1985 Sun Gold Malibu Ken, Day-To-Night Ken, Beachtime Ken & Sea Lovin' Ken

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 version from 1984.

SUN GOLD MALIBU KEN #3849

Sometimes the clear plastic used in the packaging during the 1980s turns yellow, giving the contents a strange colour cast (ie. the optical illusion that blue items are green, white items yellow, or silver items gold etc). The Sun Gold Malibu Ken below for example is wearing the regular blue trunks, with a blue card insert.

1985 #3849 Sun Gold Malibu Ken in original packaging

1985 #3849 Sun Gold Malibu Ken reverse of packaging — Reverse of packaging

SUN GOLD MALIBU KEN #4971

1985 #4971 Sun Gold Malibu Ken in original packaging

1985 #4971 Sun Gold Malibu Ken reverse of packaging — Reverse of packaging

DAY-TO-NIGHT KEN

Day-to-Night Ken was released in the US as a Caucasian and a black doll. In France he was also known as Ken Club, in Germany as City Ken, and in Italy as Ken Giorno e Sera. In Canada he was also known as De Jour au Soir Ken. There was also Ken Elegancia Noche y Dia by Mattel Mexico, Ken Día y Noche by Mattel Spain, and Dia y Noche Ken by Rotoplast in Venezuela. There is also a rare French version called Ken Super Club which was made in France.

DAY-TO-NIGHT KEN #9019

1985 #9019 Day-to-Night Ken reverse of packaging — Reverse of packaging

1985 #9019 Day-to-Night Ken in Canadian packaging

1985 #9019 Day-to-Night Ken (Canadian version) — Reverse of Canadian packaging

1985 #9019 Day-to-Night Ken (European version) — 1985 #9019 Day-to-Night Ken in European packaging

1985 #9019 Day-to-Night Ken European packaging — Reverse of European packaging

1985 #9019 Ken Elegancia Noche y Dia (Mexican version)

1985 #9019 Ken Día y Noche (Spanish version)

1985 51-9019 Day-to-Night Ken (Venezuelan version) in original packaging — 1985 51-9019 Day-to-Night Ken (Venezuelan version)

1985 51-9019 Day-to-Night Ken (Venezuelan version) — Reverse of Venezuelan packaging

KEN SUPER CLUB #6255

1985 #6255 Ken Super Club (French version)

1985 #6255 Ken Super Club identification: © Mattel Inc. 1968 France — © Mattel. Inc. 1968 France

DAY-TO-NIGHT KEN #9018

1985 #9018 Day-to-Night Ken reverse of packaging — Reverse of packaging

BEACH TIME / À LA PLAGE KEN #9103

Beach Time Ken was released in Canada and Europe. Also known as À la Plage Ken.

1985 #9103 Beach Time Ken original packaging — Reverse of packaging

SEA LOVIN’ KEN #9110

Sea Lovin’ Ken was a European release. Also known in France as Ken Régate or Ken Yachting, in Germany as Maritim Ken, and in Italy as Ken Mare. Mattel Spain released their own version called Ken Nautic. The Mattel France version of this Ken is called Ken Super Regate and is marked Made in France on his back. He has the unique code #6251.

1985 #9110 Sea Lovin' Ken — 1985 #9110 Sea Lovin’ Ken

1985 #9110 Sea Lovin' Ken in original packaging — 1985 #9110 Sea Lovin’ Ken in original packaging

1985 #9110 Sea Lovin' Ken original packaging — Reverse of packaging

1985 #9110 Sea Lovin' Ken ('Yachting' packaging) — 1985 #9110 Sea Lovin’ Ken (variation ‘Yachting’ packaging)

1985 #9110 Sea Lovin' Ken (Variation 'Yachting' packaging) — Reverse of variation ‘Yachting’ packaging

1985 #9110 Ken Nautic in original packaging — 1985 #9110 Ken Nautic (Spanish version)

1985 #9110 Ken Nautic (Spanish version) original packaging — Reverse of packaging

KEN SUPER REGATE #6251

1985 French Ken Super Regate — 1985 #6251 Ken Super Regate (French version)

1985 #6251 Ken Super Regate (French version) — Reverse of French packaging

BOOKLETS & CATALOGUES

From Mattel Toys 1985 catalogue — From 1985 Mattel Toys catalogue

From 1985 Australian Mattel Toys catalogue

From 1985 Mattel Toy Department Store catalogue

From 1985 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue

Note how Sun Gold Malibu Ken is shown in the Best catalogue with brown hair.

The ‘Only at Sears’ stamp suggests that Crystal Ken was a Canadian Sears catalogue exclusive for 1985. However, this Ken had been on general release since 1984, so it probably just refers to the discounted price.

From 1985 Canadian Sears Christmas catalogue

From 1985 Canadian French Sears Catalogue de Cadeaux — From 1985 Canadian Sears Catalogue de Cadeaux

From 1985 German Barbie Journal (Book 1)

Mattel Spain used the same stock photos on the boxes and in their promotional material, but the actual Kens looked slightly different, with the straight-arm body mold, as shown above and in the photo bottom right from the Catálogo Juguetes 85-86 from Spanish department store El Corte Inglés.

Something About The Boy

1985 Sun Gold Malibu Ken, Day-To-Night Ken, Beachtime Ken & Sea Lovin’ Ken