I. History:
a. Barbie:
Barbie is an iconic American Doll released in the United States in 1958 by the Mattel Toy Company. The Doll was the Brainchild of Ruth Handler President of Mattel (1945–1974). After a radical mastectomy, she would go on to manufactured a more realistic version of a woman's breast, called "Nearly Me". This was far beyond any prosthetics device of the mid-1970s. Her doll Barbie would out live her as she passed away in 2002 at the age of 85.
The Barbie doll has been written about and is an American favorite for children and collectors world wide since 1959. The story goes beyond this short sales narrative.
b. Chevrolet Corvette:
Like Barbie the Chevrolet Corvette is an iconic American high performance sportscar that was introduced by General Motors in 1953 and has been in production ever since. It is currently the only two seat sports car built in the United States. GM made huge gains when it introduced " the Stingray" body style in in 1963, the Stingray stayed in production until 1967. GM launched the third generation in 1968 the "Mako Shark II (See above Images) which lasted until 1982. GM is currently on the eighth generation which began production in 2020, and is a return to the popular Sting ray body.
The Corvette C8 Z06 is expected to debut in the 2023 model year. It will feature a 670 horsepower 5.5 liter naturally-aspirated DOHC flat-plane crank V8. This engine, the LT6, is the most powerful naturally aspirated production V8 engine. The Z06 is redlined at 8600 RPM and feature the same dual-clutch transmission as the Stingray, albeit with gearing changes specific to the performance of this model.
II. For sale:
Barbie™ Red Corvette Doll NRFB. 2009 American Icons Series. New in box. Car Not Included.
a. Model Overview:
This Barbie® doll commemorates 55 years of the Chevrolet Corvette® introduction in 1953. This strikingly beautiful doll features classic ‘Vette™ imagery and is part of the American Favorites™ Collection. Barbie has been driving a Corvette since 1962 so her love for the car is long overdue and express it she does. There are two other dolls in the Corvette series, Yellow, and Pink.
b. Model Features:
Dressed in a glamourous side slit long red dress with a short flowing train. The dress is well done in Corvette Torch Red (WA9075/GKZ) the dress luster gives it the appearance of a polished Torch Red Basecoat clear coat finish used by GM for decades.
The stitching falls in line with the interior of a Corvette. The distinctive Checkered flag used in the Corvette logo is nicely placed in the dress and gives it an overall appearance of a high performance sports car.
The raised wide collar exposing the dolls shoulders give the illusion of an open hood showing off the high performance engine found under the hood.
The side slit and and low cut neck line fall in line with the Corvette sleek sexy appearance accenting the collar and lapels of the dress.
The train is cleverly done in the two shades used in the checkered flag Corvette logo (black & white) and fall short of the dolls flowing red dress. The overall appearance of the outfit gives the apace of a car in motion at high speed.
c. Model Finish:
Blonde hair styled, when unboxed it can be made wavy and styled. She has a fair Nordic complexion, lipstick shade is a matte Red "Revlon Fire & Ice" (still available to buy today), with a clear high gloss lip gloss that falls in line with a base coat clear coat finish, matching a Red Corvette as well as the dress. Dramatic dark eyeliner is symmetrical keeping with overall outfit.
The checkered flag earrings likewise fall in to the overall package.
d. Opinion:
This is one of these dolls that is so versatile as a gift almost anyone would be glad to receive, although Mattel markets the six, and up. It is definitely for the adult collector (14+). The doll would easily fit in a mans shelf with a photo or model of a Red Corvette. The doll is reminiscent of the old Snap On™ tool calendars that once hung in shops and garages.
For Collectors it would fit in with the other two doll which would be the full set.
The doll is sexy because the car is sexy. Linda Kyaw must have worked hand in hand with General Motors design team to come up with this truly uniquely beauty. The Corvette and Barbie are recounted world wide as distinctively American and for good reason both represent beauty and style. It only make sense to style the iconic doll with iconic sports car.
The price point is reasonable considering availability, and the shipping is free.
III. Box:
New sealed. Slight worn.
IV. Shipping:
Free local pick up Seattle WA area. Domestic: Free USPS Priority Mail. International shipping: Through eBay global shipping program only.