Herbie

Herbie is a fictional anthropomorphic Volkswagen Beetle who stars in Disney’s The Love Bug film series. The car is a white 1960s VW Beetle, distinguished by a red racing stripe and the racing number 53, and is known for its lively, independent personality and impressive driving ability.

In the films, Herbie interacts with human drivers, most famously Jim Douglas, guiding and sometimes taking control in high-speed escapades. The character is noted for luck and mischief, blending comedy with lighthearted adventure. Herbie can drive himself, communicate with people, and display almost sentient decision-making during races and stunts.

The film series began with The Love Bug (1968) and continued with Herbie Rides Again (1974), Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977), and Herbie Goes Bananas (1980). The character later appeared in a television series in the early 1980s and returned in the 2005 feature Herbie: Fully Loaded, which reimagined the concept with a new cast while preserving the talking-car premise.

Herbie has become an enduring symbol of Disney’s family comedies and a recognizable example of a talking vehicle in popular culture, contributing to merchandise, references, and parodies across film and television.