The Love Bug That Bit the World
Its name is Herbie. It has gone through many reincarnations thanks to its guardian Walt Disney. However, it isn’t a real bug; it’s a VW Beetle named Herbie. Herbie was born in 1963 in Wolfsburg, Germany. He came under the guardianship of Disney in 1969 when he appeared in the movie, “The Love Bug.”
Herbie had to audition for his role. When Disney first started production he put out a casting call for about twelve cars. Herbie together with Toyotas and Volvos answered the call. They were all parked outside the studio so the staff could examine them during break times. The staff would walk by, turn the steering wheel and kick the tires. But when they got to Herbie, they would pet him. So that is how Herbie got the job.
At that time Herbie was white with a deluxe gray sunroof and black and yellow California license plates. He was also without a name.
There are two versions as to how Herbie got his name. Both involve Tennessee Steinmitz, the mechanic played by Buddy Hacket. In the first, Herbie reminded Buddy of his Uncle Herb. Uncle Herb was a middleweight boxer who always ended up with a broken nose. Supposedly, Uncle Herb’s nose looked like the front of a Volkswagen Beetle. So Tennessee named Herbie for his uncle.
According to the second version the crew was watching Buddy in a skit about a ski instructor with an odd accent. Hacket said, “If you ain’t got a ‘hoybie,’ I ain’t goin’.”
Once hired, Herbie soon proved he had a mind of his own by performing such tricks as opening his doors and squirting oil.
After starring in “The Love Bug” Herbie went on to appear in four more films and five episodes of a television series.
However, Herbie also underwent a slight makeover courtesy of producer, Bill Walsh. The number 53 was emblazoned, racing style, on his front hood, side doors, and engine lid. Don Drysdale, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, inspired the choice as 53 was Drysdale’s uniform number. Herbie also acquired red, white, and blue racing stripes.
Herbie has had several adventures and mis-adventures during his film career as well as a couple of “firsts.”
In “Herbie Goes Bananas” (1980) poor Herbie was forced to “walk the plank” and pitched overboard from the SS Coromuel ferry. Divers may some day find that Herbie who is still resting in the ocean depths somewhere between Baja and La Paz. However, a new Herbie was quickly reincarnated to finish the film. Actually, completing the film required 25 reincarnations due to the number of stunts.
Herbie also made the Guinness Book of World Records when he was the first car to travel through the Panama Canal.
Herbie earned another first in “Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo. Here, he is the first and only car in the world to be issued an official passport. Herbie also met Giselle, a Lancia Scorpion, and fell in love.
In “Herbie Fully Loaded” Herbie improves his personality. His headlight glass is eliminated and he acquires chrome eyelids that blink. His front bumper can smile or look sad. His sun visors break into a frown.
Herbie has acquired a worldwide following of fans and is dearly loved by children. He lends his name to “Operation Herbie” which visits sick children and helps raise money for organizations devoted to helping sick children.
