TheSamba.com :: View topic - Museum warehouse find in PA (original Herbie movie car)

Tue Feb 26, 2013 11:03 am

Figured this would be the appropriate place to post this. I knew this car existed for years, locked in a dusty remote storage warehouse in central Pennsylvania. After years of going back and forth, a deal was struck for the car, and it was finally rescued.

I set out to do a "preservation" of the car, replacing parts only when necessary, so as not to destroy the originality of the car. This is Herbie #10 from the original movie, The Love Bug. After a thorough cleaning (and a few cans of Goof Off) I was able to revive the original paint from the movie. I replaced the missing stripes, numbers, and odds and ends the car needed. The car last ran in 1972, and with only a tuneup, fresh oil and gas, the car started right up, and continues to run great!

Here are some pictures of the very same car from filming. I know there's somewhat of an anti Herbie sentiment on the samba, but hopefully you guys will dig this story of a real car that now has a second lease on life...

(Herbie #10 is on the far right above-Riverside Raceway during filming 1968)

Racing down Big Bear

Herbie #10 became Herbie #11 for a cameo in the sequel as a junk car

Lots of goof off (Disney painted the car yellow with latex paint), wet sanding, and polishing brought back the original Herbie pearl white paint.

After about 6 months of sourcing parts, rewiring, replacing brakes, fuel line, etc. the car hit the road again for the first time in decades. Despite the damage from filming, it drives like a normal vw.

Oh, and if you're wondering why this is posted in the oval window section, check out the louvers under the rear window... Hope you enjoy the stroll down memory lane. I've had a blast resurrecting this movie star, I mean car.

Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:35 pm

Great post! I didn't realise there was any anti-Herbie sentiments on the forum?

I never realised they used an Oval in the main scenes of the Love Bug- very interesting!

Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:41 pm

Thanks Rich! I think the anti Herbie rants are geared more toward people who take a nice cherry OG sunroof car and slap decals on it, which is understandable. I have always been fascinated by the original cars used in the films though!

Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:55 pm

Nice job!

So how did the car wind up in PA?

Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:57 pm

VERY COOL.

Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:08 pm

From what I've been able to piece together so far, the car was sold off after Herbie Rides Again and toured with Autorama/World of Wheels car show. It was retired from the circuit and spent the majority of the 80s and 90s in a warehouse in Michigan. The car was finally sold at the Kruse collector car auction in the fall of '97. An antique auto museum (Swigart's) from Huntingdon, PA bought the car as part of a package deal, but never really did anything with it. Luckily I convinced them to sell me the car. I was scared someone would completely over restore the car and ruin it, but fortunately that didn't happen. The car is even still titled to Walt Disney Productions!

Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:24 pm

Very cool story, and even cooler what you did (and did not do) to the car.

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

You had just better get good at explaining to EVERYONE when you drive it around, why it looks the way it does....!!

Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:26 pm

So my question is: Does it have an oval dash?

Some pics of the inside (and anywhere else) would be great!!

(I know of another guy in PA who has one of the original Herbies BTW...)

Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:28 pm

.... who just told me on Facebook that he had a part in that expedition!!!!

Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:34 pm

Very cool history, Thanks for sharing it with us.

Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:38 pm

With Tory's blessing I'll post some pictures.

I'm glad I was able to play a small role in this rescue mission.

Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:39 pm

Yep, small world! Albert was there when I picked the car up!

Yes, the dash is still an oval dash. Here's a before pic of when the car was in the warehouse. I cleaned a lot of it up and replaced things like the missing clear needle speedo, glovebox door, horn button,etc.

Here's where the car is marked. Disney numbered the cars to keep them all straight and know which one did what stunts!

Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:39 pm

I figured it was Swigarts that had it - but there arent too many car museums in central PA. They probably got it with the Herbie that is dispayed regularly. Great job on the resue and resto.

Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:47 pm

Here's the missing glovebox I replaced, plus some cool graffiti... :lol:

Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:54 pm

Here's some more pics for Johns Henry

Here's another pic from Riverside. The car still had its original "w" decklid early in the film, but was later swapped for a 63 style lid for damage continuity.

Here's a couple more of the car as it is today.

Tue Feb 26, 2013 2:04 pm

I've been fortunate to befriend quite a number of special effects guys who worked on the movies back in the 60s and 70s. One of them kept a set of the original harnesses, which I was able to get back for the car... Score!

Disney removed the rollbar from the car for the sequel, so I'm debating on putting that back in as well. The holes are still there for it!

Tue Feb 26, 2013 2:18 pm

Great job with the resto. I have always been a fan of Herbie for many years.

Tue Feb 26, 2013 2:21 pm

disneyherbie wrote: Disney removed the rollbar from the car for the sequel, so I'm debating on putting that back in as well. The holes are still there for it!

The racing Herbie that was used in the 1st movie that had the roll bar always had a great racing look IMO. 8)

Tue Feb 26, 2013 2:29 pm

Completely agree with you there!

Tue Feb 26, 2013 2:59 pm

Thanks for sharing! Really cool stuff here.
Great job leaving it as is to preserve some of that history.