Uh oh.
KRMG radio in Tulsa reported Wednesday morning that the 50-year-old time capsule that contains a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere had “several feet” of water around the car when the vault’s lid was opened during preliminary excavations.
The station reported that workers are removing out the water using sump pumps.
That is discouraging news regarding the Belvedere’s condition. However, the Tulsarama organizers in 1957 also enshrouded the vehicle with a waterproof wrap. Whether that wrap held up over the subsequent five decades probably won’t be publicly known until the vehicle is finally unveiled Friday night.
UPDATE: The Tulsa World reports there are “indications that the car has been submerged,” which means that the water in the vault has inundated the vehicle more than once.
UPDATE2: Here is a set of photos from mylesj, who was there Wednesday morning when the vault lid was removed. You can see that the car is still wrapped, but water marks on the inside of the vault show it’s probably been covered a number of times over those 50 years.
UPDATE3: Here’s a short video of when the vault lid was taken off and the water pumped out. The video is available in QuickTime or Windows Media.
The rust colored deposits don’t bode well for the Belvedere. Crossing our fingers here in Dallas . . .
I hate to say it, but I have to agree with Mr. Darrell. Looks like it’s going to be Belvedere soup. 🙁
Hoping for the best…
Does RUSTBUCKET bring anything to mind? Acutally, with that condition it might fit in well with many other vehicles in Oklahoma.
Where’s Chip and Boyd when ya really need them? Still this is amazing !
Here are some high resolution pictures of the car and the items that were stored inside it. Looks like a “fixer upper”
Pics:
https://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=8700431#8700431
Maurie Nord Says:
June 24th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Last nite I found the guy who won the car. Here he is at eight years old:
1930 United States Federal Census
about Raymond E Humbertson
Name: Raymond E Humbertson
Home in 1930: Cumberland, Allegany, Maryland
Age: 8
Estimated birth year: abt 1922
Relation to Head of House: Son
Father’s name: Azariah
Mother’s name: Mary E
Occupation:
Education:
Military Service:
Rent/home value:
Age at first marriage:
Parents’ birthplace: View image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Azariah Humbertson 42
Mary E Humbertson 40
Albert O Humbertson 20
Azariah H Humbertson 18
J Catherine Humbertson 16
Charles E Humbertson 11
Raymond E Humbertson 8
Levada P Humbertson 6
He died in 1979, in Virginia:
Raymond Humbertson
Born: 8 Jul 1921
[city], [county], Maryland, USA
Died: 1 May 1979
[city], [county], Virginia, USA
He was married without kids, a Korean War veteran, but apparently he has a nephew who may inherti the car
Cheers,
Maurie Nord, Pusan, South Korea
http://www.maurienord.ocm