A piece of Maine's horror movie history has risen from the metaphorical grave. The infamous truck that played a pivotal role in Stephen King's Pet Sematary has been rescued from the elements and is currently undergoing a frame-up restoration thanks to Mike Tammaro of V.L. Tammaro Oil in Baileyville.
      The truck, a bright red 1988 Peterbilt 378, was brand new when the film was being shot. Originally housed at Northern New England Peterbilt, the truck was leased to Paramount Pictures so it could fulfill its grisly Hollywood deed. With the shot completed, the truck was returned to the dealer. Shortly afterward, it was bought by Murray Laplant & Sons, a timber hauling and transport company based in Princeton.
      Once part of the Laplant fleet, the truck was used as a low-bed hauler, according to Tammaro, bringing equipment in and out of the Maine woods. "That's hard work for trucks," he says.
      Afterward, the truck retired to a lot owned by the Laplants. Some Stephen King fans would come to the property to admire it, and the Laplants occasionally took it out to showcase it. But as the elements and overgrowth came to claim it, the truck sat dormant for a time.
      Workers for the Laplants occasionally spread word about the truck, and Tammaro was among those who found out about its history and its location. As a lifelong horror fan, he was immediately interested. "I've always been very intrigued by horror movies, particularly Stephen King movies. He has a way of integrating Maine in all of his movies, and I appreciate that."
      Tammaro contacted the Laplants and made what he felt was a fair offer, but it wasn't accepted. For years, he continued to try, receiving the same response each time - that was, until Ronald Laplant showed up "out of the blue" in Tammaro's office, he recalls, "and asked me if I still wanted to buy it."
      On January 27, 2021, it became official: Tammaro was the new owner of the famed Peterbilt, and restoration could begin. The goal, according to Tammaro, was to do a full nut-and-bolt restoration -- but only in the spare time of the mechanics working for V.L. Tammaro, who manage a fleet of 50 or so vehicles.
      From the outset, it was a clear challenge. "The frame was in bad shape," Tammaro says. "It was pretty discouraging."
      Fortunately, Tammaro learned about P.G. Adams in Vermont, a company with the ability to recreate exact matches of frames using only portions of the original. The frame "fit together like a glove."
      From there, Forrest Auto Body in Winterport was recruited to restore the cab and the nose of the truck, painting it the exact color it was in the 1989 film. Davinci Signs in Hermon recreated the truck's original decals. The engine and transmission were rebuilt and installed, and the partially-finished truck was sent back to Tammaro to finish the job.
      Using a line sheet listing the original parts, Tammaro and his team have been working to obtain specific replacements. While they've had success finding some items, such as the bumper and fuel tank, other pieces still remain elusive. Exterior air valves and interior dash panels are a particular challenge, along with other pieces of the "gutted" interior. As such, it's still a work in progress, but Tammaro is optimistic it will be completed by next Halloween.

The revival tour
      Once the iconic Peterbilt is back up and running, Tammaro envisions a variety of roles it will fulfill. Locally, it will be shown in parades and potentially deliver oil around Halloween. Nationally, it will be a featured piece of Hollywood memorabilia at select vehicle shows and events. Potentially accompanying the vehicle throughout most of these stops will be none other than Donnie Greene -- the actor who drove the truck in the original Pet Sematary.
      Earlier this year, Tammaro shares, Greene reached out to him and said that he now lives in Florida but makes regular trips to Maine each summer. According to Tammaro, Greene visited over the summer to see the truck and outlined plans to accompany it on showings, giving autographs to fans as he does. Greene could not be reached for comment to confirm his plans at this time.
      Either way, Tammaro emphasizes that he wants the vehicle to remain in the area as much as possible. "I'd like to see it appreciated locally -- to spend the majority of its time in the state of Maine."
      Recognizing the origin of history of the truck, Tammaro says, "None of this would have been possible without the LaPlant family being willing to sell us this truck and take on this project. I'm very honored they chose us to do it."
      For Tammaro, the process has been a rewarding one. "I'm very excited," he shares. "It's a piece of Maine horror movie history."