Car Buried in 1957 to Be Unearthed in 2007

[MikeA]

Car Buried in 1957 to Be Unearthed in '07 Mon Dec 12, 9:01 PM ET



A Plymouth Belvedere that was buried in a concrete vault nearly 50 years ago as part of the state's golden anniversary celebration will be unearthed in 2007 as part of the Oklahoma centennial festivities.

The 1957 Belvedere is underground next to the Tulsa County Courthouse. Also buried with it were five gallons of gas and a case of beer.

Old news reports indicate the gas was buried in case internal combustion engines became obsolete by 2007 and no fuel was available. Other buried items include the contents of a woman's purse: 14 bobby pins, a lipstick, a pack of gum, tissues, a pack of cigarettes and matches and $2.43.

There was also an unpaid parking ticket, a bottle of tranquilizers and a spool of microfilm, which records the entries of a contest held to determine the winner of the car. The person to guess Tulsa's population in 2007 or the heirs of that person were to win the car and a $100 savings account.

Assuming an average annual interest of 5 percent compounded quarterly, such an account would be worth almost $1,200 today, if the account could be found.

The account was set up at a savings and loan that was taken over by Sooner Federal, which was liquidated during the savings and loan bust of the early 1990s. The committee has been trying to find the account, so far without success.

It's not clear exactly how the items were prepared for burial, or how they may have held up for all these years.

The Tulsa Historical Society and the centennial committee have been getting inquiries from all over the world about the car, including one from a Scandinavian who claims to have an exact twin of the buried Belvedere.

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On the Net:

Tulsa's centennial committee car information: http://www.buriedcar.com

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Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com

[Norm reynolds]

I have been watching this for years. When I was 16 I had one the same color as the one buried
I really want to see if it will come out as good as it went in If it comes out in great shape god knows what it will be worth
more infor
http://www.forwardlook.net/19571958P.../countdown.asp

[Pantera]

I remember when this was done. My dad took us down to watch it be lowered into the hole. The car was on display at the dodge dealer for a while and we went down and looked at it before it was sealed up.

I am afraid that it will be a rust bucket after all these years. it was sealed with tar as I recall and Tulsa has a high ground water problem around most of the city. There is a layer of Murphy Clay about 6 to 7 feet down in most areas of the city. Water will travel sideways instead of flowing through it. If they dug it into that then it would be like burying it in a empty swimming pool.

I think my dad was in the lottery for the car but I am not sure. I was about 12 then.

Pantera

[bad1racing]

Pantera,I was thinking the same thing.Open up the hole and find a pile of rust.Idont think you could seal up a cement vault to keep it dry inside.Even the humidity from the day they put it in the ground would eat it up you would think?Wouldn't it be cool if it was as nice as the day they put it in there?Hope someone gets a piece of history.Just my thoughts. Kendall

[WILMASBOYL78]

Maybe there is a time vault somewhere in New Jersey with Jimmy Hoffa in it!

wilma

[JoeG]

A friend of mine uncovered a '53 Eldorado convertable several years ago that was covered in cosmoline and then wrapped completely in a plastic tarp cacoon outside in a field--in late '50s--When they found the car they had to cut down trees to get it out---The leather seats and top had deteriorated somewhat--but the rest car was perfectly preserved---CAR has 3,000 mi.---

[71-LS6]

That car would have been better off dropped to the bottom of lake Superior. It will be interesting to see some pictures of it.

[Norm reynolds]

I am also afraid it will be a pile rust
after looking at the vidio the walls on the cement vault
walls are not that thick
cant wate to see the out come

[Born30YrsLate]

Wonder if they'll try to use the old gas?...that would be fun...

[Lynn]

Hving lived in Oklahoma most of my life, all I can think is:

OMG, of all the cool cars to pick from in 57, you dumb okies tried to preserver a Plymouth Belvedere????????

57 Bel Air
57 Corvette
57 Bonneville
and my favorite, 57 Eldo.
Even a 57 Ford would be better.

Oh well, to each his own.

Yeay, that 50 year old gas will be great. Better call in the EPA with some superfund money to clean that mess up.


Lynn

Of course the Mopar gu