TULSA, Oklahoma (AP) — Calling it “our King Tut's tomb,” thousands of people watched as a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere was pulled from the ground where it had been buried for 50 years as a time capsule of American Midwest culture. The concrete vault encasing the car may have been built to withstand a nuclear attack, but it couldn't keep away water.
At Friday's ceremony, protective wrapping was removed to show the mud-caked vintage vehicle covered in rust. Shiny chrome was still visible around the doors and front fender, and workers were able to put air in the tires. “I'll tell you what, she's a mess. Look at her,” said legendary car builder Boyd Coddington, who was unable to start the car as planned.
From the trunk, organizers pulled out some of the objects buried to celebrate Oklahoma's 50 years of statehood — a 5-gallon can of leaded gasoline, which went for 24 cents a gallon in those days, and rusted cans of Schlitz beer. The contents of a “typical” woman's handbag, including 14 bobby pins, lipstick and a bottle of tranquilizers, were supposed to be in the glove box, but all that was found looked like a lump of rotted leather.