Thread: Tulsa Buried Car

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Hi guys, I did the car show thing today, (I'll add more in the next post).

Thanks for the comment about my car Guitarplayr nice words are always welcome.

"......It's really not as bad as the photos would indicate......."

My assessment is a little different......I also saw the car today. True anything can be restored, but in this case I'm afraid all that would be left would the stainless, set of glass (with the exception of the vent window Boyd's crew broke getting into the car) and the stainless steel VIN tag.

As I walked around the car, the driver door is rusted through, there is bubbling on every panel, and while the chrome looks shiny on the outer surface these often rust from the inside out (there is usually very little chrome on the back side).

One of the rear leaf springs fell off when the car was raised and from what I could tell from looking at the mirror they had under the car the U Bolts had simply rusted away. I get a feeling the frame is probably pretty thin.

Anything like heavy steel brackets look like they will be VERY heavily pitted if even usable at all. I don't know if anybody noticed last night at the unveiling but the inner trunk reinforcements (or what was left of them) literally fell off into the trunk.

I think on close inspection any exterior panel you will find are too thin to be usable.

Possibly the major engine castings could be reused, but after all this time I'd almost bet you end up with 8 sleeves.

A few days ago I would have been the first say restore it, but on closer inspection I believe there would be so little of the original car left that it would be a travesty to do so. At this point personally I would really like seeing the car preserved in it's as is condition (after steps are taken to preserve it form further decay). And who know that may be what happens. I'm hearing rumblings that both the W. P. Chrysler Museum and 57 Heaven are both interested in buying the car once it's determined who owns it.

All in all, I kind of like it. It's got a golden glow to it. Has a great persona, even though it could fall apart and any moment. Sorta looks like the pictures of the Titanic you see on tv.

The car show today was great. One guy said he counted 32 57 Plymouths (plus aobut 5 in the indoor show ( and probably 3 on the row outside the convention center. That should make about 40 but I think the count should have been 39 1/2.

I'd been talking to the owner of this all weekend and didn;t know it was his until the show today (we had also discussed the engines a few time on the Plymouth Forum).

It now has an 80" wheel base weights 3000 Lbs and is powered by an aluminum head 11:1 compression 392 Hemi, has a 4 speed and 3.91 Posi.

He built it in the early-mid 70's (and mentions he doesn't drive it as hard as he used to

Then there was the row (probably close to 20 56-58 Fury's from the Golden Fin Society.

The orange 57 Belvedere (4dr HT) was really neat, front clip and a Corvette LS1. I've been talking to the owner for a couple of years he completed it enough and in time to drive to Tulsa from LA with only about 250 test dive miles. I'm not usually one for cross breed swaps, but the workmanship was absoutly first rate.

We'll be heading out for Illinois to see family tomorrow moring and will keep you posted

that sure is a shame, makes you wonder if the cell filled with water within the 1st year, probably so. i bet with all the hype behind this now, it would fetch a million bucks on e-bay just as it sits. it is probably worth more in its present condition then if it were restored from its rusted form.

Just me personally, but I like the dug up car in Tulsa been than the 1/2 red 57 ......

Jack