This this a Ponytail #8? Swirl? Or...?

[kittyasauras]

I found this lady, I'm having trouble identifying her. I think she is original, but she could be a reproduction I suppose...

Her hair is meant to be in a ponytail though, as the top of her head is not rooted. Her hair is so super soft, unlike anything that is on dolls nowadays. It's really soft, like mohair or something?? She has long bangs though. I thought maybe she was a swirl with her hair cut, but her lips are coral-ish. ??
She has straight solid legs, and feels quite heavy. No markings on her feet. Holes for earrings. She once had red polish on nails and toes.

Her cheek is marked:
Midge TM
(c) 1962
Barbie (R)
(c)1958
by
Mattel, Inc.
Patented

I think that is what the years say, it is hard to see.

I don't know, I'm tired, and my head hurts. LOL Any input would be greatly appreciated. <3

[KatyaR]

Your suppositions about her hair are correct- she's a swirl, and the lip color is typical- who knows about the red fingernails, though. It's possible the original owner bodyswapped her, though the markings are right for a Swirl. Mattel is well known for having been very thrifty with doll parts, and sometimes put things together that weren't 'meant' to go together. She's definitely seen a lot of play time, but the head and body themselves look good- certainly a solid base for a restoration.

[kittyasauras]

Oh thank you very much! I had been doing research all last night and today haha. Everything was starting to run together..
I got her in a bag with some other Barbies from the 70's. Unfortunately, I have school bills to pay and books to buy for next semester. So I will probably only partially restore her, and plunk her on ebay. :/ I wish I didn't have to though...

I have one other one that I'm having trouble IDing, but I'm going to research some more before I post on here. She is not as old as the others, and is a Disney doll (not a princess)

Thank you again. : )

[knittnkitten]

she looks like she would be fun to repaint.

[DollyKim]

Unless you restore dolls a lot you might be best selling her as she is. Old Barbie collectors can be beyond @#$! when it comes to condition. Even the type of hair used in a reroot could be a big deal.

If you want to redo her I'd say reroot her but the face looks mostly original and I wouldn't mess with it outside of touching up the warn part on the eye lashes. And if it helps my repro Solo in the Spotlight has painted nails.

[kittyasauras]

I'm not going to repaint or reroot. Just fix up her hair (really its not that bad at all) and scrub all the dirt grime off her. That is about as far as I'm willing to take it haha

She is in decent condition I guess, her hair is nice and all her joints are stiff, she just has some play wear/scrapes, age grime and rubbed paint. No splits or green ear, so that's good. : ) Hopefully she will make someone very happy.

[magkelly]

Last year someone I know sold one of these for about $80 in this shape and she was on a straight leg Midge and Barbie body just like this. Just an FYI.

[Mary Kathryn]

Yes, looks like a body swap to me. That titan hair is very popular with collectors, though. I wouldn't doubt you'd be able to get $80+ for her. There are some websites out there that have tutorials on how to redo the swirl ponytail. I lack the dexterity to do it. XD