One of the original Herbie stunt cars built for the 2005 Disney film Herbie: Fully Loaded is set to cross the auction block, offering collectors a rare opportunity to acquire an authentic piece of movie and automotive history. The vehicle is one of six specially prepared “street race” Herbie cars constructed for the film’s on-screen racing sequences.
The cars were built by Mike Yager and his company, Mid America Motorworks, which was tasked with creating multiple versions of the iconic Volkswagen Beetle to meet the demands of filming. When production wrapped, Disney allowed Yager to purchase one of the screen-used cars, and that vehicle is now being offered for sale. It retains the appearance and equipment used during the movie’s street-racing scenes.
Herbie: Fully Loaded marked the sixth theatrical entry in the long-running Herbie franchise, which began in 1968 with The Love Bug. The series followed the adventures of a sentient Volkswagen Beetle known for its racing number 53 and red, white and blue stripes. Over the decades, the franchise expanded through multiple sequels and a television revival before returning to theaters in 2005 with a modernized racing storyline.
The film starred Lindsay Lohan as Maggie Peyton, a recent college graduate from a racing family who discovers Herbie in a junkyard and ultimately competes against professional driver Trip Murphy. The movie featured appearances by well-known racing figures and blended family-friendly storytelling with motorsport themes. Produced on a budget of approximately $50 million, the film grossed about $144 million worldwide, achieving financial success despite mixed critical reception.
The Herbie offered for sale reflects the “street racer” look created for the movie. Exterior features include a fiberglass whale-tail deck lid with a clear engine cover, widened fiberglass fenders, modified running boards, faux air intakes, lowered suspension and chrome wheels. Inside, the car is fitted with Sparco racing seats, a Grant GT steering wheel, a custom dashboard with white-faced gauges, an AutoMeter tachometer and a JVC audio system with amplifiers and subwoofers.
The vehicle is scheduled to be auctioned by Mecum in mid-January, where it is expected to attract interest from film memorabilia collectors, Volkswagen enthusiasts and longtime fans of the Herbie franchise.