The retro vehicle 1957 Plymouth Belvedere, later known as ‘Miss Belvedere,’ was buried during the height of Cold War tensions, encased in reinforced concrete as a safeguard against possible nuclear war.
Alongside the car, several 1950s items intended to provide future generations a glimpse of life in 1957 were also buried.
These included a container of fuel, a case of Schlitz beer, and an assortment of items typically found in a woman’s purse of the era, such as an unpaid parking ticket, bobby pins, cigarettes and matches, and a tube of lipstick.
In 2007, half a century later, an event that captured national attention brought the car back to the surface.
However, the unearthing of the Belvedere turned into what was described as a “circus” that ended in disappointment. The reinforced concrete that enclosed the car was not fully waterproof, leaving the vehicle partially submerged in groundwater when it was retrieved.
Despite being wrapped in plastic, the car had deteriorated significantly over the decades, with a heavy coating of rust and interior decay.
Originally, the plan was for locals in 2007 to start the car using the gasoline provided, but this was no longer possible due to the engine’s irreparable condition.
One onlooker shared: “I was in Tulsa to witness the digging up of Miss Belvedere… a real circus. Items placed in the glove compartment had fallen to the floor as the compartment disintegrated.
The writing on the tires was still visible, and a glass five-gallon jar of gasoline was in the trunk. Back in 1957, it seems someone thought gasoline might not be available in 2007. Boyd Coddington [an American designer] and his team were there to start the car, but it didn’t happen.”
The car was initially intended as a prize for the person who correctly guessed Tulsa’s 2007 population. As the winner passed away in 1979, the car went to his 101-year-old sister, who permitted experts to try removing the rust.
In 2015, Miss Belvedere found a new home at Illinois’ Historic Auto-Attractions Museum, where it opened for public viewing in 2020.
Meanwhile, a secret collection of 230 classic cars, gathered over 40 years, was recently discovered in a warehouse and an abandoned church after a fire at the owner’s property.
The collection includes rare gems like a Lancia Aurelia B20 and a Jaguar E-Type, which remained unknown to the world until last year.
In related news, Jaguar plans to reintroduce their iconic E-Type model, recreating two versions based on the original blueprints, 50 years after its retirement.