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The 1974 Dodge Charger sported shiny orange-red paint and jet black racing decals, but that wasn't what set it apart from other cars at the O'Reilly Auto Parts World of Wheels.
Instead, Ray Kuper's treasured car stood out Sunday at the Omaha auto show because it sheltered one of Christopher Robin's friends from the Hundred Acre Wood, a depressed gray donkey named Eeyore.
Eeyore dolls were cleverly placed in the Charger. A little version of the donkey rested on the car's air intake inside the engine compartment, while others were passengers.
Kuper's vehicle was one of 400 hot rods, custom cars, motorcycles and trucks that attracted 25,000 people to the 55th annual event, held this past weekend at the Qwest Center Omaha.
The love of cars — and Eeyore, from the Winnie the Pooh stories — brought Kuper and his daughter, Tiffany, closer together after he and his wife divorced.
Kuper was given an Eeyore doll before his daughter was born. Tiffany began collecting the dolls as she got older.
Eeyore was inspirational, said Tiffany, 19.
“He's misunderstood,” she said. “If you think about it, he's the one that sums up most people's lives.”
The show, which ended Sunday, also drew Mike Dresen's family from Earling, Iowa. He said they like to look at the cars. His daughter Liz, 16, especially liked the Chevy Camaros. She said they look “sleeker.”
While many people attended the show for the cars, others showed up for activities like video games, an aircraft simulator and radio-controlled racing cars. The event also featured a BMX Freestyle Stunt Show.
Show manager Bob Larivee Jr. said car hobbyists enjoy showing off their work.
“Building a car is an expression of yourself,” he said.
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444-1304, news@owh.com
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