From Scrubs To Spark Plugs | How Barbie Cecil Rebuilt Her Life One Volkswagon at a Time

Barbie Cecil, also known as Volkswagen Barbie, has a thing for buses. 

While other auto-enthusiasts might lean on breakneck speed, or the track-handling laurels of sports cars and their ilk, this nurse-turned-mechanic is of another mind: turning the rusted Volkswagen hulks of yesteryear into rolling pieces of art.

“I’ve been fascinated with them since I was a child,” Cecil recounted of the relaxed, hippy sentiments she often imagined came along with VW bus ownership. “Before I had any notion of working on, or even owning one, I was enchanted; the angles, the windows, the profile: everything was just a vibe, and I had to have one.” 

This affinity lasted for decades, though she would not begin her automotive projects until she retired from the medical field. “Up to that point, that's all it was, a passion,” Cecil said: “a theme for birthdays and frequent daydreams. Though, I guess at some point, I got tired of fixing people, and wanted to fix cars instead,” she joked. When it came time to say goodbye to her nursing career, Cecil made quick work of setting her knack for mending broken things to new use. 

“My first project was a yellow, 23-split window deluxe that really put me to the test,” she said. “I was never very much of a gearhead, outside my love of VW buses, so I really had a learning experience ahead of me.” According to Cecil, getting started on any new project, the only absolute requirement is minimal body rust. She guts the entire vehicle, so a solid foundation is crucial for any build.

After that, she says a project can include anything from camera system installation to upgraded suspension to full engine swaps and more. Soon, her project list was quickly expanding, including custom projects such as another bus: a pink 1975 bay-window, as well as non-bus projects such as a 2002 Turbo Beetle, and, most recently, a 1968 V8 Stealth Beetle she is putting together with her husband. 

“He is into hotrods with a need-for-speed,” she said. Her husband initially aided her, but she soon grew tired of asking for help. She quickly became fascinated with the research and problem-solving involved in each new undertaking. “I went from project to project, learning and getting better each time.”

“Now it's something we can enjoy together.”

Outside of her active project list, Cecil is also very active in the local and Volkswagen communities. “I’ve found it very profitable to rent out my project vehicles for weddings, birthdays, and dedicated photo shoots.” She also travels to various auto shows and supports numerous clubs across the Southeast. She runs her own store, ‘VW Vibe,’ selling clothing, jewelry, and other Volkswagen-related accessories. “I set up a vendor booth at auto shows and try to put as much back into the community as possible,” she said, noting the relaxed, caring network of VW-lovers. “It’s a friends-help-friends kind of crowd, same as the Volkswagen community as a whole,” Cecil said fondly. 

“Everything I thought I would get out of owning a VW bus, I got out of it,” she concluded. “And for that I’m very thankful.”

Photos Courtesy of Benjamin Calloway

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Coastalpolitan Magazine | 2026 FEB-MAR

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