Barbie’s car collection revealed – and it’s worth £12.5m

BARBIE’S stunning £12.5 million car collection has been revealed, including a classic £86,000 Chevrolet.

As the new Barbie film, which stars Margot Robbie, hits cinemas today, fans have been treated to a rundown of the beloved toy’s best rides.

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The doll, which debuted in 1959, has owned more than 15 vehicles over the last six decades of production by US toy giant Mattel.

1962 Austin Healey 3000 MkII

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A much-loved British sports car, the Austin 3000 was produced between 1959 and 1967.

It featured a triple-carburetted inline-6 engine, laying down 102 horsepower, with both hardtop and convertible models available.

It was highly successful in America and was Barbie’s first-ever car, coming in a fetching salmon pink colour.

According to classic car experts Hagerty, one of these costs around £54,000 today.

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

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An icon of 1950s Americana, with its long bonnet and large rear fins, the Chevy wouldn’t look out of place in Grease.

The Bel Air model won hearts across the US between 1949 and 1980, with its popularity peaking in the ’50s and ’60s.

A chunky 4.6-litre V8 laid down 283 hp which, combined with its hefty frame, certainly qualifies it as a purebred American muscle car.

Modern price estimates in excess of £86,000 make it one of Barbie’s pricier cars.

However, all those years as a surgeon, Olympic athlete and computer engineer mean she probably has the money.

1956 Chevrolet Corvette

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Another car synonymous with America, the Corvette was the Bel Air’s sportier cousin, more similar in build and performance to Barbie’s original Austin 3000.

Over the years, she has owned several Corvettes, with the first being a pink and white, 1956 model.

This version marked the end of Chevy’s use of their original inline-six engine, instead opting for a 4.3-litre V8 combined with fuel injection to give it a swifter edge.

The ’56 model also featured new bodywork designs, including real-glass roll-up windows for the first time.

It is set to feature heavily in the new film, with Hot Wheels producing a diecast for fans to collect this year.

Today, the 1957 version would cost around £73,000, while Barbie’s 1976, 1985 and 1994 models clock in at £15,800, £12,900 and £19,500 respectively.

1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL

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With a similar body to James Bond’s iconic ’60s Aston Martin, the Mercedes is a gorgeous classic and was used prominently by Barbie in the ’70s.

Produced by the German manufacturer between 1955 and 1963, the ’62 model comes near the end of the range, with fewer examples available on the market.

For this reason, it’s on the up price-wise, with values now reaching £113,600.

1981 VW Rabbit Cabriolet

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Known as the Golf Cabriolet in Europe, this model was marketed as the Rabbit in the US from its 1979 debut to 1985.

Barbie took ownership of the chunky convertible in 1981 and modded it with a range of fun bumper stickers.

Some of the best examples included “High School is cool” and “I Heart Cool Dudes”, as the doll sprung into the ’80s in all her double-denim, big blowout glory.

These days, an ’80s Cabriolet will fetch owners only around £6,200, making it one of the cheaper cars in Barbie’s collection.

1986 Ferrari 328 GTS

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The successor to the 308 famously driven by Magnum P.I., the 328 was only on the production line between 1986 and 1989.

Barbie got hold of one in 1991, beginning a productive relationship between Mattel and the Italian manufacturer.

Another V8, the Ferrari clocks in as one of Barbie’s quickest motors as its lightweight body allowed it to rack up a top speed of 163mph.

Modern examples would be expected to sell for around £132,000, making it Barbie’s most expensive road-legal car.

Jaguar XJS convertible

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In 1994, Barbie hopped behind the wheel of her first British car since the Austin 3000 in the form of the XJS convertible.

With a production run spanning more than 20 years between 1975 and 1996, it is difficult to date the exact model she owned.

What we do know is that hers was the automatic version of the V12-powered grand tourer that is a favourite of Jag enthusiasts the world over.

Unlike the Ferrari, it’s also pretty affordable. with an estimated cost of £25,000 in 2023.

1990s Jeep Wrangler TJ

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Perfect for off-roading, the Wrangler TJ is as hardy as they come from a brand renowned for its sturdiness.

Barbie’s bright-pink Jeep was no slouch, with a 2.5-lite inline-four powering it over rough and rugged terrain.

Despite its excellent reputation, the Jeep is not as heavily desired as some other classics and will only fetch around £25,000 at auction.

Porsche 964 911 Cabriolet

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A version of Porsche’s famous Carrera model, the 964 ran from 1986 to 1994.

It was the first 911 to include automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, as well as making some radical updates to the exterior design.

Today, they cost around £50,000, having experienced a whopping 37% uptick in value since 2018.

Ford Mustangs

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Barbie has owned a pair of Ford Mustangs in more recent times.

Her most famous was a cherry-red 1994 model, before debuting a 2003 version as her first car of the new Millenium.

Another iconic V8 muscle car, the Mustang has also shot up in value, with prices now around £14,000.

2004 Ferrari F1 car

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As a limited edition offered only at the 2004 International Barbie Doll Collections Convention in Chicago, Barbie hopped into a version the dominant Ferrari F1 car of that season.

It is by far Barbie’s most valuable car, with its prestige and heritage making it almost priceless.

However, if we had to put a price on it, a version of the 2003 F1 model that propelled the legendary Michael Schumacher to his sixth world title did hit auction last year.

Sold through auctioneers RM Sotheby’s it fetched a whopping 14.6 million Swiss Francs, making a 2004 model worth approximately £11.7 million.

It eclipses the price of all Barbie’s other cars combined and lifts the value of the collection to £12.5 million, while the model version must be worth a pretty penny itself.