Summary

Re-creation of "Herbie" as seen in the 1969 film "The Love Bug." Several special features as seen in the movie car, including "smiling" and "frowning" front bumper and water squirters. From The Dr. Stewart A. Berkowitz Collection.

Details

This 1962 Volkswagen Beetle is a re-creation of "Herbie" as seen in the 1969 film "The Love Bug." First shown in limited release on December 24, 1968, and in wide release on March 13, 1969, Disney's "Herbie the Love Bug" went on to become a massive smash hit, drawing over $51 million at the box office against a $5 million budget. Starring Dean Jones as down-and-out racing driver Jim Douglas, "Herbie" also featured Michele Lee as Carole Bennett, Buddy Hackett as Jim's kind-hearted friend, Tennessee Steinmetz and David Tomlinson as the malicious Peter Thorndyke. A humble Volkswagen Beetle, treated poorly by Thorndyke, emerged as a competitive racing car with racing numbers and "go-faster" stripes under the care of Jim and Tennessee, who discovered the car was sentient and quite emotional. Able to squirt water and smile and frown by flexing its front bumper up and down, "Herbie" utterly delighted movie-goers who strongly identified with the "Love Bug" and the "David versus Goliath" tone of the movie. "Herbie The Love Bug" was the last Disney film produced while Walt Disney was alive. This 1962 Volkswagen Beetle was acquired by Dr. Berkowitz in July 2017, with the car already in "Herbie" guise. Powered by an upgraded 1,600cc air-cooled 4-cylinder horizontally opposed engine mated to a manual 4-speed rear transaxle, this stunning re-creation's many details include the famous paint scheme and racing graphics of the original "Herbie." Best of all, the modified front bumper smiles and frowns, the car squirts water in several different directions, the hood raises and lowers, and it plays "Herbie" music inside and outside of the vehicle. From The Dr. Stewart A. Berkowitz Collection.