BURIED ALIVE!!!

[Randy]

On Friday, June 15th 1957, a Brand New 1957 Plymouth Belvedere was buried in a sealed concrete vault along with artifacts from 1957 in Tulsa Oklahoma. In three days June 15th, this vault will be re-opened and it's contents removed. What condition will these things be in? Those familiar with Steven King's Christine will really get a kick out of this one, is this the older sister of Christine? Will it rise again and run? Will Christine show up? To find out more about this story follow the link.

1957 Plymouth to be unearthed

[paulatukcamera]

Now I don't wish to be a Jonah but ..............................

Weren't all the '57 Mopars rust buckets?

Should have buried a 57 Bel Air Convertible - now unearthing a mint, never used example of one of those would have been a real event!

Paul ............................... getting out of here .................. fast!

[Randy]

OOOF! I'm not only a Minolta nut, I'm a Mopar nut also. You're gettin me where I live Paulie!!! Ouch!

[kiev4a]

I can hear that Mopar starter whining !

[herron]

My father worked for Chrysler for 34 years...ended up as a quality manager for their engines...so, despite my own 27 years at a competitor, I have a fondness for some of the Mopar muscle cars of the 60s.

In my earlier days in ad agencies, I created the logo for the Chrysler Direct Connection racing parts program, and for their Kit Kar drag racing program. I also worked on a couple of cross-promotional TV ads. Does anyone remember some of the TV spots for Colt 45 Malt Liquor? A couple in particular featured the late comedian Redd Foxx. There was one where he supposedly drove a tricked out Dodge Colt (with Colt 45 logos all over it) and went down a ski jump with it (the car, sans driver, actually was sent down a ski jump)! It slid to a stop just short of the "James Bond" kind of character (I've forgotten the actors name after 30+ years) who appeared in all Colt 45 ads of the period.

Well, I didn't do the ad, a different agency did Colt 45 work...but, thanks to my Chrysler racing connections, did get to design the "tricked out" car for it!

It will be interesting to see how it looks, 50 years later. But I agree somewhat with Paul. Why a Plymouth Belvedere? I know Chrysler came out with the Belvedere in response to the Chevy Bel Air about 1951. But in 1957 the Belvedere was considered a "grandpa's car" to all the young (my age, then) kids.

If it had been a few years later, say 1964, I could readily see it. The 1964 Belvedere is notable for being the car that introduced the Chrysler 426 Hemi engine (the Elephant, for all you muscle-car lovers), which finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at that year's NASCAR Daytona race.

And in my days of really cruising Woodward Avenue (not the annual parking lot they call the Dream Cruise these days), the neatest drag matchup you could find was a 427 Vette vs any of the street Hemi Mopars. I was always partial to the Vette, 'cause it just looked so cool. But the street Hemi version, with two Carter AFB carbuetors, was officially rated at 425 hp. In reality, the engine could produce 450 to 475 hp and 490 ft·lb of torque (thanks for the info, Dad).

[paulatukcamera]

Now what can I say? Sometimes you just have to be cruel to be kind! I just had to bring you the pictures that the buried car website does not currently carry! (dare not?)

www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=129598

www.tulsachevys.com/Images/buriedcar/index.html Photos of the car emerging

Now if it had been that BelAir, it would have started on the button and driven out looking something like this:



Sorry to destroy your dreams Randy & Ron!

What do they say about one man's dream being another's nightmare?

Paul

(They don't seem to have a"smug" smiley)
;D ;D ;D ;D


Paul

[Randy]

When they opened the vault it was halfway full of water. The vault leaked, and there was evidence the water had been up to the roof at times. Last night at the unveiling the car was very dirty and rusty. Boyd Coddington of the American Hot Rod television show tried to start it but it would not turn over. They do say the car is restorable though.

[Just Plain Curt]

Anything is restorable given enough time and massive injections of cash. Now if it were a Rambler, all they'd have needed was a cup of gas down the carb and a towel for Boyd to sit on so he didn't get his bum wet and he could have driven out. Seriously, I had to look on the internet to find a Rambler that was badly rusted. They used galvanised metal that just seemed to last even if the tranny and engine have long since given up the ghost.

[John Parry]

There used to be a long and complicated joke over her about a guy who had a nuclear fallout shelter built. To cut it short, when the sirens finally went off there was a long queue of construction workers waiting at the shelter door - "Forgot my spanner"... "Forgot my hammer...." etc.

Doesn't say much for the construction capability if the thing fills up with water though. One would have to complain in the strongest possible terms!!

Regards - John

[mickeyobe]

This sounds very much like a Geraldo stunt.

Mickey

[herron]

Paul:
I have no dreams about a Mopar, of any kind (sorry, Randy). Just a few fond memories of shutting down a few from the light, while cruising. The ad agency stuff was fun...but work, too, if you understand what I mean. But I would be having a pleasant dream if that '57 Chevy drove into the driveway! ;D

John:
50 years later, I don't think any of the constructon crew (those that were still around) could even hear you, if you didn't complain in strong, and loud, terms! LOL!