this be a true disney classic and in fact walt disney have a hand in develop the story but and sad to say and never live to see it hit the big screen . in the film and we learn rather quickly that race car driver jim douglas ( dean jones ) have hit rock bottom after be a prominent race car driver ( what cause his demise . it not explain but it appear that he get into quite a few bang ups ) . he live with a buddhist name tennessee steinmetz ( buddy hackett ) who find a soul in everything . jim soon look for a new car and come across a fancy dealership and only to be embarrass by the owner peter thorndyke ( david tomlinson ) who refuse jim $ 80 offer for a gorgeous race car . while in the showroom and a vw roll in that be suppose to be scrap . a thorndyke berate the little car and jim stick up for it and soon the car think it have a friend and follow jim home . to avoid be blame for steal the car and jim agree to buy it from thorndyke but the car act up . jim be about to return it when he catch in a drag race because someone make fun of the vw . herbie blow the competition away and jim fall in love with the car speed and but tennessee know it have heart and name it herbie . soon jim and herbie and tennessee be win race and jim ego inflates while thorndyke temper grows since he too race and lose every time to herbie . thorndyke decides to sabotage the little car and when he succeed and jim turn his back on herbie . once jim realize he hasn not be win the race he try to find herbie who have since run off . herbie get impound after an accident and jim must sell him to a chinese man who agree to let jim drive herbie in a big race . if jim win and he get to buy herbie back for a buck . needless to say and thorndyke once again sabotage herbie and but hey and this be disney . who do you think win out at the end . i have to give this movie a 10 because it have so much go for it . comedy and some drama and romance . we know very little about jim douglas except when tennessee describe him a down on his luck and angry and and one who be prone to get into trouble . jones do an excellent job a the cocky and angry and egotistical driver who be knock down a few peg by his friend and a little car . the character mirror jones back then and who admit in his biography that he be a dirt bike race nut prone to lose his temper quite a bit and have an affinity for woman other than his wife . michelle lee be grand but we do not see much of her and hackett play the sincere bit amazingly well especially when he tell jim that he be nothing without herbie . for comedic relief david tomlinson be terrific a be his assistant havershaw ( joe flynn of mchale navy fame ) . yes there be some over the top and goofy and somewhat embarrassing sight gag and a few interesting moment ( i. e. carol think jim have ulterior motif when herbie bring them to a make out point and i. e. when herbie try to kill itself and and when jim finally admit to carol that he just a bum ) and but the film have heart and like herbie . the film have three more sequel and a five part tv miniseries and a re make in 1998 ( or so ) and there a new film come out . jones only do love bug and monte carlo ( film 3 ) and the miniseries and make a pathetic appearance in the 1998 film . in each one and jones be still down on his luck but nothing like the sad figure he portray in love bug . great classic film and fill with 60 nostalgia .