Now Online for Pre-Bidding! “Iconic: 65 Years of the Fashion Doll” - Saturday, March 16, 2024. More than 400 rare and sought-after dolls, costumes and accessories from three major private Barbie collections. Full-color catalog now shipping! Live attendance, online, absentee, and telephone bidding available.
https://theriaults.com/events/event/208/iconic-65-years-of-the-fashion-doll-saturday-march-16-2024-marquis-doll-auction
Barbie has had a lot of sweet rides over the years, to the point where I couldn't possibly do a master post of all of them because we would be here all day. But some of the early ones were really interesting!
Barbie first got wheels in 1962, with her "own sportcar". What I find really interesting about the branding for this one is that it is back in the day when Barbie and Ken were marketed not as adults but as teenagers - note where the box says "the only car designed for the Barbie and Ken teenage dolls".
The sportscar wasn't even the vibrant pink we would come to associate with Ms Roberts. There was a pink variation, but it was a much more muted colour than the future would hold.
Barbie and Ken weren't the only ones with a car though - Skipper was marketed as having access to a car too, from 1964 onwards.
But to me this is fascinating because, of course, Skipper was a popular part of the brand by this point, but far too young for her own car. So Mattel circumvented this by marketing it as "Skipper rides with you... in Allan's new roadster!".
I'm not sure why Allan is letting Skipper ride around in his car, but it's a very kind gesture of him.
I suppose perhaps because his girlfriend Midge had gone thirds in a "hot rod" with Barbie and Ken.
Barbie, Ken and Midge... (and other teenage dolls) travel and date in their own custom hot rod.
I appreciate the inclusion of (and other teenage dolls) so Mattel didn't inadvertently imply that Midge was in fact dating both Barbie and Ken.