Rhinestones, pink paint and Pirelli tires grace life-sized Barbie Beetle for doll's 50th birthday
Barbie hits the big 5-0 this year, and Pirelli’s dealer network is joining the party as ultra-high performance PZero Nero M+S tires are affixed to an ultra-accessorized custom Barbie Beetle that’s set to celebrate the Mattel doll’s milestone birthday in over-the-(convertible)-top style.
The full-size, one-of-a-kind pink Volkswagen ragtop is already enjoying a high-profile, having had its recent debut on the pink carpet leading to Barbie’s new 3,500-square-foot Malibu Dream House in California, where Hollywood celebrity housewarming/birthday guests were gifted with 1,800 pairs of Barbie sunglasses, 3,500 pairs of tiny shoes and 3,500 mini handbags.
Just like the distinctive shape of the Beetle, “Barbie has made a remarkable impact on pop culture history, and still remains a cultural icon today,” says Laura Soave, VW’s U.S. general manager of marketing.
Since Barbie’s release a half-century ago, her pint-sized fleet of autos is equally iconic – and this could cause some distress if you allowed your G.I. Joe to requisition one of the vehicles as a staff car for charging into battle. Collectors’ publications report that Barbie’s 1962 Austin Healey can bring $300. Allan’s aqua roadster from ’64 can fetch $500, as can Skipper’s beach buggy. If you happened to have carefully kept Ken’s red hotrod – an exclusive ’64 release through Sears – get it out of the toy box and into the wall-safe, as it can be worth up to $3,600. Alas, the ’57 Chevy introduced in ’90 is valued at a more-pedestrian $125.
Befitting the doll line’s longstanding flair for fashion, the converted 2009 Barbie Beetle convertible has glitz galore, including 300 rhinestones sprinkled inside and out to compliment a finish comprised of more than five shades of hot pink paint. ABD Racing Werks, FoamMolders and Katzkin Leather and Interiors took part in the project under the direction of VW and Mattel.
The customizers “left no detail unfinished,” says Soave, creating “the perfect Barbie ride.” It boasts a special white leather interior and top, hand stitched floor mats, pink quilted leather lined door pockets and arm rests, plus a dipstick painted to mimic her favorite lipstick; a motorized vanity, complete with mirrors, tops off the contents of the trunk.
The undercarriage is dolled up as well, complete with Eibach Pro-Kit sport springs and the Pirellis.
“The tires selected for this project meet VW’s speed and load rating requirements,” explains Mya Walters, the automaker’s lifestyle public relations manager. “They were proposed by Pirelli for this project, and are available for purchase as an accessory or service replacement through the VW Tire Store program.”
ABD, in turn, “took the Octopus factory wheel, powder coated it white and added a matching pin stripe to finish off the look,” she says.
Pirelli’s 225/45R17 PZero Nero M+S mountings are the same as those fitted on the VW Golf. “The tire provides a winning combination of enhanced driving enjoyment, precise cornering, excellent cornering and high resistance to aquaplaning,” reports Pirelli spokesman Rafael Navarro, calling the American-produced product “the ultimate all-season low profile tire designed for the ultra-high performance market.”
It has variable angle grooves for higher mechanical grip, a special compound for top level grip under wet and dry conditions along with an optimized pitch sequence and continuous circumferential element to ensure “acoustic comfort” while on the road.
“There isn’t a hard fast rule, but in general, like many manufacturers, VW may have two or three tire models available for any model at the factory,” Walters points out. “They meet the factory requirements for speed, load, performance, market needs, comfort, availability, pricing, volumes, etc.”
She goes on to note how “these are just some factors that can influence what tire comes on a car at any one time. The Jetta, for instance, in the 16-inch size could come with Continentals, Bridgestones or Michelins.”
An optional $1,350 wheels and tires package for the Beetle consists of five-spoke sport alloy silver wheels fitted with Continental’s 225/45R17 91H Conti ProContact A/S tires. Cited benefits include a straight circumferential groove for greater water evacuation and braking, enhanced shoulder lug stability for a better steering response and optimized sipes with a defined radius to create an interlocking effect for improved handling.
In the meantime, Barbie’s 50th birthday run is hoofing it to Churchill Downs and the 135th “Run for the Roses” as a special Kentucky Derby Barbie prepares to make her May 2 debut, complete with “a playful floral sun dress, faux pearl necklace and sassy spring sandals.” True to Derby fashion sense, the doll’s look is topped off with a stylish, oversized white hat with blossoming flower accents. Life-sized lids in the same design are available for people – and a mint julep may be just the thing to complete the ensemble.
For more information, visit www.vw.com, www.us.pirelli.com, www.conti-online.com and www.abdracingwerks.com.
