Water Seeps Into Vault Holding Buried Car
KOTV - 6/13/2007 11:13 AM - Updated 6/13/2007 3:46 PM

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Workers unearthing the 1957 Plymouth Belvedere buried under the city's courthouse lawn were dealt an early setback Wednesday, as several feet of water were found in the concrete vault supposedly strong enough to withstand a nuclear attack.

The two-door hardtop, buried in 1957 to celebrate Oklahoma's 50 years of statehood, is set to be lifted out of the 12-foot-by-20-foot time capsule Friday morning to commemorate the state's centennial year. As many as 50,000 people from all over the world are expected at the event, and more than 260 media credentials have been handed out to reporters from New York to New Zealand.

But news of the standing water was crushing to event organizers. As heavy rain fell at the site, the Belvedere's fate remained unknown.

The vault was briefly opened Wednesday so hazardous materials crews could inspect the 10 gallons of gasoline and motor oil cans that had been placed in the time capsule in case internal combustion engines became obsolete by 2007.

Excavators found water halfway up on the car's fenders and more evidence water could have been to the top of the vault at one point, said Art Couch, who is heading up the unearthing project.

''I don't know how bad it is, but it's not good,'' Couch said. ``We were hoping it would be dry in there.''

Some water was pumped out, and the city was to bring in a truck to remove the last foot or so.

''The concrete must not have been as good as we hoped it was,'' Couch said. ``It had some failures over the years; the concrete didn't hold.''

The Belvedere was wrapped in a protective plastic material before it was buried, but it was unknown how it held up against the elements.

''Plymouths were very prone to rust to begin with,'' said Jim Benjaminson, a car collector from North Dakota who has written several books on Plymouths. ''Depending on this bag, if that car has sat in water for 50 years, I don't hold much hope for it.''

Benjaminson, who plans to be at Friday's unearthing, said he read a recent article that the plastic used to cover the Belvedere was supposed to protect materials ''for 1,200 years'' from rust.

''I guess we're going to see if that claim is true,'' he said.

Organizers say this just creates that much more mystery around the car's unveiling. News On 6 anchor Terry Hood hosts our live special Friday evening at 7 o’clock. The unveiling can also be seen live, streaming on the internet at kotv.com.

More pics and videos: KOTV

Good ole' 1950's technology @ work.

Man, I hope that plastic wrapper held up. I mean, at least the upper half of the car appears relatively intact as far as I can see in the photos...

Good ole' 1950's technology @ work.

Don't talk about ocnblu that way!

I really hope the car is ok. It would be so wonderful to see the wrapper come off to unvail a shiny new plymouth!

If theres no chance for rain till the unvailing, why dont they just take a peak? just cut a small piece where the roof is and check it out? Just to warn people so they all dont start crying if the car is a rust bucket.

Looks pretty bleak to me.

What a suprise...

Edited June 14, 200718 yr by Nick

honestly, no one knows wuts under the bag.

There ARE three plastic wrappings around it...hopefully they held up. Either way, it will be a surprise Friday night!

I can't wait. I guess thats 9 in NY? Are they gonna lift it out at 7 and then take the bag off or take the bag off and then reveal it at 7?

My fingers are crossed.

In the video it looks like the paint on the car may be exposed, if so, I wouldnt expect to see much more then junk.

no...thats the bag.

While this IS kinda neat ... I'm a bit disappointed that this much has been revealed before Friday. Kinda takes the "edge" off the mystery and excitement ... at least a little bit, I'd think....

*shrugs*

Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker

PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"Things get complicated when you get past 18" ... Statler Brothers ... 'Class of '57'

One of the videos shows the crane operator "practicing" with a twin car. I was curious who loaned out their mint Belvedere for practice?

I guess the Sump Pump was invented in the 1960's?

Is the car sealed in plastic, or just covered? The difference between the two will suggest the condition of the car that we will see when the wraps are removed.

I think its sealed.

I think it's sealed too. People may not have known as much in the 50s, but I'm sure they knew to seal the plastic.

If you watch the interview she does say that the car was wrapped in three plastic bags, cosmolene, rust preventatives, and other materials to keep it safe. I guess they had enough forsight to think that it might have water in the hole...we shall see Friday Night. My fingers are crossed. Would love to see her in perfect shape!

Incidentally, is this why Silvester and Dodgefan are headed to Tulsa?

Even triple-wrapped in plastic isn't likely to keep water out- it's not the plastic itself but the what-has-to-be numerous seams and the manner of sealant on those seams...

Water manages to get in against the stoutest of defenses. A sump pump system would've been very smart.

I am extremely hopefull, nonetheless.

2 questions: I wonder if the water table level was acertained in 1957, and could there be any other reason as to why the crane operator needed another P-57... besides event hype?

Storing it with a vault that was drained might have solved a lot of the problems also.

Hopefull but probably junk.

Chris

Incidentally, is this why Silvester and Dodgefan are headed to Tulsa?

I'm wondering that too..

I'm wondering that too..

I do believe that's the plan.

Incidentally, is this why Silvester and Dodgefan are headed to Tulsa?

*nods*

Indeed, that IS the plan.

I admit ... even though some of the footage we've seen tempers some of the excitement ... I sure wish I had been able to go after all. Sure would be neat to be there for the live unveiling.... Ah, well ... I'll have to wait until tomorrow night to see the videos and pics of the event....

Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker

WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"Come pick me up" ... Ben Folds ... 'Landed'

I've enjoyed reading Sixty-Eight Panther's posts in anticipation of this event. Too bad about the water though. I doubt that plastic could have kept it out.

Blame the Darn Civil Engineer who designed the Concrete. Or may be there wasn't a Civil Engineer involved. :AH-HA_wink:

I was reading on Forwardlook.net that workers at the site touched the car's sides while down in the vault and said it was solid and seemed to be intact.

Click

That looks like an opening. Optimism says that it's just dirt and will wash right off.

Tulsa....is out to WIIIN you over this yeeeeear!!

I was reading on Forwardlook.net that workers at the site touched the car's sides while down in the vault and said it was solid and seemed to be intact.

Click

More Pics! I missed it!

Judging by the looks though-not looking good....

Watch the unveiling video!

More from KOTV...

Edited June 15, 200718 yr by BigPontiac

Where is it going? (I'm a bit out of the loop on this one...)

Where is it going? (I'm a bit out of the loop on this one...)

Appears they're trying to clean it up and get it running for the larger ceremony later on tonight. It's unfortunate they gave that task to Boyd Coddington...the time crunch aspect would have played better to the crew on Overhaulin' with Chip Foose.

I don't see 68 and DF.

Doubt that there is any way to get it running. That much time under water and the rings, mains, transmission seals, etc. would be shot.

Wonder if they will be able to read the microfilm to see who wins the "new" 1957 automobile.

Chris

They aren't cleanig it off, they are just bringing it to the convention center for the big reveal tonight. Boyd is going to try to get her running if possible, but the event host said they aren't going to clean her or try to restore her in any way. How she is, is how we'll see her.

OMG! 68 Made the KOTV article:

http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=129540

Simple curiosity drew visitors from all over the world. Silvester Humaj’s ‘59 Buick broke down on the way from Massachusetts. He didn't let car trouble keep him away from seeing the buried treasure.

"I cannot imagine being anywhere else that's cooler than this. This is one of the coolest moments for me,” Humaj said. “I was born in 1979. I didn't have a chance to see a ‘58, ‘57, ‘56 something, you know? ‘57 Plymouth, I wish I could see a new one. This is about as close as we can get."

!

Honestly, if they find a good condition car under there that is simply just covered in dust/dirt, I am sure they will wipe it down.

He should have mentioned C&G! j/k!

Does anyone know if this will be broadcast live on television anywhere nationwide? I'd love to watch, and I can't get any of these vids to load, something about an incompatability with the video player...

ocn....I think it'll only be broadcast in Tulsa...everyone else has to watch it online...I'm sure it'll pop up on youtube at some point. Perhaps you need to update your quicktime or whichever media player your using?

Edit: I'm on KOTV.com and the stream is working for me, the program should be starting in about 5 minutes....oh wait a minute the feed just cut out

Here's a link anyway click

Edited June 15, 200718 yr by Delta Force79

It's showtime

YES! Its streaming perfectly for me! CANT WAIT!

She's too far gone to start....solid, but dirty and rusty.

I really wish they would atleast try to get the dirt off. You can tell that alot of what you see is just mud.

Things like the windows and lights could've been wiped down. But it is so cool to see it.