With the launch of the new Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie, the world has gone mad for the plastic fantastic doll, wanting to know everything, from her origin story to the brands desperate to work with her.
While she's famous for her fashion sense, the iconic doll also has an eye for a nice set of wheels and since her debut in 1959, she's owned more than 15 vehicles, from beach buggies and VW Beetles to Porsches and Rolls-Royces. To mark the release of the new film, classic car valuation specialists Hagerty have run down her a list of her previous motors and worked out how much the entire collection would be worth in the real world.
Assuming the icon has kept all her cars in “excellent” condition, the line-up, some of which we explore below, would be worth in the region of £12.5 million, thanks in no small part to one particularly rare vehicle.
5. 1981 VW Golf Cabriolet
Barbie really embraced the 1980s in all its double-denim, big hair and day-glow glory and that includes her choice of cars. The VW Golf was one of the biggest cars of the decade and our plastic friend got in on the act with a convertible version which, in the real world, is worth about £6,200 today. (Photo: AdobeStock) | AdobeStock
6. 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS
If the Golf is Barbie’s sensible accessible 80s car, then this is the glamorous dream car. A surprisingly accurate recreation of one of Maranello’s most recognisable designs, the Barbie version was available in red or white with a tan interior. Real-world versions are as desirable now as the toy was back in the 80s, with good examples fetching £132,000. (Photos: AdobeStock) | AdobeStock
7. Jeep Wrangler
Barbie has owned a couple of Jeeps over the years including remote control versions so kids could send her off on her own off-road adventures (with Ken in the passenger seat). If you fancy emulating her with your own Wrangler TJ, budget around £18,000 for a late-90s version. (Photo: AdobeStock) | Brian - stock.adobe.com
8. Jaguar XJS Convertible
Proving Barbie can’t resist a classic British car, in the 1990s Mattel teamed up with Jaguar to kit the doll out with her own version of the stylish XJS convertible, complete with sparkly pink paintwork and “wire” wheels. Today, a real-life version of the Jag will set buyers back a healthy £25,000. (Photos: Ebay/Newspress) | Ebay/Newspress)