SuperBeetles.Com

BACK to Gallery 9

Devon's 1962 Beetle

'Please take care of Herbie. Whatever your problem, he'll help you find the answer.' Just as in Herbie Fully Loaded, this note in Herbie's glove compartment told 9-year old Devon Knight that Herbie was his. It was at the start of the Niagara River Run during the June Jitterbug in Niagara Falls, Ontario this year. We arrived to see all the VWs lined up for their cruise. Devon jumped out of the car with his camera, immediately spotted Herbie, ran over to him, and started taking pictures. "Look, the license plate is from Newfoundland! I can't believe there is a Herbie in Newfoundland that I didn't know about!" he said. Devon had been looking forward to the June Jitterbug for a year and he was already thrilled. What he didn't know yet was that we had spent much of the past year arranging to purchase and ship a bug to John's Bug Shop for transformation into a Herbie. John and Jamie had done a fabulous job. Herbie looked fantastic. "Climb inside", I said. "It's okay". We opened the glove compartment, found the note and told him that this Newfoundland Herbie was his. There was almost no reaction - he was speechless.

Since the time he was an infant, Devon has always loved vehicles. When he was a toddler, his mother, Bev, used to tell him stories about this magical car named Herbie the Love Bug. He couldn't get enough of them. When we finally found the videos of the old Love Bug movies, he instantly became a die-hard Herbie fan. Almost every picture he draws has Herbie in it somewhere. Fifty-three is his favourite number. VW sightings are always a big deal. From the age of three, he has been talking about owning an "old-fashioned VW beetle" that he was going to do up like Herbie.

Classic beetles are a very rare sight in Western Newfoundland. I suppose the salt air, wet climate, and harsh winters have taken their toll. So we spent a lot of time with Devon on the Internet looking at photos of Herbies and VW shows. That's how we discovered John Spironello's Herbie dragster in Niagara Falls, my hometown. On our next trip to Niagara, John invited us to come down to the Bug Shop and see his Herbie. He and the staff were great. Devon was really excited - and plans were made to attend the 2007 June Jitterbug. The Jitterbug was beyond his dreams - and, as we quickly discovered, the VW crowd is super-friendly. Devon was adopted by people at the show. Tracy Bellamy took Devon under his wing and even gave him his first ride in a classic beetle. Devon left with a Special Merit Award, about a thousand photos, and memories of a lifetime. The next thing I knew, I found myself searching The Samba and eBay every day for a suitable Herbie candidate. Through the LoveBugFans.com website (http://www.geocities.com/lovebugfans/index1.htm), we found all the information we needed to create our very own Herbie - including contacts who sell accurate decals and license plates. We located a 1962 beetle in North Dakota named Pearl and had her shipped to John in Niagara Falls. John and Jamie Gilbert got her into great mechanical condition and did the sex change to Herbie. Everything was perfect when we arrived for the 2008 June Jitterbug. Talk about excited - Devon's first cruise in Herbie, leading a line of classic VWs through Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake. Devon walked away with the Runner Up plaque for the 'Type I Stock to '67' class, lots of new friends, and more great memories. Needless to say, he was thrilled.

Herbie is now in Steady Brook, Newfoundland, where he turns a lot of heads. Adults remember owning and driving a beetle and the kids all recognize Herbie. Wherever we go, people honk and wave, stop us to take photos and ask lots of questions about the car. Kids especially are really delighted when Herbie drives by and gives them a beep. Devon and Herbie recently won the People's Choice Award at the Stephenville car show and were featured on a CBC Radio interview. We've discovered that people of all ages seem to know and love that famous bug from California. We figure he is the most easterly Herbie replica in North America - probably the only one in this time zone. He's definitely a long way from the original Love Bug's California home. One thing is for sure though, for one 9-year old boy, this Herbie is the centre of the universe.

Herbie lives in Steady Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador with his owner, Devon Knight, and his owner's parents, Tom Knight and Bev Dawe.