1984-1987 GREAT SHAPE

In 1983 Mattel created three brand new head-molds for Ken. The Hawaiian/Hispanic head was only used for three dolls, but the black Ken mold was used several times up to 1989, and the Caucasian head-mold was still being used up

In 1984 the Twice As Nice series began. They are very similar in approach to the Fashion Classics (a single complete fashion outfit), except that each outfit contained one item which was reversible. They are great, well-made outfits, produced in

ESTRELA in Brazil introduced Ken as Bob, because Ken sounds very much like ‘who?’ in Portuguese, so was thought to be confusing for small children. In 1987 Estrela renamed their doll Ken. They were certainly prolific, and their Kens are my

SUN GOLD MALIBU KEN Mattel released the black and Hispanic versions of Sun Gold Malibu Ken, which seem to have replaced the Sunsational Malibu Kens. They came with the same blue towel and three pairs of sunglasses as the Caucasian

TWICE AS NICE The Twice As Nice reversible fashion range continued, all produced in Taiwan. Mattel used some experimental fabrics here, which didn’t all stand the test of time. All my pieces are in mint condition, but the red vest

ROTOPLAST in Venezuela produced several Kens and Ken outfits (as well as Heart Family dads and at least one Derek) under license from Mattel during the 1980s. They used the regular Great Shape era head (and occasionally the Derek head

The Rockers collection began this year. All information about the Kens and Dereks from this series can be found in the section 1986-87 Derek & Ken Rockers. During 1986 production of dolls moved from Hong Kong and Taiwan to Malaysia, so

This was sadly the last year of the Twice As Nice and Fashion Classics ranges and the end of an era. Both ranges were produced in the Philippines, with some shoes from Hong Kong. The Fashion Classics were all exclusives

A new line for 1986 was the pop band series of dolls and clothing called Barbie and The Rockers. Originally, the only male member was a new boy called Derek. Ken (with the Jewel Secrets Ken head-mold) was added in

With no printed catalogues available and no information beyond what is written on the original packaging, it is impossible to elaborate on the Kens produced under licence in Argentina by Top Toys. If the boxes were dated a year in

This is the last year described here in detail. Ken and his clothing became simply too tacky, as the ridiculously uncollectable Jewel Secrets Ken below demonstrates. Since 2006 things have improved and there are some fantastic Kens (and if you

By 1987 the new dolls and clothing had become just far too tacky. It would be easy to blame it on the fashions of the times, but Mattel managed to produce much lovelier outfits throughout the 1970s and earlier 1980s, despite the

Sears continued to sell their own boy doll called Craig during the mid-1980s. Craig (and his clothing) was also sold by Shillman as Our Boy/Sport Club (see also section Superstar Clones & Clothing). Totsy seems to have had a similar