1963 Beetle "Herbie" Tribute
SOLD!
I've loved "Herbie" since I first saw him in 1969 in the "Love Bug" and outside of seeing some of the original movie cars
naturally I've always been critical of so-called replicas and tribute cars.
This car is REALLY something special...........
First of all this Herbie's built from a seemingly uncommon car, a "Canadian Custom"
which was a base model sold in Canada with minimal trimmings.
The cars was built in mind of a serious racing car version of Herbie.
Looking great from every angle, as I mentioned before this is not your normal Herbie replica.
This Herbie started out life as the 1963 Canadian Custom above.
So let's step inside Herbie.......
And what do we see? A sporty, ready to use, no thrills, straight forward racing interior.
Canadian Customs didn't have sunroofs, but our Herbie has a professionally grafted Golde factory one.
Installed a nice 1960's look Sun Tachometer.
Lovely, a fully restored vintage Porsche speedometer.
German VDO gauges.
Check out the clean install of the oil, high beam and generator warning lights!
Love the "Panic Button".
N.O.S. 1960's Volkswagen shift by Hurst.
Custom roll bar, bolted to the wheel wells as in the original "Love Bug" movie car.
Safety First!
Nice and simple door cards.
Interior is painted grey as in the movie.
Vintage Racing decals and dash plaques inside, reflect Herbie's racing career in California.
Herbie's stripes and bubble gum roundels are all hand painted, no vinyl or sticker junk here, professionally painted
and looking great!
Vintage racing class lettering all hand painted.
Original late 1960's era stickers adorn each side of the car.
Even vintage window stickers.
Ah I really like this one, San Francisco area SCCA club sticker.
If you all remember that's where Herbie raced out of.
Vintage Anaheim "Disneyland" window sticker.
The vintage style decals give Herbie that perfect vintage 1969 era racing "Look".
The car has a single stage L87 Pearl White enamel and beautiful chrome overall.
Herbie has 15 x 5 1/2 Porsche 356 style wheels and brakes!
.....And is running on Michelin 195/65-15's up front and 205/65 -15's in the rear.
Porsche 356B front and rear brakes, front spindles and ZF steering box.
Sway A Way front sway bar and out back adjustable rear spring plates.
Fully rust free pan, also note details as a torque bar (Kafer Cup Brace) and intermediate trans mount.
Attention to details all over Herbie, vintage style Koni racing shocks and an original Empi
camber compensator.
Forward battery location.
All new wiring from Watson Streetworks.
Clean drivers side tire well.
Signs of a small repair on the passenger side tire well.
Circuit box controlling all of Herbie's special effects...............more about that below.
Hand held remote controls with flash headlights, honk the horn or squirt water through the front
facing windshield washer nozzles
Ahh here's the "Heart" of our Herbie, ala Type 4.
Motor #RAT 05024
Weber 44 IDF's to go Vrrooooooooom!!!!
Herbie doesn't like to give his secrets away, but he will just for you....
Motor is a 2270 Type 4 by Jake Raby
with 140HP!
Mallory distributor and aircraft style fittings used wherever possible.
And just as beautiful underneath as above, nice and clean and note the vintage style Koni's and the
original Empi camber compensator.
A-1 1-5/8" Header with custom tail pipe with a spiral tube insert and NO MUFFLER!
Canton Racing remote oil filter.
Herbie's got a gnarly sound!
Very clean racing car look inside, nice and smooth.
Remote 12 Volt Coil with insulation.
Look out Herbie Thorndyke's after you!
Build was completed in 2007 and the car driven only 700 miles since then.
Vintage style SCCA club badge on front towel bar.
Your looking really sharp Herbie!
Californian "Black Plate" original with 1968/69 stickers.
Almost time to say "Goodbye" to Herbie.
Here's a very special Herbie replica, build with the original "Love Bug" movie car in mind.
With all new or rebuilt mechanics, new wiring, a reliable Jack Raby Type 4 motor, perfect hand painted
racing motifs, fun remote control features, flashing headlights, honking horn and water squirting windshield wiper washers.
And I'm sure that this car could also easily qualify for a historical racing license, for here or abroad.
I haven't seen a Herbie built this well since the real Porsche powered car from the first film.
If your a serious Herbie fan this is the car for YOU!
SOLD!
For More Info...CALL
951 767-1600
or email oldbug@earthlink.net