City Uncovers Gigantic Time Capsule, Buried Car after 50 Years
In 1957, the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, commemorated the 50th anniversary of the state's founding by burying a "time capsule" directly beneath the courthouse.
During this event, called "Tulsarama", the residents buried a waterproof steel container in a huge cement vault designed like a bomb shelter for future generations.
The Story of the Plymouth
Inside the steel container was a car - a brand new white and gold Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupé equipped with a highly advanced V8 engine at that time.
According to Lewis Roberts, chairman of the city's anniversary committee, the Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupé was chosen as a symbol of the state's industrial creativity.
Waiting 50 Years for a Winner
However, the Plymouth, or rather "Miss Belvedere", wasn't just buried and left to an uncertain future. No, there was also a contest, and the new owner would be determined upon excavation after 50 years.
The person who could make the closest estimate of Tulsa's population for the year 2007 would receive the car in that same year. The 812 responses received were all stored on microfilm and deposited in the car's glove compartment.
The Burial of the Plymouth
Subsequently, Miss Belvedere, as the vehicle had been named in the meantime, was left in the capsule along with other memorabilia. Among the memorabilia, all of which originated from the state of Oklahoma, were a lipstick, coins, and banknotes totaling $2.73. Additionally, a box of chewing gum, a box of cigarettes with matches, a case of beer, a bottle of tranquilizers, an unpaid traffic ticket, and a vial of crude oil were included.
For 50 years, everyone involved had to wait until the car, along with its small treasures, was brought back to the surface. Half a century is a long time, but no worries: the time capsule was made of concrete to withstand an atomic bomb. What could go wrong?
50 Years Later
The year is 2007: Tulsa is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its statehood. As part of the festivities, the buried time capsule from fifty years ago is to be unearthed. But how would the legendary Miss Belvedere look after half a century? Would she still be as beautiful as she was in the 1950s?
Excavations began, and everyone present eagerly anticipated the moment. When Miss Belvedere was finally brought back to the surface after 50 years, and the protective cover was removed from the vehicle, people looked in disbelief at what they saw. They had certainly not expected this!
The Shock
As the cement slab was lifted, the attendees could already imagine what they were about to witness. The American beauty of the 1950s was now just a shadow of her former self. No, worse, she was a wreck. Miss Belvedere appeared to have drowned.
The beer cans in the trunk were all rusted and completely empty. The contents of the glove compartment were no better. There was only a pile of mud and rust. The interior of the once modern 1950s sports car was completely deteriorated.
The Big Winner!
The winner of the car was announced! Raymond Humbertson was the lucky winner of the jackpot as he predicted 348,743 residents - slightly more than Tulsa's actual population, which was 382,457 in 2007. Unfortunately, Raymond had already passed away in 1979.
His wife died nine years later, and the couple had no children. Therefore, the "prize" now went to his hundred-year-old sister. In addition to the slightly oxidized Belvedere, she won the $100 savings account with its interest earnings, which amounted to $666.85 in 2007. Not enough to restore the car.
50-Year Buried Car Unearthed, Restoration Attempts Abandoned
After the deputy grand prize winner passed away, the heirs faced a difficult decision. They wanted to restore some of the car's original beauty and entrusted the responsible task to Ultra One. This company aimed to remove as much corrosion as possible in a long and painstaking process without damaging the original paintwork.
After spending over $15,000 on restoring the vehicle, including purchasing another Plymouth, modifying the rear suspension springs, and deoxidizing the body, it was decided to halt all attempts to revive the famous car.
Halt of Restoration Efforts
While they were able to remove the rust, the car itself couldn't be saved. Time had left its marks on the vehicle. Moreover, the state of Oklahoma had lost all interest in the Plymouth. Miss Belvedere was deemed unfit for exhibition due to the disappointing results.
Indeed, it seemed like the American beauty was forever lost and beyond saving. Its frame was severely damaged, the interior completely destroyed, and the engine parts were so heavily damaged that they had fused together.
The Final Decision
Miss Belvedere was a shadow of its former self, no longer the radiant beauty it once was. But the final decision came from Dwight Foster, the owner of Ultra One. "It's basically papier-mâché," Foster said.
The owner of Ultra One added, "We didn't know how bad it was until the car arrived here." Everyone held their breath. Was this the end of the legendary Miss Belvedere?
A Last Chance?
Unfortunately, help came too late for the vintage beauty. "Anything we had planned to do to the car couldn't be done because it was too fragile," explained Dwight Foster.
Indeed, Dwight Foster knew that any attempt to change something on the vehicle could end in a complete disaster. But perhaps there was still hope for the historically significant vintage car...
Donation to a Museum
Miss Belvedere spent over ten years in the storage of Ultra One while the company searched for a permanent museum location. Robert Carney, the nephew of the new owner, Catherine Humbertson, eventually announced the exciting news.
The rusty old lady would be donated to the Historic Auto Attractions Museum, a community museum in Roscoe, Illinois. There, she would become one of the centerpiece exhibits in a permanent display. Miss Belvedere was no longer just a vehicle but a true relic of the 1950s.
It's Not Over Yet!
Today, it is considered a true work of art and no longer just the main prize of a failed giveaway. In 2017, the car was finally sent on its last journey to Illinois. For nearly ten years, Ultra One worked on restoring the vehicle. And it was worth it!
Although the effects of time are visible on the Belvedere, today's automakers are inspired to build vehicles that are as resilient as possible!
This is How it Looks Today
In 1927, the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, celebrated its 50th year as a state. Usually, there would be an annual festival called "Tulsarama" to commemorate the event. However, officials decided to bury a time capsule right in front of the city courthouse with a historic item.
And that item was a brand new 1957 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupé in sand dune and desert gold paint! Exactly 50 years later, the car was unearthed for the first time. The condition of the car will amaze you.
Tulsa's Unique Legacy
Furthermore, the residents of Tulsa wanted to ensure that their legacy would live on after them. To enable this, they buried small waterproof steel containers beneath the strong and heavy cement vault.
City officials believed that future generations would find these items and learn more about life during that time. How would the world look through the lens of this time capsule that was finally uncovered?
Buried for 50 Years: The Story of the Plymouth Belvedere
The chairman of the city's anniversary commission, Louis Roberts, explained that the Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupé was chosen as the historic object to be buried.
Like no other car, it could remind Tulsa of its industrial ingenuity. It was a fully equipped Plymouth V8 Coupé in shiny desert gold and sand dune colors. And the white vinyl top really made the car stand out.
The Plymouth in a Hole
On May 28, 1957, the Plymouth was driven into a pre-dug hole in front of the Tulsa County courthouse. It was then lowered onto a concrete platform capable of withstanding an atomic bomb explosion.
The car was filled with various items that were common at the time, such as a pack of cigarettes, a can of Schlitz beer, a bottle of Oklahoma crude oil, and much more. Once these items were placed inside the Plymouth, it was covered with a car cover and a heavy cement vault was placed on top.
After 50 Years
After 50 years, on June 15, 2007, the car was unearthed for the first time since its burial. Preparations had been made 18 months in advance to ensure a smooth operation. The event was attended by 9,000 people, including tourists, media, and residents.
Unfortunately, the area where the car was buried was not waterproof. As a result, the car's color had changed significantly. Additionally, there were some technical flaws at the time that allowed water to seep in and damage the car.
What Happened to Miss Belvedere?
Everyone was shocked to see the car in this condition. It had clearly been through a lot in those 50 years. The interior of the car was completely destroyed, and it appeared that Miss Belvedere had been submerged in a lot of water.
The body was severely rusted, the engine seized, and the tires completely flat. In short, the car was a total loss. The expected glorious rebirth had indeed been washed away.
The Lucky Winner
Raymond Humbertson was announced as the lucky winner of a 2007 jackpot from a population of 348,743 people. Unfortunately, Raymond Humbertson is no longer with us, and his wife passed away in 1988.
But they left behind two sisters and a nephew who are now the owners of the car. Along with the car, they also received a total of $666.85. From the looks of it, this amount of money is not enough to repair the car.
Restoring a Classic
The restoration of the vehicle now falls in the hands of the heirs. They ultimately decided that they will make every effort to restore the car to its original beauty. However, there is a major problem. The corrosion has damaged some parts of the paint. The process will be time-consuming and challenging.
In removing the corrosion, the experts will have to be extremely careful as they don't want to damage the original paintwork. This exceptional beauty cost too much money, which was unaffordable for many people at that time.
The Fate of the Car
Around $15,000 was spent on this car, which could have bought another Plymouth. Due to the extensive rust, removing it without damaging the original paint was not possible. So, the repairs were abandoned.
The condition of the car is not optimal, but it can still be publicly exhibited. The chassis was damaged, and the engine parts were irreparably rusted. But it remained a witness of its time.
The Restoration Decision: Preserving the Plymouth Belvedere's Legacy
The owner of Ultra One, Dwight Foster, has voiced his views on the car. He stated that it is now mainly made of papier-mâché and that it would be foolish to spend money on restoring it.
The owner of the restoration business has made several attempts to resurrect this magnificent car, but they have been unsuccessful. Even sourcing replacement parts has proven to be extremely challenging.
Dwight Foster's Decision
Help came too late. Mr. Dwight Foster, the owner of Ultra One Auto Workshop, said that the car is very fragile and he alone cannot undertake all the repairs he wanted to make.
He was certain that the car would fall apart if he tried to fix it. He could even further damage it in the process. As a result, he decided to do nothing and leave it as it is.
Miss Belvedere's New Home
Miss Belvedere has found a new home in the museum, but it is not in a drivable condition. It belongs to the Historic Auto Attractions Museum located in Illinois. Visitors can still see this car and its impressive history.
Robert Kearney, the new owner of this special car, is very happy that the car is now safe and has a new home where it can be preserved for future generations.
The Art of Workmanship
Not only that, but the car is now considered a sign of the high craftsmanship of the workers. It is no longer just an average competition prize. It is a reminder of the city's golden times.
It is a stunning piece of work that can now finally be exhibited and visible to future generations. A symbol that even earlier generations were already innovative inventors and builders.
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