A Scots movie buff painstakingly built a replica of the iconic Herbie – for £3000.
Ross Nicholson, 27, bought a 1972 Beetle for £2000 and spent £1000 on authentic accessories.
He then spent six months turning the car into an identical replica of the Love Bug from the 1963 Disney film.
Royal Mail worker Ross said going out in Herbie sparks a wave of affection from other drivers, including fellow VW geeks who flash their lights at him.
Ross, from Gorebridge, Midlothian, said: “It looks pretty good now, Herbie is fun to go out in – when people see him they always smile.
“I went out with a pal in the car and everyone was waving and he was saying ‘it will take a bit of getting used to’.”
Since 2017, Ross has been making props for fun, including a remote control from Back to the Future which lights up, and a gun from Alien, as well as an imitation pistol from Robocop. He either sells them or finds they are in demand from friends.
Ross plans to take Herbie to car rallies this summer.
He added: “We’ve been doing a lot of car shows with it.
“I drive it into work a couple of times a week and to my parents’. It’s 50 years old and I had never driven anything that old myself. I remember being nervous to drive it at first.
“It’s actually pretty good, it’s nice to drive.
“I thought it would be old and rickety. It’s exempt from road tax and MOT because of its age.
“If you are out in a Beetle and you see someone else driving an old VW, they always flash their lights and wave. It’s like an unofficial club.”
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