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Some do not even require to be anthropomorphic to grow to be iconic, and James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5, Long gone in 60 Seconds‘ Ford Mustang known as Eleanor, Batman’s Batmobile, and Steve McQueen’s Ford Mustang from Bullitt come to mind.
But we’ll focus on the former classification, and the 1968 film The Love Bug brought on the display a person of the most likable and cute auto figures, Herbie. The racing 1963 Volkswagen Beetle was so common that it ended up getting element of numerous flicks and tv sequence.
The Disney home auto character cherished vehicle chases, racing, and tests his restrictions anytime he acquired a chance.
Starring Dean Jones, Michelle Lee, and a Volkswagen Beetle named Herbie, the to start with film in the series became a cult traditional, presently with a 6.5 amount on IMDb, and 78% on Rotten Tomatoes. And there are a lot of entertaining facts about it.
#10 Herbie was not usually a Volkswagen
Rumor has it that, when creation commenced, producer/writer Monthly bill Walsh had about a dozen autos all set for an car audition. Other than the pearl-white Volkswagen, there have been also Toyotas, Volvos, an MG, and a TVR.
In the course of breaks, the crew would go outside, the place the cars were held, and roughly inspect them. That incorporated grabbing the steering wheel to verify how it managed, kicking the tires, and so on.
But when they acquired to the Beetle, they were being alternatively inclined to pet it and address it properly, and every person was marketed that it was the right choice.
#9 There was not just a single Volkswagen Beetle
This 1 sounds like popular perception, but, above the yrs, there were being numerous vehicles used in output.
And term is that there were as several as 50 for the to start with 4 motion pictures. Which seems plausible, due to the fact, just for the initial one, they utilized about 20 distinctive Volkswagen Kind 1s, which was the official denomination of the typically known Beetle.
Just about every just one of the cars and trucks had unique roles and was modified for various jobs, whether it was for racing or different angles.
#8 There was no VW symbol in sight in The Really like Bug


Image: Disney
For the first movie, the carmaker didn’t make it possible for the “people’s car” to officially star in the movie.
When that modified for the second installment in the sequence, for the 1st one, Disney experienced to adapt. They commissioned 11 cars devoid of the VW brand.
Out of them, only three survived creation, and one of them was marketed for a report $126,600 at a private auction.
#7 Most high priced Herbie
Picture: Heritage Auctions
There are a whole lot of fans out there who would like to very own customized merch showcasing their beloved artist, motion picture, or Tv series. Automobiles make no exception.
Proudly owning a automobile made use of in a film typically sets you again more than a standard motor vehicle from the very same make and product, and this kind of was also the situation with Herbie.
The most highly-priced Herbie was also the priciest Beetle ever sold. In that situation, it was a modified 1961 Beetle that appeared in the 1980 Disney film Herbie Goes Bananas, formerly exhibited at the Planet Hollywood on line casino in Las Vegas, NV.
#6 Not a white-on-white Beetle for a cause
The Herbie from the very first film was a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle deluxe ragtop sedan. It came with the now-legendary L87 pearl white paint job.
Below typical circumstances, the cabin would reflect the exterior with a matching white.
Nonetheless, Herbie arrives with a particular non-reflective gray inside to avoid reflections from the cameras and studio lights.
#5 How did they appear up with Herbie?
Now an iconic auto character title, Herbie got its title by accident.
It was all credited to one of the movie’s star Buddy Hackett’s Vegas skits about a ski instructor. Making use of a funny accent, Hackett claimed, “If you ain’t got a Herbie, I ain’t goin’.” And the identify trapped. The motion picture, however, describes Herbie’s name was motivated by the middleweight boxer uncle of Hackett’s character
It also took a though to settle on the movie’s title. Among the decisions the crew debated were being Bugboom, The Magic Volksy, The Runaway Wagen, and Wonderbeetle. Eventually, they settled on The Love Bug to convey to the story of the two-doorway lovable auto with a intellect of its own, able of driving alone, and with a passion for racing.
#4 A Volkswagen with a Porsche engine
Picture: Disney
Something you possibly by no means knew was that just one of the modified Volkswagens on set did not have a Volkswagen engine. But a Porsche one particular.
For the racing scenes, a regular 1200-cc Volkswagen with 40 horsepower wasn’t plausible as a race car. So, 1 of the automobiles underwent modifications from the well-known VW tuner EMPI, fitting it with a 90-horsepower 1600-cc twin-carburetor flat-four Porsche engine from a Porsche 356 “Super 90.” An upgraded suspension, Koni shocks, and new wheels ended up also among the the improvements.
With the new energy strengthen, the upgraded Herbie could reach around 115 mph (185 kph) and was the star of most racing scenes. The motor vehicle, known as “Herbie quantity 2”, continue to has its modified Porsche engine and is positioned in the United kingdom.
#3 Genuine race drivers had been in the cast
Acclaimed stunt driver Carey Loftin was in demand of the racing scenes.
Besides Loftin, the other two customers of the legendary Bullit trio, Monthly bill Hickman and Bud Ekins, have been also aspect of the cast.
Racing promoter Andy Granatelli and race drivers Joe Playan, Max Balchowsky, and Bob Bondurant had been also on the payroll for the most precise racing representation.
#2 No 53
Photograph: Wikipedia Commons / Vmanjr / CC BY-SA 4.
The legendary #53 experienced its possess significance. It seems in the middle of the hood and both of those aspect doors, painted in black inside of a black-ringed white circle.
The producer, Invoice Walsh, was a large baseball lover. So he chosen the selection to spend homage to Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale.
It also integrated purple, white, and blue racing stripes, the latter somewhat larger, which were being reportedly selected for a patriotic theme.
#1 Herbie’s License Plate
Photo: Disney
Herbie has a large amount of meanings, as we have witnessed so much. So why would its license plate be some thing random?
It turns out that the car’s plate, which reads “OFP 857” stands for “Our 1st Manufacturing 8-57“, has anything to do with the movie’s director, Robert Stevenson. It signifies the month and year Stevenson commenced working for Disney, in advance of starting off his gig for The Love Bug.
The yellow-on-black California license plates stayed with the car or truck right up until 2005’s Herbie Absolutely Loaded.