Celebrating 60 years of the Ford Bronco… and more!

Sure, Henry Ford put the world on wheels with his Model T in May 1908. And the company revolutionized manufacturing by introducing the integrated moving assembly line to auto production in 1913. Supported our troops during by using their auto factories to produce military equipment. And of course, created iconic rides like the Mustang, Thunderbird, the F-Series of trucks. In the timeline of Ford Motor Company history, those are all special, but there is one year that stands out most to our Bronco Nation — 1965: the year our beloved Bronco was first introduced. (On August 11 to be exact!)

For Bronco enthusiasts, 1965 was a good year. A legend was born that has brought a community together and is still taking us on trails and road trips six decades later. But the Bronco was not the only exciting thing to happen in 1965. From more Ford achievements to memorable moments in history and pop culture… here’s a look back at some of the other things that made 1965 one to remember. 

At Ford Motor Company…

Image: Ford Motor Company

• Ford Germany and Ford U.K. Collaborated to release the Transit in Europe.
  
  
• Fords-Philco Engineers unveiled the mission control center used to put a man on the moon. Ford owned Philco from 1961 – 1974, during which the company produced consumer electronic, computer systems, and military projects. In addition to designing, building, equipping and staffing Mission Control, Ford’s Philco electronics subsidiary performed support work for NASA’s Apollo and Gemini space programs, thanks to Philco’s capabilities in transistors, solid-state devices, and microelectronics.

FOOD/TASTY TREATS…

• Campbell Soup Company introduces Franco-American Spaghetti-O's.
  
  
• Yoplait Yogurt was first introduced in France, before coming to the US market in 1971.
  
  
• Breakfasts were never the same as Apple Jacks cereal (originally called Apple O's) and Honeycomb cereal first hit the shelves.
  
  
• Developed by a team of researchers in ’65, Gatorade was originally made to help student athletes at the University of Florida to replenish the carbs burned and the water/electrolytes they lost in sweat during vigorous sports activities.
• Shake 'n Bake, the seasoned breadcrumb coating originally marketed to mimic the flavor and texture of fried chicken, was introduced.
  
  
• Pop-Tarts flew off the shelves when the original four original flavors —Strawberry, Blueberry, Brown Sugar Cinnamon, and Apple-Currant — were released nationwide. (Fun fact: they did not have frosting until 1967!)
  
  
• The world was introduced to The Pillsbury Doughboy when “Poppin' Fresh” made his debut in a commercial for crescent rolls. Named as a nod to the product’s quality and freshness, Poppin’ Fresh became the brand mascot who would pop out of a can of refrigerated dough.

MISCELLANEOUS GAMES AND PRODUCTS…

• The electronic board game Operation was first produced, challenging players to help the patient, Cavity Sam, by removing various humorous ailments from his body without triggering the buzzer and lighting up his nose.
  
  
• Creative minds were spinning as kids had a fun new way to make geometric designs and unique artwork with the new Spirograph activity set.
  
  
• Bounty paper towels were introduced in the fall of that year, as a new 2-ply towel that was thicker, softer, and more absorbent than any other on the market.
  
  
• R. C. Duncan was granted a patent for Pampers disposable diapers, and the first Pampers production line began operation in a P&G plant in Cheboygan, Michigan.

RESTAURANTS…

• After buying a local pizza store in Ypsilanti, Michigan, two brothers changed the name to Domino’s in ‘65, and grew it into one of the most recognized and leading pizza brands in the world.
•  The doors to the first T.G.I. Friday's opened at 1st Avenue & 63rd St. in New York City.
• The first Subway sandwich shop opened in Bridgeport, Connecticut, as Pete's Super Submarines.

ENTERTAINMENT...

• The music scene was full of iconic hits like "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)", (The Four Tops); "Help!" (The Beatles);  “(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (The Rolling Stones); "My Girl" (The Temptations);  "Help Me, Rhonda" (The Beach Boys); "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (The Righteous Brothers); "Downtown" (Petula Clark); and more.
• Movies released include Sound of Music, Doctor Zhivago, and Thunderball, the fourth James Bond movie.
• Color broadcasting began to take off, and new shows like Get Smart, I Dream of Jeannie, Green Acres, Hogan's Heroes, Days of Our Lives, and the Dating Game premiered.
• It was a big year for Charles M. Schulz and the Peanuts gang, the entire cast of the comic strip 'Peanuts' was featured on the cover of TIME magazine, and the first Peanuts television special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” premiered on CBS TV.

IN THE NEWS…

• One of the most important pieces of civil rights legislation in U.S. history — the Voting Rights Act — was signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, ensuring voting rights for all citizens regardless of race.
• Landmark healthcare programs, Medicare and Medicaid, were established to provide health insurance to the elderly and low-income individuals, respectively.
• On March 23, NASA launched astronauts Virgil "Gus" Grissom and John Young into orbit on the Gemini III mission. Provisions were minimal, so Young smuggled a corned beef sandwich in his spacesuit for Grissom. NASA disciplined both astronauts, and the event even appears in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first food smuggled into space.
• Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) introduced the PDP-8, the first commercially successful mass-produced minicomputer, which brought computing power to a wider audience beyond large corporations and research institutions.

SPORTS…

• The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Minnesota Twins in the World Series.
• The Green Bay Packers won the NFL Championship, defeating the New York Giants. (It was not called the Superbowl until 1967.)
• The Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers.
• The Montreal Canadiens beat the Chicago Blackhawks to become Stanley Cup champs.
• Jack Nicklaus won the second of his six titles at the 29^th U.S. Masters Tournament.