What Disney film first starred the Beetle character Herbie?

The Disney film that first starred the Beetle character Herbie was The Love Bug.

Released in 1968, The Love Bug introduced Herbie as a white, self-driving Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of his own. The story follows race driver Jim Douglas, played by Dean Jones, as he discovers that the seemingly ordinary car has an extraordinary personality and competitive talent. Robert Stevenson directed the film for Walt Disney Productions.

The movie was based on Gordon Buford’s story “Car, Boy, Girl” and became the starting point for the Herbie franchise. Its original U.S. release was limited to December 24, 1968, followed by a wider release in March 1969. The film was a major commercial success, earning more than $51 million against a reported $5 million budget.

Herbie Rides Again was the sequel, not the first appearance. The Rescuers and Cars are unrelated Disney films, although Cars also features anthropomorphic vehicles. Herbie’s familiar racing number, 53, became one of the character’s defining visual marks in later appearances.