If the producers of Herbie hadn't of casted a VW Beetle, I wonder what other car's would have been suitable? I heard that they had a few cars in mind, - a Volvo, Toyota and a Buick, but it would have to have been iconic, personable and cute.
I thought maybe perhaps an original Mini Cooper, but the movie "Italian Job" had used them, or a fiat 500? maybe Citroen 2cv? or a Morris Minor?
any other ideas?
There would have been no other. I own a VW like Herbie, and it does seem more than just a car.
I took this from the 'Trivia' section..
When beginning production of the film, Disney set up a casting call for about a dozen cars, and kept them outside the studios for the crew to examine during their breaks. Among the lineup were Toyotas, Volvos, and of course, the pearl white Volkswagen Beetle. When the crew walked by to inspect the cars, they would kick the tires and grab the steering wheel to see how it handled. However, when they came across the Volkswagen, they began to pet it, and so the Beetle got the job.
Just what other kind of car would make you want to pet it? :)
Yeah! ^^^ I was the one that submitted that bit of trivia XD
But for some reason, K.I.T.T keeps coming to mind, lol!
"Stupid Banana-Raincoat-Wearin' B****."
I'm quite sure the reason is more significant than that.
That's not a criticism...just a secret.
Actually that is how the beetle got cast. It was stated in the special features of "The Love Bug" 2 disk DVD.
"Stupid Banana-Raincoat-Wearin' B****."
I know you're right about that.
It's just that the Beetle pops up in many movies....
"Just what other kind of car would make you want to pet it? :)"
I'm sure it's a cutie car.
How interesting that it is decribed as pearl white. Then again, it could just be coincidence.
I have to agree with that. At the time the film came out, we actually owned a 1964 Beetle – a red hardtop. Of course, that little sucker didn’t put out much (40 horses, maybe a little better in a tailwind) but it was fun just the same. When I was very small (between 2 & 5 or so) my favorite thing to do on long car trips was to crawl into the very back and take naps. The upholstery back there was very thick and always warm.
Is your Beetle a pearl white? I’ve wanted one of those for years and years – painted up like Herbie, but have never found one. Something tells me even today a Herbie twin just might be a chick magnet.
"If the producers of Herbie hadn't of casted a VW Beetle, I wonder what other car's would have been suitable?"
An Aston Martin.
A hearse.
A hearse? With Disney in mind i'd imagine a simple Ford Model T (Absent Minded Professor comes to mind, though i'm not sure what kind of car he had.)
If The Love Bug was a european endeavor, it might have been a Mini or a Fiat.
"Stupid Banana-Raincoat-Wearin' B****."
I just can't imagine any other car that could so well come "alive." Maybe an early Mini Cooper or one of those Subarus from the '60s.
shareThere isn't much that'd have the character of an old VW Bug whle being a reliable car for filmaking, they may not have chosen Morris's or anything like that for their small reliablity, plus the cars in the line-up could easily have been souped up. A Renault Dauphine would've worked nicely for Herbie but I don't think that they're as tough as bugs. I've looked at some old Volvos and Toyotas which they may have choses as canidates and Volvos just look too American, the Toyotas look too bland. A bug with those cars is like Felix the Cat in a cast of Seth Macfarlane characters, one small round appealing character and many dull ones.
shareI agree with joewhiteyipee: a Subaru 360
shareWhen beginning production of the film, Disney set up a casting call for about a dozen cars, and kept them outside the studios for the crew to examine during their breaks. Among the lineup were Toyotas, Volvos, and of course, the pearl white Volkswagen Beetle. When the crew walked by to inspect the cars, they would kick the tires and grab the steering wheel to see how it handled. However, when they came across the Volkswagen, they began to pet it, and so the Beetle got the job.
Classic story, i like how its told on the Love Bug DVD's myself as well!
True, its very hard to picture any other kind of car, back then or now getting that kind of treatment even 'subconsciously' by a production team testing out car for a movie (title at the time; "Boy Meets Girl, Meets Car")
ST4
Virtua Fighter 5-FS For X-Box360 Console Segahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETrdHIauxVs
If it was a Plymouth Fury 1957 it would be a horror movie
shareI've always been intrigued that Keenan Wynn's Alonzo Hawk character links The Love Bug to the Model T of The Absent Minded Professor movies. When ever I see a Model T I can't help think of all those crazy Mack Sennett movie shorts.
shareIt had to be a V-Dub. Everybody knew of them, and had a relative, friend or neighbor with one. There were millions of owners, which turn into millions of movie goer's. You need something with little power, and Mini's and Triumph's are already on the race circuits. 36hp stock and 40 with a few cheap mods. You notice though that the engine still has it's original single carb, and stock exhaust.