It’s nice to know that in an era of strife and lies and every day horror, the little things are still so powerful. Stepping into my backyard and smelling the blooming roses is especially nice; and today the small, fun event will be… digging up a car that was buried 50 years ago.
If you haven’t already heard, here’s the story: a new 1957 Plymouth Belvedere was buried in a “time capsule” in Tulsa, Oklahoma 50 years ago. As part of the stunt, people we asked to guess Tulsa’s population in 2007, with the winner (50 years later) being awarded the car.
The vault has now been opened, and there — in about a foot of water — is the car, wrapped up and waiting to emerge. That’ll happen later today, and will be covered on KOTV.
If the car still runs, i wonder: can it use today’s unleaded gas? Evidently there was some gas stored with it when it was buried, but how long will that last do you think? And will the EPA even let it on public roads?
This is not an earth-shattering event, nor does it have any broad cultural significance. But still, isn’t it cool?
Update: Well, it looks like the lackluster wrapping they put around the car didn’t do squat — while they claim that the vault could survive a nuclear blast (oh, the 1950s…) they didn’t think about whether it would be impervious to ground water, so the car sat there for fifty years rusting away. How sad, how disappointing. They didn’t even find the “contents of a typical ladies purse” or the microfilm that was supposed to have the contest entries on it. Someone has won that contest, and they will soon be the proud owner of a low-mileage, vintage rust bucket.
Can it still run on the gas today? of course it can,people still have cars that are from the 50’s ad even the 40’s. I have a 66 stingray. Someone please let this guy out of his cave.
Yikes, JohnP! No need to be snotty… you could have just informed us that old cars can run okay on unleaded without going on to make that last comment.
…well now that you’re out of you “cave.” But he’s got a Stingray, so stay out of his compensated lack of penis way or else.
Um yes, any ‘leaded’ car can run on un-leaded, and vise versa (however not a good idea to put leaded into an unleaded car). Lead just allows the fuel mix to run a little ritcher, as a matter of fact you can still buy a leaded additive that you just pour into your tank. I think that might come with a free club to smack a baby harp seal with as well.
LoL…i actually read about this the day it happened…
so who would have thunk it? from leaded fuels, to safer unleaded fuel, now its cars running on corn, and diesel trucks running on mcdonalds used fryer oil!