THE YOUNG COUPLE BITTEN BY THE LOVE BUG
VOLKSWAGEN’S classic Beetle has long been known as the Love Bug.
The Hollywood movie series about Herbie the magical car and the love spells it casts on its human owners and friends has sent many hearts aflutter — as Gloucester couple Jake McLarney, 26, and Emma Brookes, 27, know only too well.
After meeting as friends seven years ago, they fell under the spell of their very own 56-year-old Beetle from the Swinging Sixties, and have just enjoyed seeing it revamped for use in the 21st century in a TV series set to be screened early next month.
It proved such a moment that, when the covers came off the cream and red love bug, Jake was prompted to propose to Emma there and then.
Joiner Jake creates everything from benches and staircases to bookshelves and windows, while Emma is a support worker for adults with autism.
They acquired their 1966 Volkswagen Beetle three years ago after spotting it for sale online for about £7,000. They did a direct swap for their VW T5 camper van, which they’d used for travelling, but no longer need after moving into a flat together.
The chance to restore the Beetle came when the producers of a TV programme spotted Emma’s filmed postings of the car on social media’s TikTok channel and got in touch.
The Beetle love story will be broadcast on September 2. It will be the third episode of a six-part revamped Pimp My Ride series, which begins today on MTV UK’s YouTube channel in conjunction with eBay. The latter’s parts and accessories department sells a car part every second through its network of 40,000 traders, garages, and retailers — making it the biggest online marketplace for professional and DIY car parts and accessories in the UK.