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Friday, June 15

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Because the other thread went to the swirly place, tune in here to see if Weasel stays sober enough long enough to learn what happened to the 1957 Plymouth Belvedere that’s been a-molderin’ in the grave for five decades. Me, I’m guessing the tranquilizers in that lady’s purse went bad and the ticket is WAY overdue.

June 15, 2007 — 6:12 pm
Comments: 26

Tulsarama!

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On June 15, 1957, a new gold and white 1957 Plymouth BelvedereSport Coupe was buried in a time capsule in downtown Tulsa, OK. The time capsule was part of Golden Jubilee Week: Tulsa’s celebration of Oklahoma’s semi-centennial. The car is buried under the sidewalk in front of the Tulsa County Courthouse, approximately 100 feet north of the intersection of Sixth Street and Denver Avenue.

The car was seen as a method of acquainting twenty-first century citizens with a suitable representation of 1957 civilization. According to event chairman Lewis Roberts Sr., the Plymouth was chosen because it was “an advanced product of American industrial ingenuity with the kind of lasting appeal that will still be in style 50 years from now.”

The contents of a women’s purse, including bobby pins, a bottle of tranquilizers, cigarettes and an unpaid parking ticket, were added to the glove compartment of the car shortly before burial.

Other items included in the time capsule were:

· 10 gallons of gasoline and 5 quarts of oil
· A Douglas Aircraft Co. aerial map of airport facilities and legend
· Statement from Tulsa council of Churches and prayer for greatest good next 50 years a recently completed history of churches in Tulsa and a directory of the present churches
· Statement from board of education – historical data related to 50 years of education in Tulsa and copies of “School Life” all-high school publication issued by Tulsa high schools each month
· Statements from Mayor and Chamber of Commerce officials
· Flags which have been flown over the national capitol, state capitol and in the county and city
· Other aerial photos of the area
· Statement from Tulsa Trades and Labor Council
· Statements from all former mayors of the city – their record of service and civic accomplishments in the city, state and nationally.

As part of the “Tulsarama!” festivities, citizens of Tulsa were asked to guess what the population of Tulsa would be in the year 2007. The guesses were then recorded on microfilm and sealed in a steel container buried with the car. When the car and artifacts are excavated, the person whose guess is closest to Tulsa’s 2007 population is to be awarded the Belvedere.

1957. The peak of the Big Fin era. They’ve uncovered it (see above) and found the vault full of water, sadly. But it’s wrapped up pretty good, so hold a happy thought.

They uncork the car today at noon. Follow the action at buriedcar.com.

Great. Now I got the closing cello notes from Psycho stuck in my head.


Nicked from Fazed.

Update: practice run at the lift, and where to pick up the stream.

With failsafes in place, the crane crew was ready for a practice lift. Many gathered around the vault to see the Belvedere rise again, and everyone held their breath that the rigging would hold. Most expected to see the car raised a few inches, but crews lifted it ten feet giving the water-logged floorboards a chance to drain. Crews say getting the car out of the rusty, muddy vault gave everyone new hope.

“It looked better today than it did yesterday for some reason,” said Taylor. “I was down in there myself and it was muddy, but it looks better today.”

Organizers say they’ll be in the clear if Friday’s lift goes as well as Thursday’s practice one did.

While the car was up in the air it gave people a chance to inspect the damage 50 years underwater could do. Hot rod builder Boyd Coddington from cable’s “American Hot Rod” came to Tulsa to take a look. He will get a chance to clean up the car between the Friday unearthing at noon, and our live special Friday night at 7.

How well did the Belvedere and the memorabilia buried with it survive underground for half a century? Find out on Friday, June 15th, at 7 p.m. on the News On 6. You can also see live streaming video of the unveiling on kotv.com.

Oklahoma…that’s Central Standard Time, I assume.

— 1:00 am
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