Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Barbie RV, work in progress

Last summer I found a yardsale selling a ton of old 70s/80s barbie stuff.  I doled out most of it to my kids over the past year, sold some, kept some.  This is one thing I was going to give to my daughter, but it's massive and there's just not room for ANOTHER huge vehicle in her room.  Especially one made of fragile 70s plastic.  I had already started transformation on it (hence the red paint and the pink flocked seats) before I decided not to give it to her.  Now I'm going to start renovating it for my own use:D 
This is one of the original commercials for the Barbie Star Traveler. 
Here is my spray painted one: 




Now my goal is to refurbish it completely, aiming for a traditional 70s color palette.  I spent the morning scraping off old stickers and scrubbing unidentified 80s-era goo out of nooks and crannies.  I did find it was a LOT easier to work with when you take it completely apart.  

I have had trouble finding pictures of the interior, but I'm sure I'm missing a few pieces.  No matter.  This GMC motorhome is my inspiration:  here
I can't wait to get really started...and hopefully since it's in 4 pieces, I can work on it without my kids insisting that they'd LOVE TO HAVE IT!  I'll let them play with it, sure, but some toys are strictly mommy's.
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10 comments:

  1. CatNovember 8, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    I would love to have one of these someday. I can't wait to see how it looks when you're all finished up! :)

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  2. FrannieNovember 8, 2011 at 3:55 PM

    Please post a picture when it's done!

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  3. Vita PlasticaNovember 9, 2011 at 10:38 AM

    I had that as a kid and found once a couple of years ago on ebay. I've been making into a gypsy caravan. It's a fun piece but so big! I can't wait to see your progress!

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  4. UnknownNovember 9, 2011 at 12:36 PM

    Hello from Spain, often the good work you are doing with the trailer and how lucky to find so many things in previous years. I'm looking forward to seeing how it is finished. We remain in contact blog blog

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  5. skippercollectorNovember 9, 2011 at 7:38 PM

    You mentioned at the Philly Collector blog that you wanted a photo of Ken's tuxes. Well, I don't have one, but I can give you a list of them up through 1995.
    61 Ken #787 Tuxedo
    66 Ken #1426 Here Comes the Groom
    66 Ken #1425 Best Man
    69 Ken #1431 Guruvy Formal
    71 Ken #1496 The Night Scene
    72 Ken #1719 Midnight Blues
    74 Ken #7836 Suited for a Handsome Groom
    76 Ken #9596 Classy Tux for a Handsome Groom
    77 Ken #9745 A Very Deluxe Tux
    77 Donny Osmond #9816 Starlight Night
    78 Ken #2305 Super Deluxe Silver ‘N White Tux
    78 Donny Osmond #2454 Silver N Shine
    79 Ken #2802 In the Limelight
    80 Ken Wedding Party #1418 Suited for the Groom
    80 Ken #1413 Golden Glamour
    80 Ken #1415 Evening Elegance
    80 Shaun #1395 Prom Night
    81 Ken #1956 Paint the Town Red
    82 Wayne Gretzky #4715 Tuxedo
    83 Ken #5651 Date Night
    84 Ken #4890 Dashing Duo
    84 Ken #7084 Simply Dashing
    85 Ken Wedding Party #7966 Bridegroom
    85 Ken #9086 TV Sports Reporter
    86 Ken #2691 Love Notes
    87 Ken Romantic Wedding #3104 Bridegroom (available in burgundy cotton with burgundy velvet lapels, or in all-velveteen burgundy)
    87 Ken #1865 The Secret of Pleasant Manor
    88 Ken Private Collection #4508 Bridegroom
    90 Ken Wedding of the Year #3789 Bridegroom
    91 Ken Dinner Date #4944
    92 Ken #2971 Glamorous Evening Clothes
    92 Arco Fantasy Fashion Series #781 includes a peach(!) tuxedo
    93 #3547 Romantic Wedding Fashion Bride, Groom and Bridesmaid (also known as Everything for the Bride, Groom and Bridesmaid)
    93 Ken #2248 Find out why Ken is wearing a tux!
    94 Arco Evening Excitement Fashion #898 features a black tuxedo, pink and black gown and an aqua party dress
    94 Arco Evening Excitement Fashion #65415-91 includes a purple evening gown and an aqua party dress for Barbie, and a purple, gold and white tuxedo for Ken
    95 Ken #12457 Dream Date
    95 Arco #68070-92 Evening Sparkle is a set with a wedding gown, the 94 Evening Excitement tuxedo and a purple party dress

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  6. ChynadollNovember 10, 2011 at 12:46 PM

    Wow! such a great find! Please post a pic of it when it is done.

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  7. Miss_Lola_77November 14, 2011 at 5:07 AM

    I will try to post pics as I make progress...but since it's giant and I have to keep it shoved in a closet out of the way most of the time, going might be slow.

    @Skippercollector, I will have to google all of those! I love a good crazy-colored tux.

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  8. Ms. LeoNovember 18, 2011 at 4:47 AM

    Great Find! Yeah, it is finding the space for the big items that can be an issue. I have a van and a train and they do take up a good bit of space. I'm thinking I need a shelf to display them. I too would love to see pictures as you go along.

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  9. Miss_Lola_77November 18, 2011 at 6:11 AM

    This thing is literally over 2 feet long. It's a monster. But it's going to be so much fun!

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  10. discodiva1979November 19, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    What a treasure! The vintage items are the BEST!

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