HERBIE: THE LOVE BUG THAT DROVE INTO MOVIE HISTORY LIVES AT THE PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
Few movie cars have managed to capture hearts across generations like Herbie, the lovable, self-aware 1963 Volkswagen Beetle that turned from humble German runabout into a full-blown Hollywood superstar. Long before CGI and digital trickery, Herbie showed the world that a car could have character - real character - using nothing more than a few mechanical gags, a goofy horn, and a whole lot of charm. Now, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is giving fans a closer look at one of the screen-used Herbies from Disney’s The Love Bug film series - complete with its racing stripes, red-white-blue livery, and the famous number 53 that’s been etched into pop culture for over half a century. But behind that smiling face and gleaming white paint lies a fascinating story that spans decades, dozens of Beetles, and one of cinema’s most unlikely racing icons.
Herbie’s story began not in a Hollywood backlot, but in the imagination of Walt Disney’s story team in the 1960s. The character first appeared in the 1968 film The Love Bug, based on Gordon Buford’s unpublished short story Car, Boy, Girl. The premise was wild for its time - a sentient VW Beetle with a mind of its own, capable of racing, emoting, and forming a friendship with its struggling driver, Jim Douglas, played by Dean Jones. Disney reportedly considered several cars for the role, including a Toyota and even a Volvo. Still, when studio staff were introduced to a lineup of cars, it was the Beetle that the team instinctively patted on the fender - and that sealed the deal. The car already looked friendly. The movie hit theatres in 1968 and was a massive success, blending slapstick comedy, racing action, and family-friendly heart in a way that became pure Disney gold. Audiences loved Herbie’s spunky attitude, especially his ability to win races against far more powerful machinery - often with a cheeky wiggle or a spray of oil at the right moment.
For The Love Bug, Disney used multiple Beetles, each one built for a specific purpose. Some were fitted with mechanical effects, like hidden controls for remote driving, hydraulic lifts for stunts, and even systems that made the doors and headlights move as if Herbie were alive. Others were stripped-out lightweight versions for racing sequences. Most of the early cars were 1963 VW Beetles, chosen for their balance of simplicity and style. Underneath, some were heavily modified, with Porsche 356 running gear, custom roll cages, and tuned engines - Herbie had to look stock but act like a race car. Over the years, as the franchise expanded, more Beetles were built, repainted, crashed, and rebuilt. In total, estimates suggest around 50 different Herbies were created for various movies, TV shows, and promotional events.
After The Love Bug’s success, Herbie returned for a string of sequels and spin-offs that solidified his spot in pop culture:
Herbie Rides Again (1974): Herbie helps an elderly woman save her San Francisco home from greedy property developers. Less racing, more mischief.
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977): The Beetle returns to the track, this time in a European rally, and even falls in love with a sleek Lancia.
Herbie Goes Bananas (1980): Set in Mexico, this one leaned into slapstick comedy as Herbie gets tangled up in treasure hunters and chaos on the high seas.
Herbie, The Love Bug (TV, 1997): A reboot that introduced Herbie to a new generation, with Bruce Campbell taking the driver’s seat.
Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005): The modern revival starring Lindsay Lohan, where Herbie finds himself in the world of NASCAR - proving even decades later, he could still hold his own on the track.
Each iteration evolved Herbie’s personality slightly, but the heart remained the same: a little car with courage, humour, and a will of its own. Herbie was an underdog story on wheels, a metaphor for determination, friendship, and heart over horsepower. His racing number, 53, was a nod to Disney producer Bill Walsh’s favourite baseball player, Don Drysdale of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Even the details became legendary: the pearl white paint (L87), the red, white, and blue racing stripes, and that signature “beep-beep” horn.
Fun fact: the Herbie at the Petersen is one of the real screen-used cars from the original series, still sporting its period modifications and a few on-set scars from filming.
Take a look at the YouTube video from the chaps at the world-famous Petersen Automotive Museum. They take a look at one of the most fanous cars in the world, depending on your age, of course: Inside HERBIE THE LOVE BUG | Disney’s Famous Volkswagen Beetle Explained | Petersen Automotive Museum
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