1962 Cars continued to evolve as more compacts appeared and sold well in the US. The Cold War continued to worsen when the Russians placed Ballistic Missiles on Cuban land just 90 miles away from the coast of Florida and JFK called the bluff by threatening war unless they were removed which they were but for a short time the world was on the brink of nuclear war and self destruction. The president then set a goal of landing a man on the moon before the end of the decade and became more involved in politics in Southeast Asia by training South Vietnamese pilots. Folk music was evolving into protest music thanks to young artists like Bob Dylan and the birth of Surfing music by the beach boys grew in popularity meanwhile in England the Beatles record the single "Love Me Do". The new hit on TV for that year was "The Beverly Hillbillies" and the first of the James Bond movies "Dr No" was an instant success, some of the other movies released included "Spartacus" and "El Cid".

Cost of Living 1962

How Much things cost in 1962
Yearly Inflation Rate USA 1.20%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 652
Average Cost of new house $12,500.00
Average Income per year $5,556.00
Average monthly rent $110.00 per month
Tuition to Harvard University $1,520.00
All Wheel Drive Scout off road $2,150.00
Renault Imported car $1,395.00
Average Cost of a new car $3,125.00
Eggs per dozen 32 cents
Gas per Gallon 28 cents
New Ford Cortina $591.00

What Events Happened in 1962

• Cuban Missile Crisis when USSR plans to deploy Missiles in Cuba brings the world to the brink of world war, the US blockades Cuba and the USSR agrees to Soviet Silos
• Heavy storm flood on Germany's North Sea coast, mainly around Hamburg, more than 300 people die, thousands losing their homes
• A U.S. embargo ordered by President Kennedy goes into effect on all imports from Cuba including tobacco, seafood, fruits and vegetables
• Brazil beat Czechoslovakia 3-1 to win the 1962 World Cup
• The first US rocket Ranger IV lands on the moon
• First ever flavored Chips sold Salt and Vinegar
• Marilyn Monroe is found dead after apparently overdosing on sleeping pills
• The First Wal-Mart discount store is opened by by Sam Walton in Bentonville Arkansas
• The United Nations General Assembly passes a resolution condemning South Africa's racist apartheid policies and calls for all UN member states to cease military and economic relations with the nation
• Burundi Gains Independence From Belgium
• Oral Polio Vaccine developed by Albert Sabin given to millions of children to combat Polio
• Algeria Gains Independence From France
• Jamaica Gains Independence From Great Britain
• Brazil wins the 1962 World Cup in Chile

Popular Culture 1962

• Beatles Turned Down By Decca Records
  Release of first Beatles recording: the single "Love Me Do"
• Andy Warhol's famous painting of a can of soup
• Beverly Hillbillies is on TV
• The Dick Van Dyke show on TV
  

Popular Films

• West Side Story
• Spartacus
• El Cid
• Lawrence of Arabia
• To Kill a Mockingbird
  

Popular Singers

• The Beatles
• Bob Dylan
• Chubby Checker
• Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
• Neil Sedaka
• Roy Orbison
• Shirley Bassey

Technology 1962

• 12 European countries form European Space Agency
• Telstar relays the first live trans-Atlantic television signal
• US Airforce investigates using lasers to intercept missiles
• 90% of US households own a Television Set
• Britain and France agree to develop the Concorde
• The first use of silicone breast implants by Houston plastic surgeons

Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use )

• Communication Satellite USA Telstar
• Venus Probe USA Mariner 2 - the first planetary probe
• LEDs USA Light Emitting Diodes - used for displays