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Well Dang!

There was a time capsule buried in Tulsa Oklahoma 50 years ago and it was opened recently. One of the entries was a brand-new Plymouth Belvedere -- chrome, fins, tonnage. A classic American Roadster from the days of 30 cent gasoline. Unfortunately, when the vault was opened, there was two feet of water and evidence that the vault had been full at times. No word on the condition of the car yet. The Tulsa World has more:

Buried Belvedere vault full of water
The vault in which Tulsa buried a Plymouth Belvedere 50 years ago was built to withstand a nuclear attack.

Water, apparently, not so much.

Workers lifted the vault's lid Wednesday morning to find about two feet of standing water and indications the vault may have been filled to the rim sometime during the past half-century.

That is a shame -- I know from other stories that the car was coated with grease so the metalwork may be OK. There is hope about the accompanying Time Capsule though:

The condition of the time capsule, which in appearance resembles a small propane tank, was not clear.

The discovery of water in the vault was particularly difficult for the scores of volunteers who have worked for more than 18 months on the car's excavation. Their chairwoman, Sharon King Davis, wiped away a tear as she surveyed the vault.

She brightened a few minutes later, though, and said, "The party goes on!"

In addition to Friday's unearthing and unveiling activities, two Tulsarama car shows featuring 500 classic automobiles and a Saturday night sock hop are scheduled for the weekend.

Such a shame but Engineering in the 50's was a lot different than it is now. Materials science has progressed a lot... Posted by DaveH at June 13, 2007 8:00 PM