remember and is it still that hierarchy now?

By the way, these were just the thoughts of 13 yr old kids in Northern, Ca at the time.