Mid America Motorworks' MY Garage Museum & Retail Store
Spinning Herbie
This Herbie’s role in the movie revolved around its ability to spin around and turn within its own length. This was accomplished by the addition of a 5th wheel between and slightly behind the front wheels. In addition, there was a secondary steering, gearshift and pedal assembly setup in the rear seat area. This allowed a hidden driver to make the car perform, seemingly at the verbal command of Paco, the small boy standing in the front seat during the movie scenes.
When Spinning Herbie arrived at Mid America Motorworks, both the 5th wheel and the auxiliary driving controls were missing.
A new 5th wheel assembly, new rear seat controls, and various re-wiring was installed. The exterior was carefully restored with the hand-painted "TAXI" signs and smiling flowers. The splashes of fake mud were re-applied, after studying the film.
The 5th wheel assembly was fabricated from drill rods, bearing carriers, and aircraft steel cables to link it to the stock steering controls.
The secondary steering control was built from ¾" drill rods, custom steering wheel, bearing assemblies & a chain gear drive to mate it to the stock controls.
For the sake of drivability and reliability, a new engine was pulled from Mid America Motorworks stock and installed.
Performance Choice designed, fabricated and installed an original, movie-style interior in Herbie. Once again, this included the microphone ready seatbacks as well as the gray primer tones to reduce camera glare.
Now road-ready, Spinning Herbie may be driven from the front or rear seat. When the 5th wheel is activated, it can once again spin in its own length as it did in the bullfight scenes in its movie role.
Spinning Herbie now hits the VW show tour each summer to delight fans of all ages. When not on the road, fans may visit him in the MY Garage Museum & Retail Store at Mid America Motorworks.
To save a high resolution picture to your hard drive, please right click
on a photo below
and choose 'Save Target As'
