June 15th 1957 a new Plymouth was buried in Tulsa. We are taking it out of the ground today. We now know that the concrete vault leaked and at times the car has been totally under water. Three feet of water in there on Wednesday. The car was wrapped with a Rust Inhibitor paper, then wrapped in foil, then some sort of plastic. Some think this may have kept the water from the car. I think the car has been soaked. At noon the lift the car out of the ground (predicting heavy rain then)and at 7:00 pm tonight they are taking the wrapping off and we will see the car condition. I will be there.
Watch your local news at 10 or 11 pm or some cable news channel, it will probably been on there. Tulsa is full of people today to see the unveiling. There would probably be 10 times more people if they would have buried a CHEVROLET instead of a Plymouth.
I will try to remember to report back on this after I see it this evening.
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I did not know about it in 1957, I was raised on the other side of the state
I watched them hoist it out of the ground. Those tall sharp rear fins had penetrated the wrappings on the drivers side. The top of that fin and the entire tailight was exposed.
The car looked like someone smeared mud on every part of it. Rust, but no rust through. The interior was completely rotted away. Ironically the chrome and stainless trim looked very good once the mud was wiped away. They got the hood and trunk open. They were unable to open the doors. Boyd Codington's crew got the vent windows opened and were able to then get the windows rolled down. The battery was still connected, they did not disconnect it in 1957. Tulsan's cound not remember if the keys were in it. Some thought the key was given to the Mayor. The key was in the ignition. It would not turn or come out. They inflated the flat tires and 6 hours later 3 of the four were still holding air. They wiped the miud off those wide whitewall tires and you could still see signatures where people signed them with ball point pens. It was a big deal in 1957 to use those new fangled ball point pens.
Sounds like the car was a real mess. Did they determine if the engine was also frozen? Any paint left on the body? Also, did they find the items put in the golve compartment back in 1957? Did anyone win the car?
The news reports also stated that gasoline was put in the vault with the car back in 1957. Anyone want to guess how good that gasoline is today?
The 10PM news shows the cover being taken off the car. It seems to be in terrible condition. They didn't hose it off but it is either very muddy or very rusty, and the front windows are open! A closeup of one wheel showed the rim rusted away. I think ol' Boyd might have met his match, but he can always yell and swear at someone (Boyd Coddington of TV fame was brought in to service and start the car). Not the best of news overall. The beer in the trunk and the properly sealed time capsule with the paper items seem to be fine.
Heart of Route 66 Region (Okla) VCCA Chevys: 1929 LQ 1.5T; 1930 LR 1.5T; 1932 BA 5 pass coupe; 1941 Chevy 1.5T US Army Fire Truck, my vintage '82 Chevy Motor Home
Anyone know where there are any pictures of this car on-line? I watched and watched but couldn't seem to catch any on the news. I suppose some will be available somewhere, sometime but I was wondering if there are any available now. Thanks. Beamer
Never mind. I just Googled "Tulsa Plymouth" and they are all over the place!
They did not try to turn the motor. They pulled the dipstick and could tell the motor was full of water. Where those coverings were touching the chrome bumper it is rusted. Where it was not touching the chrome bumper, it could be wiped clean and it looked like new. I could see no paint on anything anywhere. The metal was bubbled. It was on display for the public at 10:00 am this morning. I had an Exhibitors pass and went in at 9:00 am and practically got to look at the car with only about 5 other people there.
No microfilm. But they did find the guesses on paper. They were sealed in the protected capsule that was welded shut in 1957. Everything in this capsule was pristine and like brand new. The guesses have been given to a CPA firm. Friday, June 23rd they will announce the winner. The car will be held in trust until the winner or heirs of the winner come forward. They have 5 years to come forward. 5 years seemed a little extreme to me.
Purse. The glove box had fallen to the floor of the car. Remember in this era glove boxes were made of cardboard. The purse was there and soaking wet.
Gasoline cans were in the trunk. It appears they used glass jugs and then put them inside metal cans. Fooling us in 1957. The metal had fallen off but the glass was in tact with the gasoline still there.
Schlitz Beer. A case of this beer was in the car. Some in the trunk and some in the passenger compartment. Most were still sealed with the contents. This is amazing because beer cans in 1957 were tin, not aluminum. Covered in mud. Wipe the mud off and you could read Schlitz very clearly.
Schlitz Beer. A case of this beer was in the car. Some in the trunk and some in the passenger compartment. Most were still sealed with the contents. This is amazing because beer cans in 1957 were tin, not aluminum. Covered in mud. Wipe the mud off and you could read Schlitz very clearly.
Probably the best part of the whole deal!!! :grin:
Just goes to show you that you get more out of a case of beer then you do out of a 57 Plymouth!
Chat Group Chapter Member Current rides; 1968 Camaro rs/SS 350 4spd 2000 Blazer LT 2005 Malibu Maxx 2007 Acura TDX Last total restoration; 1932 Sport Coupe
Contents - The winner of the car does not get the contents. The contents goes to the Tulsa historical Society.
I was there again this morning before it opened. While standing there parts fell off the car. I looked under and saw pieces of rusted metal lying under the car.
Sad...hate to see this car or any car destroyed because of ignorance...with some research and good planning and advice from people who know how to do long term car storage this car could have come out looking great. Too bad…
IMHO
People are like a box of chocolates you never know what you are going to get...
Anyone know where there are any pictures of this car on-line? I watched and watched but couldn't seem to catch any on the news. I suppose some will be available somewhere, sometime but I was wondering if there are any available now. Thanks. Beamer
:cool2:
