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Unless you’ve been under a rock these past few months, there’s a new Barbie movie rolling into theaters this summer. Because of the movie, all things Barbie are new again, and people are rediscovering Barbie’s past. Besides Ken, what’s Barbie’s one accessory we all wish we had? The Barbie Jeep, of course! Take one of our Jeeps out for a spin at McLarty Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Bentonville. Get Your Dream Jeep Wrangler from McLarty Daniel CDJR Barbie, of course, lives in her dream house and drives her famous rides, in particular, the Jeep Wrangler. So this begs the question — when did the Barbie Jeep become a thing? And why are we so obsessed with it? Let’s take a drive down memory lane and look at the history of Barbie and her connection with Jeep and other cars, trucks, SUVs and vans. Barbie first made her debut in 1959, created by Ruth Handler, who wanted an alternative to baby dolls. Her philosophy behind Barbie was that through the doll, a little girl could be anything she wanted to be and that she has choices. And choices she made. Over the years, Barbie chose friends, accessories and professional careers like an astronaut and even president. But the one thing people seem to remember and talk about most is Barbie’s car choices. Just because Barbie is a girl doesn’t mean she can’t have fun driving. Always keeping the Barbie spirit in mind, she’s partnered up with several auto brands throughout her 60-year history. First off, in the early ’60s, she drove an Austin-Healey 3000 MKII sports car and a Mercedes-Benz. Be Like Barbie in a Sports Car from McLarty Daniel CDJR Barbie ventured into off-roading in the ‘70s with several ATVs and even a dune buggy while on her many camping trips in her country camper. She eventually upgraded to a Volkswagen camper and even had a boat with a trailer she could use on the lake. If she preferred a beach getaway, she had the beach bus at her dispense with over 20 pieces of equipment that came with it. Tow Your Boat Behind a Ram from McLarty Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram The ‘80s is when we see Barbie’s partnership with Jeep begin. She hitches up her horse trailer to her 4WD Jeep for use in the Wild West. While the Jeep continued to be used for the dolls, it became so popular that people wanted to drive their own Barbie Jeep. Since Barbie is geared for children, the creators developed motorized, kid-friendly Jeep versions. Barbie continued her love of Jeep over the years on animal safaris, beach parties and even mountain ski trips. Every Barbie girl needs her tunes, so eventually, a radio was introduced into the motorized Jeep that played cassette tapes. Most people consider their first vehicle the Barbie Jeep. One favorite from the ‘90s was the Baywatch Lifeguard Rescue Jeep with the iconic yellow and red Baywatch logo on the side. Several versions of the Jeep have been released over the years, including a royal blue one with flowers and the Barbie logo on the hood. A purple Jeep with a white top and another red and black model debuted in the 2000s. Barbie could give Vin Diesel a run for his money, considering the amount of fast and furious cars she’s driven over the years. But the one that stands out the most and that people keep coming back to is the iconic pink Barbie Jeep Wrangler, which continues to be the most popular choice today. In 2021, Jeep debuted the closest thing to a real Barbie Jeep with the Tuscadero exterior paint color, described as a deep and intense chromatic magenta. Many were confused why it wasn’t Barbie pink instead. No answer was given, but pop culture aficionados quickly picked up that Tuscadero was a nod to Pinky Tuscadero, a character from the TV show Happy Days, who wore all pink and was a love interest for Henry Winkler’s popular character, The Fonz. No matter where the color idea came from, it was popular enough that they brought it back for 2022 models. Yet to be seen again, the Barbie movie might be enough to get Jeep to bring it back one more time. Maybe this time, they’ll actually call it Barbie pink! While we all wish we could be a Barbie girl in the Barbie world, you can pretend when you drive off the lot in your own ‘23 Jeep Wrangler from McLarty Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram off Moberly Lane in Bentonville. Serving Rogers, Fayetteville, Springdale, and all of Northwest Arkansas, McLarty Daniel CDJR has a car, truck, SUV or van ready for your Barbie world. Believe Barbie when she says, “Jeep life is fantastic.”

It is the season of warm afternoons vacationing at our summer spots or big backyard blowouts with all our family and friends. But due to vital social distancing guidelines, we won’t be able to do those activities as much this summer. So how do you make a great summer if you don’t have your very own swimming pool? Don’t give up completely on having summer fun! There are still several ways you can celebrate summertime. McLarty Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Bentonville would like to share some social-distance-safe ideas to do over the summer. BARBEQUE ANYWHERE, ANYTIME: Time to fire up the grill, break out the buns, and let’s have a cookout. Whether barbeque or steaks, you know there will be some smoke-flavored goodness. Play some lawn games like horseshoes with the kids, or have races on the Slip-N-Slide. For some of us staying indoors completely, consider recipes of cook-out staples you can make in your kitchen. Try making amazing pulled pork in the slow cooker, a rack of ribs, or brauts in the oven, Then top off your meal with some homemade ice cream or delicious watermelon slices. VIRTUAL PARTY!: Who said virtual parties can only be for birthdays? You can make any occasion a virtual party! Get family members and good friends to hang out via Zoom or on any video conferencing app. For your virtual party to have the spirit of summer, change your Zoom background to a festive summer location. Play video games with friends using online games that can be streamed by groups. CLASSIC SUMMER MOVIES: What better way to get into the summer mood than watching some classic summer flicks! Microwave some popcorn and make your favorite beverage and sit back and enjoy. Feel like camping? You can watch movies such as The Parent Trap, Wet Hot American Summer, and the classic Meatballs starring funnyman Bill Murray. Are up for a night of classic scary flicks?  Gather up your nerves and don’t jump out of your seat when you watch the original I Know What You Did Last Summer, Nightmare on Elm Street or Jaws. We are ready for the summer and hope these ideas on how to celebrate while social distancing makes you and your family’s summertime an enjoyable one. McLarty Daniel CDJR in Bentonville, Arkansas is here for our customers and community. Contact us, and let us know how we can assist you when purchasing your next vehicle. CLICK HERE TO CONTACT THE MCLARTY DANIEL SALES TEAM

There’s nothing we love more than settling in with some hot, buttery popcorn and our favorite cold beverage to watch a thrilling car movie. Lots of us here at McLarty Daniel CDJR of Bentonville have a taste for high-speed chases, adding a dose of octane to the plot of our favorite action movies. In the spirit of that high-speed entertainment, we’d like to share our list of our Top Five Favorite Car Movies from the last decade. And if you feel the need for speed, durability and versatility, stop by McLarty Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Bentonville. We have one of the best selections of high-performance cars, including the incredible 2020 Dodge Challenger. Test-drive your favorite vehicle and begin your own adventure! Enjoy! FORD VS. FERRARI (2019): Let’s start our list with the latest. Ford v.s. Ferrari is the real-life story of the partnership and friendship between legendary car designer Carroll Shelby (played by Matt Damon), and bold British race car driver Ken Miles (played by Christian Bale) as they take on the staid corporate attitudes at Ford Motor Company in order to design a concept race car for Ford that will beat out Ferrari at the 24 Hours of LeMans road race in France in 1966. The result is a great story about two racing legends, with enough heart and enough octane to go around. CARS 3 (2017): Lightning McQueen and company are back with the third lovable installment of Pixar’s Cars franchise. In this computer-animated adventure, our race-car hero, Lightning McQueen, sets out again to prove he is still champion to the next generation of race cars. All your faves from the original film are back, including Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen and Larry the Cable Guy as the goofy tow truck, Tow Mater. This is a great family movie and the kids will love it. LOGAN LUCKY (2017): Now here is the ultimate comedy heist movie that will stick with you. Featuring a hilarious script and an all-star ensemble that includes A-list stars Channing Tatum (Magic Mike), Adam Driver (Star Wars:The Rise of Skywalker) and Daniel Craig (the current James Bond), the story follows the hapless Logan brothers as they attempt a heist at the Charlotte Motor Speedway during a NASCAR race, and then evade the F.B.I. If you are wanting a night of laughter with plenty of high-speed thrills, this is the movie for you. NEED FOR SPEED (2014): Starring Aaron Paul from the hit AMC TV series, Breaking Bad, Need For Speed is a sports action thriller focusing on street-racer Tobey Marshall (Paul) as he attempts to avenge the death of his friend by racing cross-country a rival driver who killed his friend and framed Paul’s character for the crime. You cannot go wrong watching this action-packed thriller, thanks to plenty of fast cars, a great plot, and Paul driving everything he climbs into like he stole it. FAST FIVE (2011): Alternatively known at Fast & Furious 5, this high-octane film is the fifth installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, starring the usual line-up including Vin Diesel, the late Paul Walker, and other familiar faces. Even though the plot departs from street racing that was the focus of previous films in the series, it is still action-packed, with the heist plot involving cars. Fast Five has the street-racing crew we’ve come to love as they attempt to steal $100 million dollars from a crooked businessman while being pursued by the Feds. There is a slew of great car and road movies out there that we hadn’t touched, so feel free to find your own favorites of the past decade. And If you’re needing a new vehicle for the new year, come by and see your friends at McLarty Daniel Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Bentonville for all your automotive needs. Have a great new year!