Down-on-his-luck race car driver Jim Douglas teams up with a little VW Bug that has a mind of it's own, not realizing Herbie's worth until a sneaky rival plots to steal him.
Herbie is back in gear and ready for more adventure. This time Herbie's leading lady is Helen Hayes, out to save her beloved Victorian home from the wrecking ball of a greedy real estate tycoon. It's up to Herbie to "come through in the clutch."
Upon entering a Paris-to-Monte Carlo road race, Herbie falls hood-over-wheels in love when he encounters a sleek, sporty, light blue Lancia. But also vying for Herbie's attention is a gang of jewel theives, who've ingeniously hidden a stolen gem in Herbie's gas tank.
While transporting Herbie from Puerto Vallarta to Brazil for an auto race, things get complicated by a stowaway in Herbie's trunk, an orphan who's stolen an Incan treasure map from a criminal in hot pursuit.
Maggie Peyton, the new owner of Herbie, Number 53, the free-wheelin' Volkswagen bug with a mind of its own, puts the car through its paces on the road to becoming a NASCAR competitor.