David Tomlinson is consistently dependable as a charming English comedian, and he performs admirably here portraying the arrogant car salesman "Thorndyke." He specializes in high-end vehicles, so “Jim” (Dean Jones) is taken aback to discover an old VW Beetle in poor condition on his property. This little car possesses something unique, and before long, the struggling driver and his friend "Tennessee" (Buddy Hackett) have purchased it, fixed it up, and given it the name "Herbie." Remarkably, his luck with racing reverses course, and soon his former owner is pursuing him—and willing to resort to almost any measure—as they gear up for a cross-country race where victory brings rewards and “Herbie” faces the scrapyard if he loses. It's noteworthy that this film arrived one year following "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (1968), indicating a clear interest in magical cars at the time. “Herbie” is playful and occasionally throws a fit, which gives him just enough character, along with Jones’ strong performance—to make for an entertaining story about friendship and mutual support, as well as one filled with rapid-fire action and even a touch of romance while we go down mountains, slide through mud, and generally experience our own version of "Wacky Race." It feels somewhat overstuffed and is likely twenty minutes longer than necessary; I believe the point gets across and we could move on to the action more swiftly. Nevertheless, it's still an enjoyable film that brings back memories of what was extremely well-liked in the late sixties.

Source on TMDB