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02-13-2010, 12:25 AM
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Location: Earth
4,237 posts, read 23,868,906 times
Reputation: 2265
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If you remember, back on June 15, 2007 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere was unearthed from it's tomb after being buried for 50 years.
The car was buried as a brand new car on June 15, 1957 and was planned to be excavated 50 years later as a celebration to the centennial of the state of Oklahoma.
Before the car was buried, in the trunk was a can of gasoline, some Schitz beer and a capsule (seen below being lowered into the tomb with the car) that contained things such as the US flag with the 48 stars as it was in '57. A guess was taken on how many people would occupy Tulsa in 2007; the closest winner would be awarded the car upon it's unearthing...
Some people even autographed the white walls of the tires.
The car was then wrapped in what was supposed to be a vacuum sealed protestant and then lowered into what was supposed to be a tomb that could withstand a nuke attack. Too bad they didn't think about water leaking in....
Yes, water leaked in, and the car sat for 50 years immersed in water.
The interior has deteriorated away...
Looks like the water made it as high as the headliner...
The suspension didn't fare any better....both of the leaf springs rusted in half to where the car's tail end was squatting...
Here's part of the leaf spring, as found after the car had been moved out of the tomb...
More of the rusty undercarriage....
That thing got a hemi...???? Well whatever it is doesn't matter now cuz it ain't running...
The winner was off by 286 people; however he died of cancer in 1979. The car went to his heirs. |
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02-13-2010, 12:33 AM
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Location: Still in Portland, Oregon, for some reason
890 posts, read 3,521,640 times
Reputation: 743
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I heard they were working on restoring it. No news on that?
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02-13-2010, 12:37 AM
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Location: Northeast Tennessee
7,305 posts, read 26,940,124 times
Reputation: 5517
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Ugh, how revolting.
I remember this. It almost made me lose my dinner. How sad. 
Its unbelievable how badly it rusted. I think it could have set above ground all of those years, uncovered and it would have faired much better... well, obviously since you see old original cars that have been setting out for years and look nothing like this. I imagine had the seal kept the water out, the car would have been excellent.
Was there ever a # of people mentioned that were there when it was pulled up that were there when it went it?
They have since buried another car... a PT Cruiser I think. Hopefully its waterproof.  |
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02-13-2010, 12:39 AM
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Location: U.S.A.
3,306 posts, read 11,505,309 times
Reputation: 2965
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This vehicle is beyond destroyed... that said, everything on it is still INTACT save the fabric items.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rosecitywanderer
I heard they were working on restoring it. No news on that?
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I hope your kidding... |
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02-13-2010, 12:42 AM
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Location: Northeast Tennessee
7,305 posts, read 26,940,124 times
Reputation: 5517
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I have seen alot of rough cars restored, but this one appears to be too far gone. The interior dissolved.... and the rust is so bad, after you removed it, there would be nothing left of the car.  |
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02-13-2010, 12:43 AM
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Location: U.S.A.
3,306 posts, read 11,505,309 times
Reputation: 2965
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LOL! Theres one spot on the bumper that is still like brand new!
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02-13-2010, 12:46 AM
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10,494 posts, read 26,025,495 times
Reputation: 6705
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I actually like that car (before it was buried). It reminds me of the car in the movie Christine.
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02-13-2010, 12:51 AM
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Location: Earth
4,237 posts, read 23,868,906 times
Reputation: 2265
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02-13-2010, 12:57 AM
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Location: U.S.A.
3,306 posts, read 11,505,309 times
Reputation: 2965
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Deez Nuttz
The heirs of Miss Belvedere decided to ship the car off to Ultra One, a restoration firm in New Jersey whose specialty product is a de-rusting solution which is designed to remove only rust while leaving the underlying metal, paint and decals intact.
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That rust removal stuff is pretty potent!  |
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02-13-2010, 01:03 AM
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Location: Earth
4,237 posts, read 23,868,906 times
Reputation: 2265
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rosecitywanderer
I heard they were working on restoring it. No news on that?
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I don't believe it will be restored. The body is said to be very weak from the rust and fragile.
I did read they are considering sending the heap of rust back to Tulsa and putting it into a museum.
Here's an article from the middle of last year on some progress being made on it's clean up...
Tulsa World: Preservation continues on exhumed auto |
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