In San Francisco, Alonzo Hawk"s dream of building a skyscraper in his name is thwarted by Grandma Steinmetz, who sits stubbornly in her firehouse home on the property he needs. Hawk sends his nephew, Willoughby, to charm Mrs. Steinmetz who, along with a beautiful airline hostess boarder and the magical Volkswagen Herbie, convinces to stay out of the whole mess. After many chases and confrontations, Herbie emerges victorious, and both Mrs. Steinmetz and Willoughby find romance.