The El Segundo-based company is a genuine Toy Empire and only second to The Lego Group. Most boys will know it for its line of Hot Wheels cars, but girls will instantly think of Barbie. So, what's the connection between the two brands?
I recommend you watch a show called "The Toys That Built America", it's on the History Channel. Episode three describes the "war" between Hot Wheels and Matchbox. And among the things you'll learn is that the creators of Barbie and Hot Wheels were indeed married to each other. Ruth Handler created the Barbie doll in 1959, almost a decade before the official introduction of Hot Wheels.
Elliot Handler was the right man at the right time, as husband and wife set the foundation of a company that would continue to grow for decades. The famous dolls helped fund the cool 1/64th-scale cars we all love today, so the connection has run deep ever since. Mattel has sold billions of Barbies and billions of Hot Wheels cars, and it's no wonder that cinemas are the next target for promoting these items.
But I'm not going to talk about their newest flick featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. Instead, I'll show you some of the best Barbie Hot Wheels released over the past decades.
1. Barbie Extra
The Barbie Extra is a fantasy casting that's supposed to look like a sports car. Kevin Cao designed it for its 2022 release as part of the Tooned series. I was surprised by Mattel's choice of color for the body, as most people would tell you that Barbie's car is pink. At least they chose that color for the interior, while the 5-spoke rims feature a Magenta finish.
If you pay close attention to the car, you'll notice it has scissor doors shaped like wings. But we'll have to wait for a Premium variation to see them opening. If you don't like the First Edition iteration, you can always turn to the Metalflake Barbie Pink or Pearl White models instead. This may be Mattel's way of trying to sell Hot Wheels to little girls too.
Price-wise, there's no reason to fear this casting, as it's just a mainline machine. It's readily available, and even if you opt for a lot of 36 items, it will cost you just under $100. Remember to avoid "tourist traps," as plenty of scammers would want you to believe that this is a rare item worth $50 or more apiece.
2. Barbie Monster 'Vette
Brendon Vetuskey designed the Barbie Monster 'Vette, and you might remember this one from our previous Hot Wheels Corvette stories. Some girls are braver than others, and we can imagine Amanda Sorensen would do a great job driving a machine like this in real life. There is only one iteration of the Monster 'Vette on the market, so I guess it wasn't as successful as Mattel expected.
Or I'm just getting ahead of myself, and a new variation will follow soon. A quick search via online platforms will reveal some interesting facts about pricing for the Monster 'Vette. While the lower limit is set at $50, one particular seller in Japan has listed this collectible for $1,031. I guess this is their way of pointing out that the Barbie 'Vette is Mattel's first Treasure Hunt Monster Truck, but only time will tell if they've gone too far with their demands.
3. Barbie Dream Camper
Dmitriy Shakhmatov designed this one, and I can't even remember seeing it in stores since its 2021 release. Either I've turned utterly oblivious to fantasy castings, or it was so popular that they didn't spend too much time on the pegs. There are two variations on the market, with minor livery and color differences. Mattel used Deep Dish 8-spoke wheels with this vehicle, and some of you might have driven it in Hot Wheels Unleashed a while ago.
There has been a lot of talk about Super Treasure Hunt scams in the Hot Wheels community for a while now. Some people buy regular items, customize them to look like an STH, and then sell them for the corresponding value. So you need to pay attention before falling into a trap like that. One eBay seller listed a Barbie Dream Camper "Super Treasure Hunt" for $77, but at least he had the decency to point out that this is a custom item, not a factory-original. This casting shouldn't deprive you of more than $10 on any given day.
4. 1956 Corvette
"I'm a Barbie Girl in a Barbie world." Remember this song by Aqua? It has already hit over 1.2 billion views on YouTube, and I imagine it is what you'd play inside if you drove Barbie's 1956 Corvette. Fraser Campbell designed this casting for its 2023 release, featuring a Barbie Pink finish with matching white Aerodisc wheels. For once, I'm sure diehard Hot Wheels collectors won't mind the exterior color as they will buy this vehicle based solely on its automotive legacy.
With all the hype around the movie, I'm not surprised to see scalpers hoarding this item, trying to make a quick profit from it. It's just as worse as it is with the Fast & Furious series of Hot Wheels, as you'll see the 1956 Barbie Corvette listed for $50 or more per piece when this is just a mainline casting. Remember what the rap group Public Enemy said in 1998: Don't believe the hype!
5. Barbie Ultimate Camper
If a Chevy Corvette can become a Monster Truck, why couldn't a camper do the same? You will get the desired result if you install Barbie's Dream Camper on top of a big old truck chassis. Brendon Vetuskey also designed the Ultimate Camper, which is coming sooner rather than later this year. If anyone at Mattel is reading this, why not make a 1:1 version of this vehicle too? I would love to see it competing against Grave Digger or Bigfoot in the Arena!
You could ask Charlize Theron to drive it; that would be something. $30 is a relatively fair price for this hybrid, half Camper, half Monster Truck contraption. That doesn't mean you won't see it advertised for three times as much. But once again, I urge you to keep calm and spend your money carefully. Otherwise, you'll find yourself falling down a diecast rabbit hole from which you'll have a tough time crawling back up.
6. Volkswagen Kool Kombi
Here's a casting that we talked about not long ago. Tony Martino designed it, and I've met a lot of collectors who are downright addicted to getting all the variations out there. There are 30 of them to get, and the 2022 Pop Culture release is an ode to the world's most famous doll: Barbie. Mattel painted the Kool Kombi white and turquoise, but there's plenty of pink there too.
Looking at the Mini Classic 4-Spoke Real Riders wheels, I can't help but think of the VW Bus I drove during my recent test of The Crew Motorfest. The entire Hot Wheels Pop Culture: Mattel Brands will only set you back $50, which is ok given that it contains five premium castings. Barbie's Kool Kombi is the show's star here, but the Hot Wheels-themed 1985 Chevy Astro Van is also a keeper.
7. '14 Corvette Stingray Convertible
The last time I checked, there were 60 Hot Wheels Corvette castings, with 950 color variations to get. And this '14 Corvette Stingray Convertible was on that list too. Ryu Asada designed it for its 2014 "Then and Now" release, and there are two Barbie iterations on the market. The first one came out in 2018, and the second in 2019. These are almost identical, except for the card art and the side decals. Is that a good enough reason to buy both?
You'll see 59 decals on the 2018 iteration, while 2019 marks the 60th Anniversary of Mattel's brand. The latter has a nicer-looking card, which almost explains why some sellers are willing to give it up for $30. The 2018 model should cost between $10 to $20, and seeing all these prices almost instantly reminds me of the NFT market. At least you can hold Hot Wheels in the palm of your hand unless they're also part of the online-collectible domain of non-fungible tokens.
8. '69 Camaro
We will soon discuss the '69 Camaro casting, as Mattel released a Super Treasure Hunt variation in 2012. But did you know there are two Barbie-themed iterations out there? Mattel Indonesia created an Employee Exclusive 2-pack containing two '69 Camaros. One was Teal and rolled on Aerodisc wheels, while the other had Cream Yellow finish and 5-spoke rims.
If you have ever bought a Hot Wheels car, you know that the retail price is usually less than $4. Premiums are more expensive, Super Treasure Hunts even more so. Red Line Club exclusives can sell for crazy money; the same applies to special Employee items. I've seen this two-pack selling for over $300, but you'll need help finding it in the wild. Suddenly, the Super Treasure Hunt release doesn't sound so super anymore.
9. '93 Camaro
Younger Hot Wheels enthusiasts might not even be aware of the existence of this casting. Larry Wood designed it, and it had a relatively short life. The '93 Camaro was available between 1993 and 1999, but it had a prolific career, with 50 variations in less than ten years. Wood drew inspiration from Jack Baldwin's SCCA Trans Am Series Camaro, so seeing the Barbie theme here feels strange.
1994 marked the 35th Anniversary of the iconic brand, and this is just one of the many ways Mattel decided to celebrate it. According to the label, the company had already sold over 800 million Barbie dolls by that point in time, and that's nothing short of impressive. This is almost a classic Hot Wheels design, so it won't come cheap. Still, $90 isn't all that expensive for a hardcore collector that has already spent four or five figures on diecast cars.
10. '97 Corvette
Dave Weise designed the '97 Corvette more than 20 years ago, and no significant changes have intervened since. The casting has been off the grid for five years, but it couldn't miss Chevrolet's 70th Corvette anniversary in 2023. The Barbie edition came out in 1999 and was a Toys R US exclusive model with a pink finish, white interior, and Wire Spoke wheels.
This item was sold as part of the Timeless Toys Series II four-pack, which you can still get for about $30 today. That's a good indicator that not all items will reach collectible status, and you should always choose wisely if buying Hot Wheels as a form of investment for the future. After all, we also have to think of inflation in the long run.
11. 2024 GMC Hummer EV
The 2024 GMC Hummer EV might not be pink, but it's still connected to Barbie, as it was in the movie. Ken has to drive something, too, right? This casting slightly differs from the 2022 GMC Hummer EV, but you'll have to pay attention to notice that. It uses the same Beadlock Off-road wheels, and the Meteorite Metallic finish is decent enough even with the electricity arcs on the sides.
As always, the same rules apply here as well. Don't spend $20 or $30 on a mainline casting, have some patience, and you'll find it for less than $4 in your local toy store soon. And if that doesn't happen, prices will still go down at some point, as this is not a limited edition casting.
12. Hiway Hauler
Ok, the Hiway Hauler isn't precisely what little girls dream of when thinking about a Barbie vehicle. But any respectable Barbie needs plenty of clothes for "social events" and such, right? And this truck is just what you need for an urgent "apparel delivery." Larry Wood designed the casting, which was available between 1980 to 1996.
Some of you might recognize the '70s COE Kenworth that inspired this tiny truck, and I'd like to point out that the Barbie edition went through the Indian Leo Mattel business. Five thousand units were ever made, so getting one will cost around $150 or more. That's ok if you want to have just this single model. Otherwise, consider giving up on the Barbie collection because there are a lot of Hiway Hauler variations out there.
13. Dodge Caravan
After seeing Barbie Corvettes, Monster Trucks, Camaros, and even campers, it's time for another wild ride. Phil Riehlman designed the Dodge Caravan in the late '90s, and this vehicle was in active service between 1998 and 2012. It went out with a bang as part of the Hot Wheels Boulevard: Big Hits series, featuring a Dark Blue finish and Real Riders 5-spoke wheels.
But the Barbie variation could be more exciting to look at. It was part of the Timeless Toys Series III 4-pack, another exclusive Toys R US set in 2000. The white van had blue stripes and pink Barbies decals, and judging by the $30 price tag, this set isn't quite as successful as other Mattel releases.
I'm not saying the Dodge Caravan doesn't have its perks, but it's infinitely less appealing than a Chevrolet Corvette, and you would never see a modern-day "Barbie" driving a car like this. You live and learn, as I assume reaching this level of marketing genius required Mattel to make plenty of mistakes along the road.
14. 1996 Mustang GT
And we're down to the last Barbie-themed Hot Wheels car I could find. I didn't go into detail about the Pontiac Grand Prix Stocker, as it only has a small Barbie sticker on the back. So instead, let's analyze the 1996 Mustang GT. Michael Kollins designed this now-defunct casting, which ran from 1996 to 2003. Mattel was still using metal for these cars, now a Premium feature.
In 1998, the Mustang GT was part of the Timeless Toys 4-pack in Toys R US stores, alongside other items such as the Ford F-150 and the Baja Bug. Hot Wheels used purple and pink inside and out, something I never thought I'd see on a car like this. Some eBay sellers are asking even less for this first edition of the Timeless Toys 4-pack than they are for the newer ones. The Mustang GT is a decent vehicle on any given day, but whoever was in charge of liveries in the '90s was less inspired.
So there you have it; this guide should be helpful if you plan on starting a Hot Wheels Barbie collection. I'm sure this theme will go on for many years, and I can't help but wonder what new cars are coming up next.
We'll be sure to bring you any updates in due time, but until then, I'll answer some more of the questions people usually ask me about Hot Wheels cars, Barbie and Mattel.
How many Hot Wheels models are there?
That's a difficult question, and even Mattel might struggle with it. The consensus is that the company makes about half a billion cars yearly, with 20,000 to 30,000 variations on the market. I have yet to meet or read about any collector who owns every single Hot Wheels item ever made, and that could be an impossible task, to begin with.
What is the original Barbie car?
While you would be tempted to think it was the 1956 Corvette, you would be mistaken. Barbie's first car was an Austin Healey 3000 MKII. It took a few more years before she would switch to a Chevrolet, but we've seen an avalanche of different pink vehicles ever since.
