1979 Sun Lovin’ Malibu Ken, Beach Fun Ken & Hawaiian Ken

SUN LOVIN’ MALIBU KEN #1088

Mattel produced several near-identical dolls over the next few years with different names and outfits, but Sun Lovin’ Malibu Ken is the only one with tan lines. There are several slight variations of both doll and outfit. He was available in various depths of tan, and the fabrics used for bag and shorts also varied. He was also known in Germany as Spiel & Sport Malibu Ken, in Canada and France as Malibu Ken (Au) Soleil, and in Italy as Malibu Ken Abbronzato.

1979 #1088 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin’ Malibu Ken
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin’ Malibu Ken
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin’ Malibu Ken
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin’ Malibu Ken
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin’ Malibu Ken accessories
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken
1088-0500 5 © Mattel Inc. 1968 Hong Kong
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken variation bags
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin’ Malibu Ken variation bags
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin’ Malibu Ken variation bags and shorts
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin’ Malibu Ken in original packaging
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken
Reverse of packaging
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken in original packaging
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin’ Malibu Ken (Darker skin version)
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken (Canadian version)
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin’ Malibu Ken in Canadian packaging
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken (Canadian version)
Reverse of Canadian packaging
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken (European version)
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin’ Malibu Ken in European packaging
1979 #1088 Sun Lovin' Malibu Ken (European version)
Reverse of European packaging

BEACH FUN KEN #2683

This is basically another Malibu Ken just dressed and packaged differently. He was a European release, and is now very rare to find complete with sports bag and packaging. Also known in Germany as Strandspaß Ken, in France as Ken à la Plage, and in Italy as Ken Spiaggia or Ken Acapulco.

1979 #2683 Beach Fun Ken
1979 #2683 Beach Fun Ken
1979 #2683 Beach Fun Ken
1979 #2683 Beach Fun Ken
1979 #2683 Beach Fun Ken
1979 #2683 Beach Fun Ken
1979 #2683 Beach Fun Ken
1979 #2683 Beach Fun Ken bag
1979 #2683 Beach Fun Ken
1088 0500 5 © Mattel Inc. 1968 Hong Kong
1979 #2683 Beach Fun Ken in original packaging
1979 #2683 Beach Fun Ken in original packaging
1979 #2683 Beach Fun Ken original packaging
Sides of packaging
1979 #2683 Beach Fun Ken original packaging
Reverse of packaging

HAWAIIAN KEN #2960

Haiwaiian Ken is the only Mod Ken to have brown eyes. This Ken was sold in department stores for four consecutive years (see Mattel catalogues further below), which could explain the variation fabrics used for his shorts.

1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken accessories
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken
1088-0500 3 © Mattel Inc 1968 Hong Kong
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken in original packaging
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken in original packaging
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken original packaging
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken original packaging
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken shorts (I)
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken variation shorts (1)
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken in original packaging
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken with variation shorts (1)
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken shorts (II)
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken variation shorts (2)
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken in original packaging
1979 #2960 Hawaiian Ken with variation shorts (2)

BOOKLETS & CATALOGUES

From 1979 World of Fashion booklet
From 1979 World of Fashion booklet
From 1979 World of Fashion booklet
From 1979 World of Fashion booklet
From Mattel Toys '79 catalogue
From Mattel Toys ’79 catalogue
From Mattel Toys '79 catalogue
From Mattel Toys ’79 catalogue
From 1979 Mattel Department Store Division guide
From 1979 Mattel Department Store Division catalogue
From 1980 Mattel Department Store Division catalogue
From 1980 Mattel Department Store Division catalogue
From 1981 Mattel Department Store Division catalogue
From 1981 Mattel Department Store Division catalogue
From 1982 Mattel Department Store Division catalogue
From 1982 Mattel Department Store Division catalogue
From 1979 Sears Wish Book
From 1979 Sears Wish Book
From 1979 Aldens Christmas catalogue
From 1979 Aldens Christmas catalogue
From 1979 Service Merchandise catalogue
From 1979 Service Merchandise catalogue
From 1979 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
From 1979 Montgomery Ward Christmas catalogue
From 1979 Spiegel Christmas catalogue
From 1979 Spiegel Christmas catalogue
From 1979 JCPenney Christmas catalogue
From 1979 JCPenney Christmas catalogue
From 1979 Sears Canada Christmas catalogue
From 1979 Sears Canada Christmas catalogue
From 1979 Swedish Stor & Liten Julkatalog
From 1979 Swedish Stor & Liten Julkatalog
From 1979 German Mattel Toy catalogue
From 1979 German Mattel Toy catalogue
From 1979 German Barbie booklet
From 1979 German Barbie booklet
From 1979 German Barbie booklet
From 1979 German Barbie booklet
From 1979 Belgian Barbie booklet
From 1979 Belgian Barbie booklet
From 1979 Belgian Barbie booklet
From 1979 Belgian Barbie booklet
From 1979 Belgian Barbie booklet
From 1979 Belgian Barbie booklet
From 1979 French Barbie booklet
From 1979 French Barbie booklet
1979 French Ken Soleil advertisement
1979 French Ken Soleil advertisement
1979 Italian Ken Acapulco advertisement
1979 Italian Ken Acapulco advertisement
From 1979 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1979 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1979 Italian Barbie booklet
From 1979 Italian Barbie booklet
From Italian Mattel '79 catalogue
From Italian Mattel ’79 catalogue
1979 Italian Mattel Natale brochure
1979 Italian Mattel Natale brochure