Thursday, March 13, 2008

Mar 13: The Incredible Little Car Who Shifts For Himself!

On this day in 1969, Disney's live-action comedy The Love Bug was generally released. Starring a white Volkswagen named Herbie, the film had already premiered in December 1968.
The first and most successful of the Love Bug films, the movie follows the adventures of Herbie, his driver Jim Douglas (Dean Jones), Jim's love interest Carole (Michele Lee), and Jim's pal Tennessee Steinmetz (Buddy Hackett).
The Love Bug was based on the 1961 story Car, Boy, Girl by Gordon Buford. Herbie is a L87 pearl white 1963 Model 117 Volkswagen Type 1 Deluxe Sunroof ... and for those keeping score, his California license plate is OFP 857.
Some believe the "53" logo on Herbie was chosen because it was Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Don Drysdale's uniform number!
Herbie has been immortalized at Disney World's All-Star Movies Resort with his very own "Love Bug" hotel complex.
There is even a Herbie The Love Bug Fan Club!

Click HERE for more March 13 Disney History.

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