posted 06-20-2005 09:01 PM         

This article taken verbatim from Plymouth 1946-1959 by Jim Benjaminson
(Used by permission of Jim Benjaminson - Copyright ©1994)

The Buried Belvedere

"This is the sort of thing that could happen only in Tulsa," spoke Lewis Roberts Jr. during dedication ceremonies marking the observance of Tulsa's Golden Jubilee Week. "TuIsarama!" chairman Roberts' made his remarks as citizens prepared to entomb a new 1957 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe as part of a time capsule buried on the southeast corner of the Tulsa County Courthouse lawn.

Why would anyone want to bury a new car? Roberts was asked. "The 'Tulsarama!' committee," he replied, "decided on the event after looking for a method of acquainting the citizens of the twenty first century with a suitable representation of 1957 civilization."

"In our judgment," commented W.A. Anderson, Jubilee chairman, "Plymouth is a true representative of automobiles of this century - with the kind of lasting appeal that should still be in style fifty years from now.... Tulsans think big. And we feel we can over come any technical difficulties we encounter [burying the Plymouth] including the possibility of striking oil in our excavation!'

Supplied through the cooperation of the Plymouth Division of Chrysler and Tulsa Plymouth dealers Wilkerson Motor Company, Cox Motor Company. Vance Motor Company, Forster Riggs and Parrish-Clark, the Belvedere has remained buried since June 15, 1957.

As part of the "Tulsarama!" festivities, citizens of Tulsa were asked to guess what the population of Tulsa would be in the year 2007. The guesses were then recorded on microfilm and sealed in a steel container buried with the car. When the car and artifacts are excavated, the person whose guess is closest to Tulsa's 2007 population is to be awarded the Belvedere. If that person is dead, the car is to be awarded to his or her heirs.

And what, exactly, will the lucky winner get when the car is unearthed in 2007? No one is really sure. Sitting on a steel skid, the white and gold car was wrapped in a cosmoline-like substance to help preserve it and then buried within a concrete bunker (The car was lowered into the vault several times prior to June 15 for photo shoots, one such photo ad appearing on page twenty-five of Life magazine's July 7 issue.) Twenty years after the cars burial, questions were raised as officials began to wonder if the vault would maintain its integrity for fifty years. Its location (marked by a bronze plaque on the courthouse lawn places it close to modern traffic. Buck Rudd, deputy chief of building operations for the county court house, mused in 1987, "There's a lot of traffic going by only 15 or 20ft from that thing. We've been curious to know it vibrations from the heavy traffic might have caused it to crack. If moisture starts getting in there, it's going to cause things to deteriorate over fifty years time," Rudd continued. Unknown to the committee - or anyone else then - 1957 Plymouths were terribly prone to rust. Asked what type of maintenance was done on the time capsule, Rudd replied, We just cut the grass on top of it."

While some lucky person may (or may not) win a brand new 1957 Plymouth in the year 2007, the winner has several other prizes to look forward to, among them a $100 trust fund accruing interest until the year 2007. Included with the Plymouth is a 5 gallon can of gasoline, a jar of Oklahoma crude oil, and in the glovebox, fourteen bobby pins, a ladies compact plastic rain cap, several combs, a tube of lipstick, pack of gum, facial tissues $2.73 in bills and coins and a pack of cigarettes with matches - all items that might have been found in a woman's purse circa 1957,

The car's glove compartment contains two other interesting items: a parking ticket (unpaid!) and a boftle of tranquilizers. Depending an the Belvedere's condition, the tranquilizers may be the most important part of the package.

The lucky person who in 1957 correctly guessed what Tulsa, Oklahoma's population would be in 2007 is destined to win the brand-new 1957 Belvedere Sport Coupe sealed in a time capsule beneath Tulsa's courthouse. Photos courtesy of Chrysler Historical Foundation.

posted 06-21-2005 08:36 AM         

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Originally posted by SuperKat:
Rich, that would be super. Where did you find this?
Gordon

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posted 06-21-2005 09:09 AM         

Ms. Simmons, my name is Richard Ware. I recently ran across an article on the internet about a 1957 Plymouth which was buried during Tulsa's 1957 Golden Jubilee week. I understand it is to be unearthed in 2007. I am a member of the Prowler Owners Association. The Plymouth Prowler was the last of the Plymouth line to be manufactured. Our organization holds annual get together in different cities around the country. These events usually attract anywhere from 80 to 110 Prowler owners. I thought that in 2007 it might be interesting and fun to hold an annual event in Tulsa to coincide with the unearthing of this Plymouth time capsule. I was wondering if you could provide any information about this event. What kind of activities or festivities are being planned if any. Also any additional information as to other attractions in the Tulsa area would also be greatly appreciated.

You can contact me at this email address and also at wareprowler@aol.com

Thank You So Much

posted 06-21-2005 03:41 PM         

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Originally posted by BeWare:
The Plymouth Prowler was the last of the Plymouth line to be manufactured.

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I didn't know that. Learn something new every day.

Thanks Rich for taking the time out to pursue this great idea of yours. Interesting to see just what kind of reply you get. Definitely sounds like a great time!!!

posted 06-21-2005 03:54 PM         

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The Plymouth Prowler was the last of the Plymouth line to be manufactured.
[/B]

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posted 06-21-2005 05:24 PM         

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Originally posted by MDProwler:
Last Plymouth was a Neon. How sad.

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Correct! The last Plymouth off the line was a silver Neon on June 27th 2001. But I embelished my note just a tad for effect. The last Plymouth Prowler rolled off the line Jan 18th 2001. I also read the other night the PT Cruiser was originally supposed to be a Plymouth.

Besides I don't think I really stretched the truth. I believe I am correct that the Prowler was the last new model Plymouth released making it the last of the Pymouth line.

posted 06-21-2005 05:56 PM         

Zack........here's your chance to plan a Prowler event...and getting police escorts would be a breeze!

We'd go there in a heartbeat, so WHO's from the Tulsa area that could 'scout' location, accomodation etc. ?!

posted 06-22-2005 06:37 AM         

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Originally posted by BeWare:
Correct! The last Plymouth off the line was a silver Neon on June 27th 2001. But I embelished my note just a tad for effect. The last Plymouth Prowler rolled off the line Jan 18th 2001. I also read the other night the PT Cruiser was originally supposed to be a Plymouth.

Besides I don't think I really stretched the truth. I believe I am correct that the Prowler was the last new model Plymouth released making it the last of the Pymouth line.

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When I read it that way I agree completely. One has to also wonder if the Pacifica was meant to be a Plymouth. They all share that grill resemblence.

posted 06-22-2005 08:31 AM         

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Originally posted by MDProwler:
Last Plymouth was a Neon. How sad.

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MD,

Really...so it wasn't the Prowler. Damn am I confused.

posted 06-22-2005 11:40 AM         

Mike has the first retail Prowler (Lee Iacocca's), the last Plymouth, the last Chrysler retail Prowler and the last actual Prowler built. Add to that one in every color and it makes the trip to the Krehel Museum in Houston a must see for the Prowler aficionado.

Now think about that for a minute. Can anyone name another volume production car where all of the key vehicles are in the same place?

posted 06-22-2005 05:06 PM         

While I can't guarantee anything at my ripe old age of 117, I might consider packing Dew Drop up and heading on out for this here party. I have consummated more than one thought in the confines of a Plymouth in my time and it would good to see something that old brought back to life!

Might be fun to see them dig that there one up prior to them burying me. In any case it would be good to consider getting together with you fine folks and Dew Drop for a good old fashioned shindig in Tulsa.

I gotta run as my mail order Medimusal just came in and I am a hankering to get a good dose fore dinner comes so that I can keep it down for a spell.

Afterwards, I gotta watch Harm fly the F-14, drive the submarine and rescue the fresh stuff with a helicopter while running an aircraft carrier all in an one hour episode of Zulu (AKA JAG).

posted 06-22-2005 07:46 PM         

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Originally posted by RPL:
Tulsa is an interesting town. They like to bury time capsules. Do they bury things every ten years? The question to ask is when is the buried Prowler scheduled to be dug up? Think I'm kidding? Take a real hard look. Joe Cappy where are you?

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