Dotty Hits the Road

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Dotty Davenport is on the road again. And heads are turning.

Painted Bel Air blue, the retro rover will roll into Rockbrook Village on Friday as a retail ambassador for the Tweed Couch, an interior design boutique.

Dotty, a 1953 Olson Kurb Side delivery truck, owes her newfound existence to Diane Flynn, the boutique's owner.

Flynn found the vintage vehicle in January while browsing an online classified ad listing. Intrigued, she traveled to Atlantic, Iowa, to inspect the vehicle's potential.

“She was perfect,” Flynn recalls of the dusty, dingy, banana yellow relic she bought and had restored.

Dotty's interior is a reflection of Flynn's shop — an eclectic mix of new and repurposed treasures. “The Tweed Couch is all about attitude,” said Flynn. “Dotty has that.”

In a nod to the 1950s, Flynn decorated with turqouise-and-white upholstery and black-and-white flooring. Then, for fun, she embellished with a crystal chandelier, candelabra and artwork.

“A lot of people had a hand in bringing this vehicle back to life,” Flynn said. The exterior work and mechanical repairs went to Kirby's Complete Auto Center. Fiancé Lance Gunderson championed the interior refurbishment.

Dotty — named for Flynn's mother, Dorothy Carper — will be the guest of honor at an open house from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. Flynn promises refreshments, hourly door prizes, and photos with Dotty. At 7 p.m., Dotty will scoot over to the shopping center's pavilion for the family concert series.

Friday also marks the release of a limited-edition picture book with Dotty as the central character. “From Breadcrumbs to Blue Panels,” written and illustrated by Theresa Murray, imagines what Dotty's life must have been like delivering bread.

“You do what you can to stir fun and curiosity in a business,” Flynn says. “Maybe Dotty Davenport will go on to do something big, like McQueen (of “Cars” movie fame). It's good fun.”

Contact the writer:

402-444-1094, Chris.Christen@owh.com