Tokyo Drift in a Barbie Car is a fail video clip from 2006 showing a man wiping out on a Barbie-themed Power Wheels Corvette while sliding down a driveway at surprising speed. The footage became a popular GIF on YTMND and spawned a demotivational poster captioned "Tokyo Drift, You can't do it in a Barbie car," tying it to the then-new Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift film.
Origin
On March 15, 2006, eBaum's World user "ebaum" uploaded a minute-long video titled "Super Power Wheels," showing a group of friends pushing various Power Wheels toy vehicles to their limits[2]. One scene stood out: a young man careening down a wet driveway on a Barbie-branded Corvette before losing control and crashing into bushes. The video hit YouTube the following day[2].
Within days, the crash scene was isolated as an animated GIF. The earliest known instance appeared on a Russian GIF catalogue site on March 24, 2006[2].
- Platform: eBaum's World (original video), YTMND (viral GIF and Tokyo Drift connection)
- Creator: Unknown (original video creators), HACaboose (YTMND GIF edit), deadlyevans (YTMND "Tokyo Drift" connection)
- Date: 2006
Overview
The clip shows a young man riding a battery-powered Barbie Corvette toy down a steep, slippery driveway. He picks up speed fast, loses control, and slams straight into a bush. The footage was pulled from a longer video of friends testing various Power Wheels vehicles under difficult conditions[2]. The crash scene was isolated as an animated GIF and paired with references to Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift and the anime Initial D[1], turning a backyard stunt gone wrong into a running joke about drift driving in the least appropriate vehicle imaginable.
How It Spread
On March 25, 2006, YTMND user HACaboose created a page titled "Barbie Corvette Crash," pairing the GIF with the caption "No Brakes! No Brakes!" and a subtitle reading "Why Initial D should never be attempted"[1]. The site pulled in over 21,000 views by 2015. The animation appeared in at least eight other YTMND sites between March and August 2006[2].
The Tokyo Drift connection came on June 7, 2006, when YTMND user deadlyevans uploaded a site named "lol, Tokyo Drift?" just three days after the theatrical release of Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift[2]. The page was part of YTMND's "Lol, Internet" fad, but the name stuck, permanently linking the Barbie car wipeout to the film franchise.
By January 12, 2007, a demotivational image macro surfaced with the caption "Tokyo Drift, You can't do it in a Barbie car"[2]. This version spread across forums and image boards, giving the meme a second wind. Between June 2007 and May 2008, it was incorporated into at least three more YTMND sites, including "Epic Tokyo Drift Maneuver," a parody of the Epic Maneuvers fad that also topped 21,000 views[2].
How to Use
This meme is mostly referenced rather than templated. The GIF typically gets posted as a reaction to overconfident failures, particularly involving vehicles or stunts that were never going to work. The demotivational format follows the standard structure: the crash GIF or a still frame up top, with "TOKYO DRIFT" as the title and "You can't do it in a Barbie car" as the punchline below.
Fun Facts
- The original "Super Power Wheels" video featured multiple toy vehicles being tested, but only the Barbie Corvette crash caught on as a meme[2].
- The YTMND asset page for the GIF carries the subtitle "Why Initial D should never be attempted," framing the wipeout as a failed anime-style drift[1].
- deadlyevans' YTMND page went up just three days after Tokyo Drift hit theaters, making it one of the earliest meme responses to the film[2].
- HACaboose's "Barbie Corvette Crash" and the "Epic Tokyo Drift Maneuver" both hit the same 21,000-view milestone on YTMND by 2015[2].
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tokyo Drift in a Barbie Car?
It's a fail video clip from 2006 showing a man losing control of a Barbie-themed Power Wheels Corvette while sliding down a driveway and crashing into a bush[2].
Where did Tokyo Drift in a Barbie Car come from?
The original video titled "Super Power Wheels" was uploaded to eBaum's World on March 15, 2006. The crash scene was turned into a GIF and spread through YTMND, where it was linked to the Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift film[2].
What does Tokyo Drift in a Barbie Car mean?
The meme jokes about attempting dangerous drift driving in the most impractical vehicle possible. It's used to mock overconfident stunts that go predictably wrong[2].
How do you use Tokyo Drift in a Barbie Car?
The GIF is posted as a reaction to failed stunts or overconfident moments. The demotivational poster version uses the caption "Tokyo Drift, You can't do it in a Barbie car"[2].
Is Tokyo Drift in a Barbie Car still popular?
The meme's peak was between 2006 and 2008, primarily on YTMND. As YTMND declined in relevance, so did the meme's visibility[2].
Who created the original Super Power Wheels video?
An unidentified group of friends filmed themselves test-driving Power Wheels toys. The video was uploaded to eBaum's World by user "ebaum" on March 15, 2006[2].
What is the connection to Initial D?
The YTMND edit by HACaboose referenced the anime Initial D, which features dramatic downhill drift racing, as a joke about the toy car's uncontrolled slide[1].
When did the Tokyo Drift name get attached?
YTMND user deadlyevans uploaded "lol, Tokyo Drift?" on June 7, 2006, three days after the film Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift was released in theaters[2].
