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Atlanta man converts toy Barbie camper into fuel-efficient vehicle

12.06.2026 00:15 2 min 4 sources
theroot.com HRV + 3 more
Atlanta man converts toy Barbie camper into fuel-efficient vehicle
© The Autopian

In Brief

Malli Hightower from Ellenwood, Georgia, modified a Power Wheels Barbie Dream Camper into a gas-powered mini-car. Refueling costs about $3–3.50 instead of $90 on his regular car.

A resident of Ellenwood, Georgia, Malli Hightower has converted a children's Power Wheels Barbie Dream Camper into a full-fledged adult vehicle. The project gained attention amid rising gas prices.

Hightower replaced the electric motor with a single-cylinder engine from an old pressure washer, installed a tubular frame and a go-kart rear axle. The car stands about 1.2 meters tall and is equipped with seat belts, headlights, music, and a tablet. Top speed is up to 55 mph.

The vehicle is legal for non-highway road use. Refueling costs roughly 36 cents ($3–3.50), compared to $90 for his regular car. Hightower uses the camper for commuting to work.

Aggregated by OpenVan.camp from the public sources listed below, with AI-assisted translation and summary. We always link to the original source. Machine translation may differ from the original -- check the source for important details. Images and content remain the property of their respective owners. Copyright information

Story sources

Atlanta Man Converts Toy Barbie Camper to Save on Gas

11.06.2026 theroot.com HRV Original source

Atlanta man uses Barbie camper to save on fuel costs

11.06.2026 ajc HRV Original source

Man beats high gas prices with gas-powered Barbie Dream Camper

20.05.2026 The Autopian HRV Original source

Georgia man modifies Barbie Dream Camper to fight high gas prices

20.05.2026 WBAL News Radio ISL Original source

🇺🇸 United States — fuel prices

Updated: 20.06.2026

Diesel

$1.39 /l

€1.22 · £1.05/l

54 of 132

cheaper than 60% of countries

Petrol

$1.07 /l

€0.94 · £0.81/l

31 of 134

cheaper than 78% of countries

Popular route

Distance

Fuel cost

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Est. time

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