For sale is a 1962 BARBIE AUSTIN HEALEY SPORTS CAR, 1960s BUBBLE CUT BARBIE DOLL, and a 1960 FUZZY HAIR KEN DOLL. A great set of 1960s era Barbie collectibles which display well as a set.
This 1962 AUSTIN HEALEY SPORTS CAR was Barbie’s original ride. Within a few years, this peach-colored convertible was swamped out in the late 1960s for a Corvette because Mattel decided that a British car didn’t fit Barbie’s all-American image. The car has aqua seats, silver tone steering wheel and dashboard, white wall tires, silver tone hubcaps and a Barbie license plate. The car is in excellent condition with a few exceptions. It is missing both headlights there is some loss of paint on many of the chrome bits, especially the dash board. The care measures about 18 inches long. The looks great from all angles. The wheels turn freely.
Sale includes is a rare 1960s BLONDE BARBIE BUBBLE CUT DOLL made by Mattel. The doll itself is in great condition. The doll’s ears have the “green ear” discoloration which is common to these dolls. The backside of the doll is marked “Barbie, PATS PEND MCMLVIII by Mattel”. The buttock is also marked “10”. Doll has beautiful turquoise eyes and pink lipstick. Hair is blonde with tight bubble cut, pink fingernail and toenail polish. Polish and lipstick in great condition and highly visible. One of the feet is marked “Japan” on the bottom. The doll stands about 11 inches tall. Sale includes a blouse but no other clothing or accessories.
Sale also includes a 1960 KEN DOLL with FUZZY HAIR which has some wear. The Ken doll has straight legs. The backside of the doll is marked “Ken, PATS PEND MCMLX by Mattel INC”. The buttock is also marked “6”. One of the feet is marked “Japan” on the bottom. The doll stands about 12 inches tall. Sale includes a striped beach jacket but no other clothing or accessories.
In 1961, Mattel issued a new kind of Barbie doll called the “Bubble Cut” which had a new bouffant hairdo. The first-issue Bubble Cuts generally have shorter, tighter hairdo’s and thinner faces than the later ones. They still have the beautiful red Barbie lips as well (except for the White Ginger). Eyes and eye shadow are shades of blue to turquoise.
Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by American toy company Mattel, Inc. and launched on March 9, 1959. Barbie has been an important part of the toy fashion doll market for over six decades and has been the subject of numerous controversies and lawsuits, often involving parodies of the doll and her lifestyle. The first Barbie doll wore a black-and-white zebra striped swimsuit and signature topknot ponytail, and was available as either a blonde or brunette. The doll was marketed as a “Teen-age Fashion Model”, with her clothes created by Mattel fashion designer Charlotte Johnson. The first Barbie dolls were manufactured in Japan, with their clothes hand-stitched by Japanese homeworkers. From 1959 until 1972, Barbies were made in Japan and have “Made in Japan” or “Japan” stamped on the bottom of their feet.
Barbie’s appearance has been changed many times, most notably in 1971 when the doll’s eyes were adjusted to look forwards rather than having the demure sideways glance of the original model.
