Can you help me identify this Goodwill find?
I recently discovered this lovely lady at my local Goodwill, for less than $3.00, and what a find! Her hind quarters indicated that she was a vintage Barbie doll, but her face doesn’t look that old. So I think we have a “mix-and-match” going on here.
Sometimes a year will be printed on the back of the doll’s head, but I didn’t find anything like that under her hair. It was devoid of information.
However, as you’ll see below, she does have the year “1966” stamped just above her “twist and turn” waist:
I fear someone may have tied her to a Tanka truck and dragged her through gravel because she had quite a large wound on her right arm. Poor thing!
She wasn’t stinky though. I hate when you buy them packaged and then get them home, only to discover they smell like Grandma’s attic — as if mice had been nesting in their hair! That was NOT the case with this lovely lady. Thank heavens!
I’ve done a little online research, though, and I’m starting to think she has a Mattel 1966 Twist-and-Turn Malibu Barbie body with a 1990 or 1991 Steffie face mold Hispanic Barbie head. What are your thoughts?
Here’s a close-up of her make-up:
The original face paint is really in beautiful condition! Don’t you think so?
Her hair was a little messy, but with a wash and soak in warm water combined with a teensy bit of fabric softener, I should have her hair looking “so healthy, it shines” in no time!
My kids and my husband torment me every time I go through this process of revitalizing Barbie hair. They say, “Look, Mom is pickling Barbies again!”
What I’d like to do is get this little lady identified, cleaned up, and looking her best. Then perhaps I’ll make her some pretty clothes to wear that will cover up her battle-scarred arm, and (disclosing all flaws of course) I’ll sell her on eBay for a fair price. I mean, after all, isn’t she still worth playing with?
I’m sure she is!
If you think you can help identify her (or her parts), feel free to leave a comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Barbie, MTM Barbie, Francie, and Vintage Barbie dolls are products offered by Mattel, which holds the registered trademark for them (™). Please visit the Mattel Toys website to learn more about their company and its trademarked toys.
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Her name would be “Teresa”.. more in the 70’s or 80’s, I think, than 60’s. I started working in ’73 after high school during those years and established quite the Barbie collection, because I was able to pay for it!!!!
i think she is from the series they did on different countries
The Steffie face is one of the loveliest of all the Barbies. I wonder if heat applied to her arm and then smoothed down when (if?) the plastic softens. She doesn’t have click arms, does she?
No. Her legs click, but her arms don’t.
I agree that the Steffie face is truly lovely! Thanks for your ideas on the arm.
I’m not sure if I can put links, but she looks a lot like this one.. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/latina-hispanic-first-barbie-teresa-33999856
The eye make-up is a slightly different color, but yes, she does look a lot like that one. Thanks for the link!
I think you are right about her being two of a kind. You did a wonderful job cleaning her up and making her pretty. You are very good a what you do anyhow.
Oh thanks, Jeretta. Good to hear from you!
Fashion Play Barbie 1990
Hi Shelly. That’s just a patent date. She is a Teresa from the 1980s. Also be careful if water gets into her body she will develope green spots when the metal inside rust. Water should never hit the neck. Vintage dolls have the information on the right but cheek. Underneath her hair line in the back should also have a face mold date.
I knew about the under-the-hair date, but I couldn’t see one. Maybe I’m missing something. I don’t think she’s a knock-off.
I put Chelly but forgot to correct it when my auto correct changed it
LOL! It’s okay. Thanks for commenting! I think of you as one of the “experts,” so I was really hoping you’d leave a comment and you did!
Looks like fashion play steffie 1990
Yes, I believe she is a Hispanic Fashion Play Barbie from 1990. If there is no date under the hair it may be on the inner neck rim (but it is risky to try and take a look as you may crack the neck). 1966 is the patent date for the Twist ‘n Turn body. But this doll actually has the straight twist joint. The Twist ‘n Turn joint is diagonal. She is such a beautiful doll! I love the late 80s / early 90s hispanic Barbie and Teresa dolls.
Thanks for your thoughts, Dean. And wow! What an honor to get a comment from one of my favorite YouTubers! (For anyone who doesn’t know, you can find Dean on YouTube, and he does a lot of neat videos related to dolls!
https://images.app.goo.gl/3b8oMSuTTdXDYDnx9
Not sure if this is the right link. 1990 Fashion Play Barbie. It’s Teresa with the Steffi face. I have this exact doll too. It’s the version that was dressed in a white and purple teddy. Same color as her eye makeup. I know this is an old post and I stumbled across it trying to figure out the same thing.
It is an older post, but I read all of my comments, Katrina, and I want to thank you for adding to the conversation! I’ll go check out that link…