Here’s What Happened To The Original Herbie VW Beetle From ‘The Love Bug’

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When we are saying unique, we truly imply one of many unique Volkswagen Beatles used for the filming of the Disney basic “The Love Bug,” which starred an anthropomorphic VW named Herbie that would suppose and drive for himself. His human costars had been Disney movie common Dean Jones, well-known actress Michele Lee, and comic Buddy Hackett.

As with virtually each movie the place a automotive is solid as a important character, the manufacturing crew makes use of a proverbial fleet of lookalikes for the entire required photographs and stunts carried out. In this case, the actual variety of film-used Bugs varies relying on the supply. Many, like Antique Automobile Club of America, Salado Village Voice, and even the present proprietor of Herbie #10 (on an episode of VW Life), declare that 11 had been used throughout filming. However, IMDb places the quantity “over 20,” and Disney itself, which ought to most likely be considered the authoritative supply, says via the D23 Fan Club that 21 had been used.

Whatever the precise quantity, the unique Bug we’re referring to on this occasion is Herbie #10 (a.okay.a., the Stunt Bug or Junk Bug). It is just not solely the oldest unique Herbie film automotive that continues to be but additionally solely certainly one of a only a few — three or 5, relying on who you ask — recognized to exist nonetheless, thus making it fairly distinctive. Since it was used as the first stunt automotive all through the movie, the manufacturing staff added a roll cage, skid plates, and heavy-duty shocks so it might take all of the pounding.

The film automotive was cosmetically altered, as properly, as a result of it was initially a hardtop Horizon Blue 1957 Beetle with a small rear oval window. The roof was transformed right into a ragtop, and the oval window was enlarged to resemble the broader side-to-side rear window seen on the Pearl White 1963 Herbie within the movie. The black and yellow license plate studying OFP 857 — which is claimed to face for Official First Production August (8) 57 — was additionally added.

Herbie #10 returned as a extremely beat-up junker Bug (not as Herbie) painted in latex home paint within the movie “Herbie Rides Again.” According to present proprietor Clayton Capps, after Herbie’s movie profession ended, it sat on the backlot at Disney for a number of years earlier than occurring a roadshow with a number of different film automobiles. After that tour, it went to Swigart Car Museum in Pennsylvania. It was ultimately bought by famed VW Bug collector Tory Alonzo (generally known as the “Herbie historian” in VW Bug circles).

Alonzo loaned it out to the Antique Automobile Club of America in Hershey, Pennsylvania, to placed on show, however in 2016, he determined to promote Herbie. Capps, in flip, purchased it from Alonzo for $85,000, which we guess is a steal contemplating that two of the opposite originals bought for over $125,000. Capps, who lives in Texas, has owned it ever since. He sometimes takes the Love Bug to native exhibits, as evidenced by the VW Life interview given at one. Herbie even has an Instagram account the place you may maintain observe of his ongoing adventures.