Life in plastic, it’s fantastic (and cheap!)

With fuel prices throwing a temper tantrum, one Georgia resident decided to cruise into the future of budget travel. Meet Mali Hightower, a 30-year-old home contractor from Ellenwood who proved that you don’t need a massive SUV to dominate the streets – sometimes, all you need is a discarded, bright pink Barbie Dream Camper and a healthy dose of main character energy.

$3 refuels and cool street cred

While Mali does own a 1996 Mercedes-Benz convertible, filling that tank costs him about $90. His Barbie ride? Just $3 to refuel. For short trips to the grocery store or gas station, the choice is obvious. Known locally as “Sota,” Mali says his neighbours barely bat an eye anymore. The Barbie car is just another addition to his growing collection of unconventional creations – including toy boats turned into actual boats. Even his wife owns a mini car of her own, though hers tops out at a slightly tamer 40 mph. Mali is quick to add a disclaimer with a laugh: “Don't try this at home. Leave this to the professionals,” he said. Still, he stands by his philosophy – there are many ways to save money and get around, and this just happens to be his favourite. Pink, plastic, and practical enough to work.

Trash to 55mph treasure

This wasn’t a simple battery swap. Mali stumbled upon the used Power Wheels toy abandoned on the side of the road and immediately saw its inner potential where others saw plastic junk. Over the course of two months, he gutted the toy, welded it onto a go-kart frame, and dropped in a one-piston engine salvaged from a power washer. He didn’t skimp on the luxury features either, adding functioning brakes, headlights, a horn, and a sound system. The result? A lawnmower-style pull-start Barbie mobile that screams down local roads at a terrifyingly impressive top speed of 55 mph. Even though the pink aesthetic turns heads, the real magic is under the hood. Mali points out that the power washer motor is the same ultra-reliable tech people trust to run food trucks and construction sites all day.