Corvette-Crazy: The best Barbie-inspired convertibles you can get your hands on now

Over the years, Barbie has proven herself a true petrolhead. Her first car was an Austin Healey 3000, and she has been behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz 190 SL and Ferrari 328 GTS. This time, all eyes will be on her trademark pink Chevrolet Corvette.

And there’s a recurring theme to her automotive purchases: they’re usually convertibles and of course, Barbie pink. Inspired by Barbie’s vast car collection, carwow’s automotive expert Mat Watson has hand picked his favourite drop tops for every budget:

1. Volkswagen Beetle – 2013 – £11,000

If you’re on a lower budget but still want to live your life like Barbie, the Volkswagen Beetle is a great shout. Its cutesy styling perfectly matches the happy, smiley vibe of Barbie Land, and it’s also available in a variety of fun colours. There was even a Dune version that was designed to be a bit more rugged and off-road friendly – if you have a bit more to spend – and great for escaping to the beach.

2. Mercedes-Benz SL Class – 2018 – £40,000

Although one of Barbie’s first cars was an Austin Healey, she quickly replaced it with something much more luxurious – a 1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL. Want one today? You’re looking at more than £100,000. But something more affordable? The latest SL is out of budget, but we recommend a lightly used version of the previous model. There are a few to choose from, starting with a more comfort-focused V6-engined SL and ranging all the way up to a ferocious V12 with more hair on its chest than a pre-wax Ken.

3. Ferrari California – 2010 – £60,000

Unsurprisingly, given her penchant for luxury convertibles, Barbie has owned a Ferrari. A Ferrari 328 GTS, to be exact. Those models are getting on a bit now, so we’ve been looking for a more modern equivalent, and we reckon the California is perfect. It’s not the sharpest Ferrari to drive, but it’s been designed to cruise the beachfront topless and grab the attention of passers by. If Barbie’s a secret track day enthusiast then perhaps a convertible 360 or F430 might appeal more, but we’re confident the California is more Barbie’s style.

4. Jaguar F-Type Convertible – 2023 – £100,000

With her history with the Austin Healey, it’s clear Barbie has a soft spot for British soft tops. Those classic convertibles are becoming increasingly tricky to find in good condition so, instead, let’s take a look at something brand new and far more flashy. The new Jaguar F-Type is one of the prettiest cars on sale today and it’s great fun to drive, too. There’s also a choice of a smaller, more affordable engine or a fire-breathing V8.

5. Chevrolet Corvette Stingray – 2023 – £100,000+

Money no object? The ultimate Barbie car is the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. The new Barbie movie’s star car is a classic 1956 Corvette Stingray, but finding one of those in the UK will be tricky. Instead, we’d recommend the new Corvette – though you’ll still have to find one that has been imported from the US. It’s worth it, though, because the new Corvette Stingray has all the visual drama of a Lamborghini and packs a powerful V8 engine under the ‘hood’ for a healthy dose of Americana.

This comes as carwow has seen a 70% surge in customer enquiries for convertibles since May compared to the same period last year.

Mat Watson, Chief Content Officer at carwow commented; “Not only is the Barbie Movie providing dream convertible inspiration but the UK’s enjoyed a streak of hot, dry weather since May too. On carwow, we’ve seen this translate into a larger than usual boost of online searches, inquiries, and sales of convertible cars. With consumers catching Barbie fever when it comes to other products, we anticipate we’ll see a big summer for convertible sales too.”

ENDS

For more information about convertibles please visit – https://www.carwow.co.uk/convertible-cars

Data is based on the volume of carwow’s website enquiries by convertible car body type for the period 1 May – 12 July 2022 compared to 1 May – 12 July 2023.

About carwow

Carwow exists to give everyone car-confidence. With 3.5 million monthly users, we are a leading online car marketplace that sits uniquely in between customers, automotive brands and car dealers. Because we don’t hold any stock, we don’t mind which car consumers buy or sell, we’re here to help them make the right choice for them.

Since it was founded in 2013, by CEO James Hind, Alex Margolis and David Santoro, carwow has:

• Launched its ‘Sell My Car’ service where consumers can easily list their cars at a great price, while letting dealers buy used-car stock directly from the platform
• Raised $157m from some of the most prestigious technology, marketplace and automotive investors, including Balderton Capital, Accel, Vitruvian Partners, Episode and Samos
• Become one of the most influential names in consumer car media with the biggest automotive channel on YouTube with +8 million subscribers, fronted by Mat Watson
• Created an award-winning service that customers love, with a 4.7* rating on Trustpilot from over 40,000 reviews
• Opened offices in the UK, Germany, Spain and Portugal with a combined team of 370 people

For more information visit www.carwow.co.uk