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If you happen find yourself in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 15, bring a shovel. Buried beneath the dirt of the Tulsa County Courthouse lawn, about 100 feet north of the intersection of Sixth Street and Denver Avenue, a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe has been hidden underground for half a century.  Swaddled in rust-resistant preservatives and gently placed inside a giant concrete sarcophagus, the tailfinned Plymouth was interred on June 15, 1957 as the centerpiece of a time capsule created for the 21st century citizens of Tulsa 2007.

(http://telstarlogistics.typepad.com/telstarlogistics/images/2007/06/04/tulsaplymouth01.jpg)

http://telstarlogistics.typepad.com/telstarlogistics/2007/06/1957_plymouth_t.html

Will be interesting to see it when they bring it up.(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/up.gif)

We'll see if it lives up to the name.......Mostly Old Parts And Rust.(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/rofls.gif) (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/rofls.gif)

(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/funny.gif)

In me best Elvis impression....


Thank you, thank you very much.....(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/rofls.gif) (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/rofls.gif)

be interesting to see it come out and what (rotted) state it in!

Personally, i'd like to see it come out in utterly pristine condition.(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/up.gif)

Only problem is, whoever it ends up belonging to will probably sell it off to fund their retirement.(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/down.gif)

in addition to burying a brand-new Plymouth, they also packed the car with a variety of advanced products and wares -- including a case of Schlitz beer and the complete contents of a woman's purse.  This explains why, when today's auto-archaeologists open the glove box of the buried Belvedere, inside they will find fourteen bobby pins, a ladies compact plastic rain cap, several combs, a tube of lipstick, a pack of gum, a wad of Kleenex, $2.73 in bills and coins, a pack of cigarettes with matches, an unpaid parking ticket

(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/shame.gif)

Someone's gonna get a shock !

i'll keep an eye on that, very interesting!

Plans to unearth a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere as part of a 50-year time capsule project in Tulsa may be all wet. Tulsarama crews had cracked open the vault to get ready for Friday's unveiling, but what they found was several feet of water surrounding the car (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/sad.gif)

(http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/06/tulsa-2.jpg)

Witnesses said the water looked like chocolate milk and a hazmat team had to be called in to pump it out, just in case it turned out to be toxic. They are still expecting the best for the car because it was greased and wrapped in several layers of plastic and canvas.
I'm not sure that will be enough to safeguard the Plymouth from years of continual flooding, but we'll keep our fingers crossed for the Tulsarama organizers and the Plymouth (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/crossed.gif)

Here's the video :  http://www.kotv.com/e-clips/?id=6708   (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/fish2.gif)

will prove interesting,(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/dontknow.gif)
bloody water gets everywhere...........(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/smirk.gif) (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/down.gif)

Was half expecting that one, it really needed to be hemetically sealed...(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/down.gif)

bummer it swimming it water...

(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/sad.gif) Poor car...

Yep, i'm still facinated by this, although i'm not suprised it leaked TBH... look how thin the roof was!



I agree m8 (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/rtfm.gif)

Thats interesting reading,.....Would like to see the finale of the un-veiling though (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/up.gif)



Does seem A little cowboy-ish! (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/cowboy.gif)

Actually, that quells my idea that everything in the car would be dry rotted.(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/chiny.gif)

I'll keep you posted, I think the basic struture of the car will still be there but everything will be rotted (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/sad.gif)

Cant say I'm much of a fan of the car it's self but I do hope it's ok, doesn't seem that likely though unfortunately.

They should do a modern day equivalent, don't know what car I would put in there though, so many to choose from.

For a time capsule I think a common car like the Ford Mondeo....

Was thinking a little more exotic, something to get excited about seeing in 50 years time (not a shopping trolley mondeo)

Exotic cars will be in museums anyway and wont really show how the average joe/joette lived imho.

That would be no good, they need something that hasn't already started to rust...................(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/rofls.gif)


I love this sort of news item but its nearly always the same story - they learn very little new about the way we used to live (as its pretty much documented anyway) but it always but always highlights the changes in modern building practises and our knowledge of corrosion.

50 years ago they probably believed that simply wrapping something in canvas and plastic and applying liberal amounts of grease would be enough to protect it inside a concrete sarcophagus; what they didn't know back then was that water will seep through concrete within days of it being covered unless its protected by a waterproof membrane. Concrete foundations were only protected from water ingress from the mid sixties onwards.

Its why swimming pools are always painted or tiled.

Oddly enough, and this is worthy of one of FB's news items (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/wink.gif), the Romans created a stronger, more durable and waterprooof concrete 2000 years ago by hand than we are able to produce now with all the technology we have at our disposal.

all good coments.
wonder if the romans buried any chariots......(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/up.gif)

Well they buried a Mopar (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/rofls.gif)

glad it wasnt my car that they buried for safekeeping.......(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/chiny.gif)

There wouldn't be anything left art.(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/tongue.gif)

(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/smirk.gif)

Maybe we can get roadkill to bury the chavscort when he finaly kills it? (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/wink.gif)

(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/funny.gif)

He got rid of a straight 6 engine that way...(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/shame.gif)

I heard about that!!(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/rofls.gif) (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/rofls.gif)

and imagine the surprise when some poor tw@t digs that up.......(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/shame.gif) (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/confused.gif) (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/tongue.gif)

Probably worth a few quid in scrap now....(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/smirk.gif)

Was a pretty shallow grave probably didn't even have to dig (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/rofls.gif)

Unveiling of Belvedere and Opening of Capsule

Friday, June 15, 2007  6:30pm
Maxwell Convention Center Arena.  Doors open at 5:30pm

Anybody know what time that is here (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/dontknow.gif)

I've been told minus seven hours (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/dontknow.gif)

1.30am tomorrow...  (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/lazy.gif)

Let's not try to preserve it, though, eh ? (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/smirk.gif)



Yup.

The flywheel never quite fell below the surface so I left a little mound to cover it.

(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/cowboy.gif)

Curious to see the unveiling . . . . although don't hold out much hope. (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/down.gif)

She's out :

(http://jalopnik.com/assets/images/gallery/12/2007/06/thumb140x140_552009826_940ab7de50_o.jpg)

(http://jalopnik.com/assets/images/gallery/12/2007/06/thumb140x140_552009848_44deaef1b6_o.jpg)

(http://jalopnik.com/assets/images/gallery/12/2007/06/thumb140x140_552009856_68f258b38d_o.jpg)

So something is still left (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/chiny.gif)

Found a bigger picture :

(http://jalopnik.com/cars/assets/resources/2007/06/Oklahoma-Chevy-TOP.JPG)

looks red rusty..........(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/confused.gif)

how many 50 year old yanks are there that are in good condition,

let alone ones that have stood in water for years............(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/dontknow.gif)

Well if it was just plain water it could well just be surface rust, although after 50 years I'd expect it to be a bit more than that (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/dontknow.gif)

Once mild steel starts to rust the surface oxidation actually protects the metal underneath (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/wink.gif)

you been drinking again martine................?(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/rofls.gif)

Ahem. (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/smirk.gif)

(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/cheers.gif)

What I meant to say was :

Rust is permeable to air and water, allowing the metal to continue to corrode - internally - even after a surface layer of rust has formed. Given sufficient hydration, the iron mass can eventually convert entirely to rust and disintegrate.
Corrosion of aluminium is different from steel or iron, in that aluminium oxide formed on the surface of aluminum metal forms a protective, corrosion resistant coating (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/wink.gif)

It's a rust bucket (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/down.gif)

(http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/06/tulsa9.jpg)

(http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/06/tulsa1.jpg)

(http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/06/tulsa2.jpg)

I'm sure some better pictures will surface soon (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/wink.gif)

Found a write up :

They pulled the cover back and there she sat. Mrs. Belvedere was in ruins. Just destroyed... I was totally bummed and the old people around me really took it hard...
They then continued to show flicks of interviews with people who watched the event, while Boyd et. al. tried to open the various compartments. They succeeded with the trunk and hood, but were having difficulties opening the side doors.
In the trunk was some fun stuff. They had put the gas in glass jugs, then placed those in steel containers. There was a six pack of beer and some other destroyed memorabilia. The beer was still in tact!
They opened the hood and removed the plastic cover that disintegrated over it, and showed us the mold/algae covered engine. At that point, there was nothing much left of the car (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/sad.gif)

They proceeded to cut open the big steel boiler that doubled as the real time capsule. It was perfect. They cut it open and pulled out an American Flag that looked brand new. Awesome!
There were postcards, letters from the school districts, etc. Most of the stuff was random memorabilia that the people of Tulsa threw in, last minute, and un-documented."

Edit :

" Boyd Coddington was present in Tulsa as the car was revealed. Hemmings has reported that the custom car builder will be restoring the '57 Belvedere to its original condition.
It's also understood that the car will eventually be given away to the person who correctly guessed what the population of Tulsa would be in 2007 some 50 years ago. The guesses were buried in the time capsule and reportedly survived intact "

That I gotta see....(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/chiny.gif)

Sad . . Just sad. (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/down.gif)

(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/sad.gif)

What a shame but not totally unexpected =- Boyds got his work cut out for him over the next few years then!!!

Tis a shame really, but i'm curious to see it after a bit of soap and water have been applied. Could be a different story all together.(http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/chiny.gif)

damn shame to hear it as bad as that but not suprising really seeing as it was surrounded by water!!

Step up, R. E. Humbertson (or his heir; Mr. Humbertson would be 85 if he's still around)- Tulsa has a Belvedere with zero miles for you! Sure, there's a bit of water damage, but I bet the eBay value of the intact parts (there should be something intact right ?) must be worth having.
The deal back in '57 was that whoever could predict the population of Tulsa 50 years in the future would win the car. Humbertson's guess of 384,743 was the closest to the actual 2007 population of 382,457, so the Belvedere is his.

(http://jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2007/06/Rusty_Belvedere.jpg)


Still no official word if Boyd Coddington is going to restore it (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/dontknow.gif)

Still no "cleaned" pictures either . . . ????

wow what a great story and a damn shame about the car i wonder if its better than it looks

check out them whitewalls they look pretty good you can see the water level across the hub cap and it doesnt look like the water was that deep may have buggered the chassis though

who'd have thought... a car burried in mud for 50 years would go rusty .... (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/rolleyes.gif)

doesn't loook to me like there is any paint left to clean...

Raymond Humbertson, whose 1957 prediction of the 2007 population of Tulsa was most accurate, was a career Marine and Korean War veteran who "moved around a lot" according to his nephew, but died in 1979.
The closest surviving relatives are his two elderly sisters in Maryland, who will likely become co-owners of the somewhat oxidized Plymouth.

I know lets do the whole thing again ?

Well they did in 1998 (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/rolleyes.gif)

In 1998, Tulsa buried a preproduction Plymouth Prowler, and we'll find out how well it does when it's dug out in 2048. This time though, the city did it right. Instead of ancient 1950s technology of concrete and plastic wrap, Tulsa chose a "seamless plastic box" filled with an inert gas, which was then put into an above-ground mausoleum and partially covered with dirt. They also drained all the car's fluids and replaced them with synthetics. We can't help but wonder if in 2048, the world will again turn its eyes on Tulsa to see a badly-decomposed car pulled from the ground and laugh at the ancient 1998 technology used to preserve it.

And instead of the bobby pins, cigarettes and tranquilizers the Belvedere had in its glovebox, the Prowler is entombed with a pair of inline skates, a cell phone, the front of an ATM and a large collection of Beanie Babies (http://mkb-cc.yanksrule.co.uk//Forum/smileys/sad.gif)

Let's hope they have better results then...

Found a video :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni1K_wB3bUg&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eautoblog%2Ecom%2F