1. The Impala from Chevrolet

Where Chevy Dealerships Sold It
Organisation: Chevrolet
Initial Cost: $2,800–$2,800*
American-manufactured automobiles dominated the market, and corporations like Ford, Chevrolet, Volkswagen, BMW, and others gained billions of dollars in profits. From 1960 to 1970, prominent cars included the Riviera, Pontiac GTO, Eldorado, T-Bird, and more.

The Chevrolet Impala on Pinterest and Google
However, one vehicle stood out from the rest: the Chevrolet Impala. Throughout the decade, this model dominated American sales. The Impala sold 1.075 million vehicles in 1965 alone, which is still the greatest annual sales volume ever attained by a U.S.-made vehicle.

2. Cereal Quisp

Where It Was Sold: Food Giant, Publix, Winn-Dixie, and Food Lion; Manufacturer: Quaker Oats
Original Price: $0.50* When Quisp was first introduced in 1965, it quickly became a kid’s favorite cereal. Its maker, Quaker Oats, claims that since Quisp, the company mascot, arrived on Earth with his “Quazy Cereal,” everything has been “better ever since.”

Quisp Cereal: @YouTube/TVDays
Kids loved the crunchy, crispy corn cereal in the shape of a saucer. Unfortunately, Quisp didn’t persist as long as Quaker Oats had hoped. Its greatest mass-market heyday was the 1960s; lackluster sales led to its withdrawal in the late 1970s.

3. The Tressy Dolls

Where It Was Sold: Toy Stores, Sears, and Macy’s
The American Character Doll Company is the company.
Initial Cost: $2–$8*
In the 1960s, the American Character Doll Company created Tressy, a fashion doll that would eventually be replaced by Barbie. Jesse Dean, a furniture designer, and his wife, Diana Dean, created the doll. Tressy’s ability to switch up her haircut from short to long made her stand out.

Tressy Dolls on Pinterest and eBay
These dolls aren’t widely available in stores anymore, but you can still find them on eBay. For instance, a rare 1963 vintage Tressy Doll (in the box with its clothes) is selling for almost $425 on eBay. Even so, other, less-than-perfect Tressy dolls may be purchased for between $40 and $80.

4. The Wonderbra

Where It Was Sold: Marshall & Field, Gimbals, Macy’s, Sears, Clothing Stores
Business: D’Amour, Hanesbrands (as of right now)
$5 was the original price.
The Wonderbra was a patented bra that Louise Poirier created in 1964 with the intention of giving your chest the greatest form possible. It boasted 54 distinct parts that were supposed to drastically change the orientation of your cleavage.

Instagram/@theotherplace
Wonderbra gradually gained popularity throughout the world, but it started off mostly in Canada and Europe. Hanesbrands is now the manufacturer. The Wonderbra’s sales revenue in Canada alone ranged from $12.6 to $24.9 million by the 1970s.

5.Liquid Paper

Where It Was Sold: Walmart and Office Supply Stores
Organization: Newell Brands
Initial Cost: $1–$3*
In the 1950s, a secretary by the name of Bette Nesmith had the idea for liquid paper. Because liquid paper could “whiten out” whatever imperfection an employee produced, it became the go-to workplace mistake-corrector by the 1960s.

Wikimedia/FA2010/Liquid Paper
This white, ink-like material was used to correct typos on typewriters and ink pens. Despite the fact that many people mistake Liquid Paper for “White-Out,” the latter name did not exist until 1974.

6. Flatsy

Original Price: $2–$6* Where It Was Sold: Macy’s, Sears, FAO Schwarz, Toy Stores; Company: Ideal Toy Co.
A new phenomenon in culture emerged at the end of the 1960s: flatness. Originally intended for young girls, these flat dolls are now expensive collector’s items. For four years, Ideal Toy Co. produced flat dolls with long, brightly colored hair. These dolls were known as flatsy dolls.

Flatsy on Pinterest and eBay
There were three sizes available for these vinyl and internal wire creations: fashion, medium, and mini. The jingle “She’s Flat and All That!” was used in the advertisements for these dolls, so you may recall them.

7. Cyclamate

Where It Was Sold: Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Food Manufacturers (DuPont)
Original Cost: Not stated (currently banned)
Even though you may not be familiar with the term “cyclamate,” if you were a child growing up in the 1960s, you most likely used a product that included this artificial sweetener. It was adored by food firms and beverage producers alike.

Cyclamate on Pinterest and Google
The original low-calorie sweetener was cyclamate, which is still used in many applications similar to aspartame. People adored cyclamate, which was thirty times sweeter than ordinary sucrose, until it was discovered to have carcinogenic properties and was outlawed in 1970.

8. Rolex

Where It Was Sold: Business/Office Supply Stores, Zephyr American
Organization: Zephyr American
Initial Cost: $5–$8*
Invented in the middle of the 1950s, the Rolodex really took off in the 1960s, emerging as a sort of “practical fad.” This rotating card file was created by Danish engineers and used to hold contact information, company information, and other things.

Rolodex ©Wikimedia/Arnold Reinhold
Zephyr American was a catch-all business supplies company that also produced other useful devices, such as the Clipodex, Swivodex, Punchodex hole punch, and more. Unbelievably, as of 2023, Rolodex card files are still produced.

9. Markers with Sharpies

Where It Was Sold: Marshall Field’s, Hills Company, Office Supply StoresSharpie
Initial Cost: *$0.50
It’s likely that you currently have Sharpie markers somewhere in your home. One of the most widely used writing instruments worldwide, these markers are renowned for their durability and convenience of use. The 1960s saw the release of Sharpies.

Pinterest/@amhistorymuseum Sharpie Markers
The first permanent pen-style marker was introduced to the market in 1964 with the release of the Sharpie Fine Point Black Marker. Its ability to write on a variety of surfaces, such as glass, plastic, metal, wood, stone, and, of course, plain old paper, astounded many.

10. Jump rope

Where It Was Sold: Toy Stores, Macy’s, Sears, Walmart; Manufacturer: Wham-O
Initial Cost: $1*
When the Hula-Hoop first came out decades ago, it was a hit with both youngsters and adults. Within five years of its patent, this swiveling toy became an instant hit. In the first four months of Hula-Hoops’ release, Wham-O sold 25 million units of the product.

Haul-Hoops ©GeorgeLouis/Pinterest
More than 100 million units have been sold in just two years. Australian gym lessons served as an inspiration for Wham-O, the firm that created the Hula-Hoop, since the kids worked out by twisting bamboo hoops around their waists.

11. Kevlar

Wherever it was sold, distributors for DuPont
Organisation: DuPont
Original Cost: $12 per pound Despite being created by accident, Kevlar changed the course of history because it is still in use today in a wide range of applications. When DuPont employee Stephanie Kwolek created it in 1965, it was quickly apparent that this robust, heat-resistant fiber was unique.

Kevlar @Pinterest/Smithsonian
These days, Kevlar is sold commercially and is used in sports equipment, gloves, jackets, military uniforms, bulletproof vests, and protective clothes, among other items. Kevlar was originally used in a commercial capacity to replace steel in racing tires.

12. Bubble Wrap

Where It Was Sold: Distributors of Sealed Air Corp.
Sealed Air Corporation is the company.
Originally designed to be used as three-dimensional wallpaper, bubble wrap didn’t gain popularity until 1961, when producers realized it could also be used to protect goods during shipping and transportation. The original price of a roll was between $1 and $3.

July Prokopiv/Shutterstock Bubble Wrap
Actually, Bubble Wrap’s invention process wasn’t very complicated. Its creators, Marc Chavannes and Alfred Fielding, sealed two shower curtains together, encasing the air bubbles within. It was more of an accidental innovation because protective wrapping completely overshadowed the original purpose of bubble wrap.

13. The Creepy Crawlers, also known as The Thingmaker

Where It Was Sold: Toy Stores, Macy’s, Sears, Hudson’s, and Companies
Initial Cost: $10–$30*
The activity toy known as the Thingmaker (also known as Creepy Crawlers) was created by Mattel. The plaything was made out of several metal molds that were filled with the chemically slimy Plasti-Goop. The plastic material would take on the shape of the mold thanks to the hot plate.

The Thingmaker @bingteam/Pinterest (AKA Creepy Crawlers)
Thanks to the creation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1973, the toys’ lifespan was rather brief. The Thingmaker was an excellent educational toy, but because it used heat and chemicals, it wasn’t safe enough to be sold.

14. Action figures of “Batman” and “Star Trek”

Where It Was Sold: Toys R Us and FAO Schwarz
Organization: Mego Corporation
* Original Cost: $2.49
During the 1960s, Mego Corporation’s action figures were a sensation, dominating the shelves of popular toy retailers like FAO Schwarz and Toys R Us. Nobody could have predicted that these 8-inch plastic wonders would grow to become legendary collectibles. These action figures, with their cloth costumes and distinctive character-specific accessories, set the standard for action figure manufacturing for many years to come.

Amazon/Pinterest: “Star Trek” and “Batman” Action Figures
The allure of possessing an action figure like Batman or Spock was akin to holding a pass to another reality where you could battle evil and discover bizarre new realms. These action figures were more than simply toys to the devotees. They served as concrete connections to well-known people and their tales, igniting curiosity and offering countless hours of exciting, action-packed play.

15. Albums by The Beatles

Where It Was Sold: Tower Records, Sam Goody
Company: Capitol Records (US), Parlophone (UK)
Initial Cost: $3.98*
The Beatles were more than just a band; they were a movement, a way of life, and a phenomenon. Their records, available at record shops such as Tower Records and Sam Goody, were snapped up very immediately after they were put on display. With their innovative, new sound, this British band grabbed America by storm. In the 1960s, having a Beatles record was like owning a piece of culture, history, and revolution.

The Beatles Recordings on Twitter: @BraineyJayney
Millions of admirers are still captivated by its thrilling fusion of pop, soul, and rock ‘n roll. Their ideals of love, freedom, and peace wonderfully captured the mood of the 1960s, and getting one of their albums came to represent participation in this revolutionary cultural movement.