Background: Malcolm and his wife, Jacqui, have been married for 43 years. They have lived in Clatskanie for 32 years. He owned Haakinson-Groulx Mortuary in Clatskanie and Rainier for 30 years. He is semi-retired, working part time at Groulx Family Mortuary at Alston’s Corner. Jacqui also works there part time.

His wheels: A 1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air he purchased in 1991. He saw it for sale at a car show at a church in Milwaukee, Ore.

“I wasn’t really looking for a ‘57 Chevy, but I was looking for a car,” he said. “This one was there, for sale, so I bought it.”

Malcolm said he liked the ‘57 Chevy Bel-Air. He recalled admiring the vehicle when he was in eighth grade.

“I saw them at a dealership in a small town in California where I grew up,” he said. “There’s still the same Chevrolet dealer there today. He always had a lot of nice Chevys there, and I always liked them as a kid.”

Malcolm is the second owner of the car, he said.

“The car came from Arizona, where a teacher owned it,” he said. “It was a six-cylinder when I got it.”

When he bought his Bel-Air, the car was in OK shape, but wasn’t ready for shows. It took a lot of work to get it ready, he said.

The vehicle is a rich red.

“I just painted it last year and reupholstered it the year before,” Malcolm said. “We painted the engine compartment this year with the engine being taken out of it and put back in.”

Although similar to the color it was when they bought it, Malcolm said it was impossible to match it completely.

“It was originally called ‘68 Chrysler Regent Red, but that is so old now, it’s not even in the computer system anymore,” he said. “We had to match as best we could.”

Eric Johnson of Johnson’s Auto Body added ghost flames to the car.

In addition, all the chrome on the car was replaced, including inside the windowsills. The chrome steering column was an “I Did It” column that was after-market, Malcolm said.

The Chevy has 17-inch wheels, a 383 Stroker motor with 435 horsepower.

“It makes a little noise at idle, but it smooths right out on the freeway,” Malcolm said. “It doesn’t burn any oil, fortunately.”

The same wasn’t true when he first bought it, Malcolm said.

“The previous owner said he never drove over 50 miles an hour,” he said. “At that point, I could see why.”

When he drove it home from Milwaukee, Malcolm said it smoked all the way.

“And I thought, ‘Well, that’s gotta go.’ ” he said. “It’s had four motors in it since I’ve owned it.”

Malcolm said he especially enjoys taking the vehicle out in the summer.

“It’s just kind of neat,” he said. “I have about 500 trophies in there, and awards, but I’m not into that. I just like to go out, have a good time, visit with people, look at their cars.”

He is a founding member of the Clatskanie Cruisers Car Club, which he and two others started 19 years ago.

“And we’re still going strong,” he said.

He and Jacqui enjoy the car, which they said gets many comments and thumbs-up as they drive it.

“There is never going to be another era of cars like these,” Jacqui said. “They hold their own special place in time.”