Thread: Tulsa Buried Car

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In case anyone is not aware of it, they buried a new Plymouh in Tulsa OK in 1957 and are digging it up on the 15th of this month. I'll be driving the 57 Plymouth I built to the event and participating in the open car show on Sat the 16th. http://www.buriedcar.com/ (click on the events icon for some basic info).

I leave a week from today. The car is doing good and has about 3500 miles on it since I got it put together and everything seems to be doing well (I put about 100 interstate miles on it Friday in 90+ degree weather and the air on and the temp looks good).

I've got a few spare parts packed (stuff that not on the shelves in most small town parts stores) just in case.

I suspect this weekend I'll do a few last minuet checks but everything seems to be going well at this point.

After Tulsa we will go on to Ill and visit family for a while before heading back at the end of the month.

I'll post some more on this thread later as things get going (and yes pictures of the car......or what's left of it when they dig it up. )

It's been a couple of years since I've done a long road trip in one of my cars and I am looking forward to this one. Got some other stops planned along the way to see some old car buddies and it should be a good time.

Have a great trip Mike! Should be a really fun event. Got to wonder just what condition it will be in???

Ya know Mike, you may end up in the middle of the biggest collection of surviving '57 Plymouths ever. That would be very cool. Ya spose they planned it on father's day weekend on purpose?

I'll be putting up with that SoCal crowd at the LA Roadster's deal that weekend....................we just have too many choices in this hobby................not that that's a bad thing!

Have a great time and be safe.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Ya know Mike, you may end up in the middle of the biggest collection of surviving '57 Plymouths ever. That would be very cool. Ya spose they planned it on father's day weekend on purpose?

I'll be putting up with that SoCal crowd at the LA Roadster's deal that weekend....................we just have too many choices in this hobby................not that that's a bad thing!

Have a great time and be safe.

Bob,
If you get a chance I have a booth at the show, stop by.
Ken

Mike, I figured you would be at the Fuel Altered event at SIR....but I suspect you will have a good weekend anyway! Be safe.

I'll post some pics of the drags & show on here, for you to check out later.

Originally Posted by Ken Thurm

Bob,
If you get a chance I have a booth at the show, stop by.
Ken

See PM please

Mike, what kind of gas milage do you get? I think you mentioned you have that overdrive 4 speed(?). Hope you have a very safe, pleasant trip........I envy you.


There has been some talk on other forums about this buried car event, and some of the people feel that the people from the city have done some things to mess it up, and take it away from what the original city Fathers wanted it to be 50 years ago. Things like most people not being able to witness the actual uncovering, just a select group. There was also some talk that there was something like a $ 25 fee to see the car after Boyd and his crew clean it up. They voiced some resentment that the city was turning this into a money gouging event as opposed to a for-the-average-person celebration.

Have you heard any of those stories?


Don

I think its going to be a sort of ,woodstock,of cars and people.
I do not think the city has any clue whats about to land on thier streets.

oh yes i will be there

Have a safe and fun trip, i wish i could go, but the week before ill be heading to north carolina for a show, so ill have to miss that one.

Bob I didn't even realize father's day was that weekend. Darn, and there I'll be just around an of bunch of cars

"....but I suspect you will have a good weekend anyway! Be safe......" You know I think I will HRP

Don as far as mileage the last time I check (mostly highway and some in town) I was getting around 18 MPG (I had about 2000 miles on the build then). The OD effectively knocks the 4.10 gears to a 3.00 ratio so cruising at 75 is about 2600RPM.

".....There has been some talk on other forums about this buried car event, and some of the people feel that the people from the city have done some things to mess it up, and take it away from what the original city Fathers wanted it to be 50 years ago. Things like most people not being able to witness the actual uncovering, just a select group. There was also some talk that there was something like a $ 25 fee to see the car after Boyd and his crew clean it up. They voiced some resentment that the city was turning this into a money gouging event as opposed to a for-the-average-person celebration........"

As far as the city (or more correctly the centennial committee) I wish some things could be a little different but within the constraints the organizers are working in I think they are doing an OUTSTANDING job. I don't think that the committee had any idea about how big this would be until about 6 months ago and they were a bit overwhelmed but went to great lengths to make this an enjoyable event.

The big thing I would like to change is to be able to view the car coming out of the ground first hand but I doubt that will happen. When the car was originally buried The court house lawn was apparently big and open. Over the years new buildings have been put up and due to their location and size (plus the construction equipment used to raise the car) my understanding is that the best they will be able to do is bleachers that will seat about 400 people (mostly already reserved). Because of this the committee has arranged for a closed circuit broadcast of the unearthing in the convention center next door....for free.

The prep to get the car ready to be unveiled will be behind closed doors unfortunately and preformed by Coddington and crew. The car is supposed to have been sealed in a LARGE plastic bag and vacuum sealed, and part of the prep will be to remove the bag. They have between noon when the car comes out of the ground and 6:30PM to get the car ready. I sure at some point that a video of the prep work will be available and cost a couple of bucks but that's life. In the short time they (the cleanup crew) really don't need to be distracted by a bunch of people telling them they are doing it all wrong. Depending on what sites you visit there is an uproar by the restorers about any hot-rodder being near the car, let alone Coddington. Personally I'm not a big Boyd fan, but he did ante up and volunteer for the cleanup ( I do know a little background about that and he and he TLC were approached not the other way around).

I don't think ticket pricing is unreasonable "Tickets are $5 for upper level seating and $10 for lower level seating and $25 for floor seating." If your registered for the open show which I did it's a $20 registration fee that also included 2 upper level seating tickets (yup I got 2 extra tickets now). The open show and indoor "invitational" show are free to the public (the 57 will be displayed there on the 16th and 17th). There is a sock hop on the 16 and they get $5 each on that. Not really unreasonable prices. If you want to see the car and car shows they are now free.

All in all I'm going for party meeting some people face to face and road trip.

If they want to check the car out (from the upper level) on the 15 it's $5.

It will be displayed in the invitational car show area on the 16 and 17th for free.

Being that I am not above "borrowing" things from other forums, I thought some of you might not have seen this video. If you have sorry, if you haven't, enjoy.

Don


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2cPB...related&search

Is it true the Boyd Coddington is going to restore it after the car is brought out?

Originally Posted by DennyW

I wonder who is going to get the car ??

My understanding is that the person who guessed (in 1957) closest to what the 2007 population of Tulsa would be would win it. If he or she is dead, their heirs get the car.

Yeah, Boyd and crew are going to detail it to clean off 50 years of sitting.

Don