Herbie the Love Bug
Herbie the Love Bug!
AACA Museum
Hershey, Pennsylvania
(until April 24, 2011)
In an effort to console myself over missing the International Motorcycle Show at NYC’s Javits Center this weekend, I took a little trip to re-visit the AACA Museum in Hershey.
It was “Community Day” with half-priced admission. Thumbs-up to me for saving $$. Thumbs-down for an entire floor of the museum closed for painting – leaving many vehicles out of view or in storage (including Betty White’s custom 1977 Cadillac Seville — the main inspiration for my visit). The silver lining was that Herbie the Love Bug is temporarily on loan from the Swigart Auto Museum!
Herbie has to be the most lovable car in cinema history! While 70 or more “Herbies” were used in the 6 Herbie movies and the short-lived television series … only about 20 are still in existence. This particular Herbie was one of the models in the 1974 hit Herbie Rides Again. The Swigart Museum (located in Huntingdon, PA) is closed over the winter months, but I think I might make a visit sometime this summer to see their entire collection (including 2 additional Herbies!).
What is your all-time favorite movie or television car ?
Tell us in the comments below!
To see cars and motorcycles from my previous visit to the auto museum in Hershey, click the AACA tag at the end of this post.
Best movie car ever. When I was about 6, I had plans to get a Beetle when I was old enough, and to “write to Disney to see if it was OK to paint it like Herbie”.
Ahhh, little Wyatt_E 🙂
I like pretty much anything by George Barris (including, of course, the Batmobile): http://www.barris.com/gallery_cars/TV_MovieCars/tvmovie.html
I just found out who George Barris is last summer, when we visited the Darryl Starbird museum in Grove, OK. Now that I know, though, I’m a fan (even on Facebook–where he actually posts once in a while!).
And I LOVE Sarah Jane’s Nissan Figaro that looks like an old car in Sarah Jane Adventures (a spinoff of Doctor Who). But my favorite movie car of all time is probably the Aston Martin DB 2/4 Drophead Coupe that Tippi Hedren drove in The Birds.
Oh! And of course I have to mention Weird Al’s Nash Metropolitan, seen in UHF and in his video “All About the Pentiums.” The Met is my all-time favorite car of all time, and I love it that Weird Al has one!
I had forgotten about “UHF”! I remember that playing continuously when my family first got “The Movie Channel” LOL
OK first off, I had no idea how many car museums there are in PA! We tried to make it out to Hershey a few weekends ago but had too much fun thrifting and had to get home to the dog. Then I find out there’s another musee in Allentown and Boyertown, and now you tell tale of another? wow!
2nd. Betty – White’s – Cadillac? First of all I have dibs on that being me new Rockabilly band name, 2nd of all HOW COOL IS THAT! I totally want to check that out.
3rd. I reserve the right to change my mind on the car – but my first thought was The Monkeemobile!
1. The car museum in Allentown has been on my “to-do” list for awhile. Also, the Eastern Sports museum in York Springs (plus a few others)!
2. OOOO-MMMMM-GGGGGEEE. Betty White’s Cadillac would be the BEST name ever for a Rockabilly band LOL LOL
3. Check out the Monkeemobile (Later Years Section) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkeemobile
We missed you in NY 🙁 but glad you had a nice weekend anyway.
Oooh, Monkeemobile is a good one! The Munsters car was no slouch, either.
Between this and your previous posts from the AACA, i guess it’s a must see!
Batmobile. In the Batman television show with Adam West.
I love the Batmobile … but I think the red and white Charlie’s Angels Camaro is my very favorite!
Great showcase of a real movie car! Thanks to everyone at the museum for making this happen.
http://www.lovebugcentral.com
Glad you found us, Bob 🙂
I was just reading about “Operation Herbie” … that is so great!!
This was the best movie ever. Can’t wait to see the car in person.
It’s adorable, Tom … totally made me want to take Herbie for a spin:)
If you like Herbie, here’s Herbie on steroids owned by a local enthusiast and driven regularly to shows:
http://newpics.huntsvillecarscene.com/gallery/17170350_tX4STP#1302153065_SxcB7bL
I love that little car, and am a big fan of the movies. 🙂
Holy Smokes … that’s a big engine for little Herbie 🙂
It is! And in the wrong place too! The radiator is in the back and a lot of times he has to drive it with the back open to get enough air circulating there.
The interior headliner is really nice with the Route 66 motif. 🙂
“Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang”! Got to see it again a few weeks ago, that was “high tech” back then!
Am pasting the lyrics below so I’m not the only one with that tune in my head!
“Chitty Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Oh you pretty Chitty Bang Bang,
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
We love you.
And, in
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
What we’ll do.
Near, far, in our motor car Oh what a happy time we’ll spend.
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend.
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend.
Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Oh you pretty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
We love you.
And, in
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
What we’ll do.
Near, far, in our motor car
Oh what a happy time we’ll spend.
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend.
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend.
Your sleek as a thoroughbred.
Your seats are a feather bed.
You’ll turn everybody’s head today.
We’ll glide on our motor trip
With pride in our ownership
The envy of all we survey.
Oh Chitty You Chitty
Pretty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
We love you.
And Chitty, in Chitty
Pretty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang what we’ll do.
Near Chitty, far Chitty, in our motor car Oh what a happy time we’ll spend.
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend.
Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Our fine four fendered friend…..(hold)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Fine four fendered Chitty Chitty friend.”
Oh no! That will be in my head forever! LOL