"The idea was that I wanted to be able to drive the car anywhere. I didn't want to spend all that time and money and then have to haul it around," Hopper said.

There were certain things Mrs. Hopper insisted on as well which included safety and comfort. Additionally, he learned from a Texas friend who owns 13 Hupmobiles that restoring the original straight-8 engine would cost thousands of dollars.

"When we went on little tours around town during the Topeka convention I had to hold my speed down to 45 mph because that's about all the other Hupmobiles can do," Hopper said.

The Hupmobile is from America's automotive era before the Interstate highway system. Most car travel was a relatively short distance from home or work at speeds today we'd consider moderate.

Hopper's Hupp has certain features unusual to autos of its era.

"It has a two-digit trip gauge on the speedometer," he said. "There are twin cowl vents and the windshield swings out to allow air in." There's a side mount spare tire on the passenger side. A double mount was optional. Dual tail lamps were also available by special order.

"If you can believe this, the trunk and luggage rack didn't come from the factory, but could be purchased separately from the dealer," he said.

Hopper performed most of the modern mechanical renovation of the Hupmobile himself. A graduate of Bowlegs High School, he began learning about cars and how to repair them at an early age.

"I sold my horse and was going to get me a motorcycle, but my brother talked me into buying a 1950 Ford with a flathead V-8 with standard transmission," he said. "I pushed that Ford to start it more than I ever got it running off the starter. The transmission I had nothing but trouble with. I think that's why I don't like Fords today. And I didn't get my motorcycle until I was 36 years old."

Hopper learned from watching his stepdad work on cars and peppering dealership grease monkeys with questions.

"I made friends with some of the mechanics at the Chevrolet garage and they'd give me advice," he said.

Hopper enjoys the reaction his Hupmobile gets from young people.

"They love it. Most don't know what it is and I have a lot of fun with that," he said.

Once on a drive to Chicksha he parked it at a drive-in and went in to get a sandwich. Coming back out Hopper joined the crowd that had gathered around his old car, pretending he knew nothing of it.

"What is that thing?" one of the admirers said.