Since you've probably had it with all those Dodge Challenger concepts, we present the 2008 Concept ‘Cuda. That’s right, no brand needed, just a really bright orange paint job and some 22-inch wheels. It’s pretty much the same as the Challenger underneath the skin, but in this case the skin is carbon fiber instead of that old rusty steel stuff. There’s a 6.1-liter Hemi V8 underneath the hood of course and a pistol grip shifter too. Six-piston Brembo brakes reside up front and the rear tires are meaty 305/35 Pirelli PZeros. It’s almost enough to make you wish Plymouth was still around. Almost. -- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line

Not much of a surprise, really, as 50 years six feet under in a water-logged tomb has taken its toll on the '57 Plymouth Belvedere 2-door hardtop buried in Tulsa.

Wonder if Les Nessman was there to cover the event? Oh, wait! I think I see him on stage...

"I'll tell you what, she's a mess," said legendary hot rod builder Boyd Coddington, who was unable to start the thing up as planned. "Look at her."

Well at least the 6-pack of beer originally buried with the car was still okay; maybe like the tires, a bit flat, but still drinkable.

Full story here.

More info and videos here and here. More images after the jump.

Continue reading...

Remember this story (Plymouth: A brand buried in more ways than one)? Straightline ran it back in January. It's about a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere that was buried under the courthouse lawn in Tulsa, OK.

The two-door hardtop, was buried back in 1957 to celebrate Oklahoma's 50 years of statehood. It was then to be lifted out of the 12-foot-by-20-foot time capsule to commemorate the state's centennial year. 50,000 people from all over the world are expected at the event, and more than 260 media credentials have been handed out to reporters from New York to New Zealand.

When the digging began it quickly became known that the concrete vault had two feet of standing water. There was also evidence that the vault had been completely flooded. At the time of this posting the plastic that had wrapped car had not been removed, however most feel, once removed, the results will not be good.

It looks like my analogy/prediction regarding the "Flying Turkey" fiasco episode on the WKRP TV show wasn't far off.

Full story here.

Here's Inside Line's take: Rust Anniversary: 50-Year-Old Plymouth Belvedere To Be Raised From Watery Time Capsule in Tulsa

We all know the Plymouth brand died and was buried a few years ago. Not only is the brand long-buried, but it so happens that there is a brand new (old?) 1957 Plymouth that is literally buried under the lawn of the Tulsa County Courthouse!

Yep, the good folks in that Oklahoma county decided way back in 1957 to bury a then-new car (a Plymouth—oh how prophetic) in a contest, in which the winner would have to guess the population of Tulsa in 2007, and win a $100 savings account.

Sorta reminds me of the infamous—and funny as hell—"Flying Turkey" fiasco that was an episode in 1978 on the late, great TV sitcom WKRP.

It's too bad fellow Okie Will Rogers isn't still around, as I'd love to hear his comments on this "event." And... if this had taken place in Minnesota, you can rest assured that Garrison Keillor would have used this as material for a hilarious Lake Wobegon story.

Oh well, the full story is here and here.