The Barrett-Jackson Houston auction is almost upon us, and the docket has taken shape with a great variety of collectible cars, customs and everything in between. I’ve covered numerous Barrett-Jackson auctions as a reporter, and it has become normal for me to be surprised by interesting finds on the docket. Those surprising cars and trucks stand out from the crowd and often go against the grain. There’s something for everyone, but you have do some leg work to find it, and that’s why I am here.
Lot #367 1967 Volkswagen Beetle Sunroof “Herbie” Re-creation
I don’t think I am going out on a limb when I say that Herbie The Love Bug is the most famous VW Beetle in American cinematic history, even more so than Da Fino’s Bug in the “Big Lebowski.” I have taken a moment to contemplate that notion and I stand by my proclamation.
But that is neither here nor there, as this proper Volkswagen Beetle Herbie re-creation stands out from the crowd with attention to detail for a car that was the central character in numerous movies.
“An homage to the car that had the starring role in the 1968 Disney film ‘The Love Bug,’ this 1967 Volkswagen Beetle sunroof ‘Herbie’ re-creation is complete with a squirting feature operated by remote control,” the listing states. “The franchise spawned several zany sequels throughout the decades as well as several variants of the main character, ‘Herbie.’”
This Beetle has all the requisite Herbie details, with No. 53 decals and red, white, and blue stripes. It’s powered by a 1500cc four-cylinder engine paired with a four-speed manual transmission. All the details are there for this Herbie homage. Should Lindsey Lohan bid on this one and reenact her role in “Herbie Fully Loaded”?
Lot #36.1 2010 Volkswagen Beetle Pickup conversion
I’m an El Camino fan, and I still lament that Holden Utes never made it to the U.S. Lacking options for a late-model Ute, I found a custom alternative that fits the bill.
“This 2010 Volkswagen new Beetle pickup truck is nicknamed ‘The UTE.’ Professionally built with a Smyth conversion kit, it includes an all-aluminum bed with a fold-down gate for easier access,” the listing states. “The body panels are fiberglass, which includes weeks of sanding and prepping with multiple layers of 2K paint and 3M materials to give it that perfect look and finish.”
The pictures in the vehicle’s listing show a well-designed and well-crafted conversion that gives the impression it was produced at VW’s factory. It’s a solid custom that features a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine paired with a manual transmission, plus it has a clean title with no accidents.
Strong selling points, but the cherry on top is a Herbie The Love Bug stripe kit is included with the sale. What could be better than a Herbie Ute?
The Barrett-Jackson 2022 Houston auction runs from October 20-22, 2022 at the NRG Center.
