Background: A Longview native, Lorne Maupin was born in 1933 at Longview Memorial Hospital. His family lived in Longview until he was 3 years old, then they moved to Carrolls. He graduated from Kelso High School in 1951, then went to work at Longview Fibre Co. He went on to serve in the Navy during the Korean War and, after returning home for a brief time, moved to California where he worked in the paper industry until his retirement. He moved back to Longview in 2007.

His wheels: A 1968 Chevrolet El Camino he purchased several years ago.

Lorne said he enjoyed the look of the El Camino. After saving a 1969 version from a wrecking yard, he discovered it was a “rust bucket.”

“It was so much work to restore it,” he said. “I came across this one (the 1968) in an ad in the paper, and it has literally no rust on it.”

Lorne was happy to have the 1968 model, noting there are only a “few minor differences” between the two years.

“The backup lights are in the tailgate on a ‘69 and in the bumper on a ‘68, and the hood latch is different” he said. “Other than that, unless you really know those features, you can’t tell the years apart.”

The vehicle had a “tired old 350 in it,” Lorne said. “I built a high-performance 406.

In addition, Lorne rebuilt everything underneath mechanically, including new brakes, the rear end and new bushings in the front end. He did all the mechanical work himself.

He also had the interior redone, adding a wood-grain dash that was not original to the vehicles, but which added a look that Lorne enjoys. He also had the upholstery redone and a new paint job for the vehicle.

The paint was done by Antique Alley in Cave Junction, Ore. Lorne had the vehicle painted silver and blue.

“I liked that because it matches my dad’s airplane,” he said. “He used to be a pilot, and right after the war, he bought a small airplane, silver and blue. I haven’t heard too many people criticize it (the paint job).”

Lorne said he has enjoyed taking the vehicle to car shows, but wasn’t able to make any this summer.

“I didn’t take it this year to (Unique Tin), but I had intended to take it to Long Beach (End of the World Rod Run), but I misplaced when that show was held,” he said.

After reading about the jam-packed show and the horrifying homicide that took place during the event, Lorne said he wasn’t too unhappy about missing the show.

“Maybe I was better off just staying home.”