57 Ply. from Tulsa

[Eddie M]

Even though the car is in terrible shape, it has to be stabilized so that others can admire it.
If the car is left "as is" from Tulsa, it will deterioate more with the interaction of the moisture in the air, rust and the Tulsa mud.
Anything that has been taken out of water for long periods of time (Years), has to go through a process of stabilization.
I really enjoyed photographing the details of the car (some of which I posted here) since it will help me with my Plymouth.
Many of us don't like or agree with what is going on, but this car is in private hands now.  The new owner can do what he wants.
If you get any type of opportunity, go and see the car in person.  Mr. Foster is a very accomadating person.

[Doran Johnson]

If there is an oxidation museum, it would be great there :D

Doran

[57plymouth]

Agreed.? It should have been sent straight to the Smithsonian from the hole in the ground...

Well, maybe not the Smithsonian.  Maybe 57 Heaven museum.

[Blue-Skies]

I disagree with swapping the frame or attempting to start the car.

Sadly, the car is in the hands of idiots that have no appreciation of the car.  Everything they have posted on their website and on forums shows that they will ruin the car.

The car should be displayed exactly as it was removed.  It should never be restored, or made to run.  It is a historical artifact.  Repairing it is like trying to repair and use the Titanic. 

It's sad to see someone so anxious to use something historic to simply make a buck.

Agreed.  It should have been sent straight to the Smithsonian from the hole in the ground...

[57plymouth]

I disagree with swapping the frame or attempting to start the car.

Sadly, the car is in the hands of idiots that have no appreciation of the car.  Everything they have posted on their website and on forums shows that they will ruin the car.

The car should be displayed exactly as it was removed.  It should never be restored, or made to run.  It is a historical artifact.  Repairing it is like trying to repair and use the Titanic. 

It's sad to see someone so anxious to use something historic to simply make a buck.

[Eddie M]

Miss Belvedere is in very poor shape.  I can attest that she has rust penetration thru her frame.
The trunk lid skin is like paper with a couple of holes thru it. 
The leaf springs on bloth sides are rotted.  The upholstry too is far gone.
Dwight Foster who runs Ultra One in Hackettstown, New Jersey let my wife and I take many pictures of the car.
Mr. Foster even made mention of how poor the car is and that he is stabilizing the car to preserve it for future generations.
The frame and leaf springs will be swapped out with a donor Savoy from North Carolina as well as the trunk skeleton.
He also said he is going to make the 301 run and the torqueflite shift again.
My wife and I are invited to return in the Spring.

[David Pollock]

I too am impressed by the picture, but Miss Belvedere is still in better shape than the 57 Belvedere I should have rolled into a barn rather than selling back in 68. It was a good rust free car (then) but the crusher didn't care. I  remember  how well that car handled on lousy bias ply tires and how that Torqueflite could give a chirp of rubber on the 1 -2 shift.

[bullet_nose_stude]

I have read the Stephen King novel "Christine" a number of times.? At several different points through the book, the word regeneration is used to describe the process of how the car is restoring itself by being driven around while the odometer runs backward, thereby rolling the miles off.? A spiderweb of cracks in the windshield grows smaller; one half of the rusty grill suddenly appears as new while the other side is still rusty.? A new seat cover on the back seat, while the front still cracked and faded.? The hood shiny and red while the rest of the paint still rusty and faded.

It's odd - that was the first thing I thought of when I looked at that photo.

[Jim Benjaminson]

Frankly, I'm surprised how good the car looks.  Perhaps there is some hope!  The main thing is to stop the further oxidation (rusting) of the car.  They probably had to use cement blocks rathern than jack stands, hard to put stands under a car that the suspension has fallen out of!  At least they will provide some stability.  I keep hoping they get the door open so we can get the VIN number from the car and get the build records from Mother MoPar.

[57plymouth]

Nothing says quality like cement blocks for jack stands.

Poor Miss Belvedere.  She won't be around much longer.

[53coe]

Thanks Mark, I was hoping somebody would do that for me, I can't seem to get it done on my end., Wayne

[POC-Admin]

Here is the photo he was talking about.

Mark

[53coe]

I just went to the web site that has the 57 Ply. and one fender is cleaned up, I don't know if the fender is finished yet, but it look way better then I thought it would. I'm going to try to attach the pic., if it doesn't work maybe some can? e-mail me direct and I'll send them the pic. Also glad to hear about the FL. chapter, I plan on being at the meeting on Feb. 16th., Thanks to all , Wayne in Fl.,