A buried prize

[persmitz]

Thanks for the warm welcome to your group of enthusiasts. Looks like another dandy site. I am Perry, from Idaho, and my business here is twofold.

One, something not so commendable, rather selfish, is to find buyers for some of the few Mopar Parts I have, and have no need for. Am hoping some mutual benefit evolves from this. It is a rat, I think, who ratholes parts others may need! I have done this way toooo much and am buried in my own doings!

Two: I hope ya'll find this a bit more entertaining. I will try to tell a little info about a 3/4 buried car. I believe this car is approximately 1948 Dodge, but here is the kicker: It is a CONVERTIBLE. Probably not such a big deal to some of you in sunny states, but few convertibles were bought in Idaho, once the closed car became marketable. I just know you guys will love the picture I hope to supply before the snowfalls --I will have to go and take it! Why?

It is because this convert is standing nose up at about a 65 degree angle, with only about a quarter of the front of the car showing, all right of the hood centerline, back to windshield post, to where one can see the top bows!

The Stanchion showing looks good. Now this baby is PLANTED tight in soil more rock than soil..cobble or bigger. Why? because it is at the bottom of a fairly steep hill, and sometime after the car wound up where it is, they needed an access road cut into the hillside, about 20-30 feet above it. At the time, I am sure they thought nothing of it as the overburden from the road cut was pushed down on it, till it achieved its current status! I could stride across the portion-showing, barely, without jumping, so that tells how little of it protrudes (I gotta get ya some pics, so you can believe this!). Car is, as you might expect, right near the very bottom of the hill.

Now, I would like a prelimary (hopefully) verification on this cars identity, and I have little to offer you, nevertheless; I appreciate any input.

1. It shows part of the grille to be of the egg crate variety.

2. The stanchion I mention is smoothly part of the cowl metal, standing strong and proud, as if to say, "hey, I'm a strong little stanchion"!

3. It does not appear to have wrap around trim, which (sorry guys, but unfortunately, in my mind) elimates Chrysler (just a dressed up Dodge anyway, those chryslers, right?).

4. And also, if I remember correctly, the substantial bumper did wrap around just a couple three inches.

5. I have googled Dodge convertibles, and finding one like it to my recollection, has yet to happen! I think the 48 Dodge convertible is the one

usually lacking, is why I think it may be that one! No production numbers exist according to someone, somewhere, at sometime,when I checked into it!?

6. I do believe there was some tidbit that definately made me know(?) it was in fact a Dodge, but I do not recall just what it was...been a few years ago.

Finally, can anyone help ID? And have any of you ever tried, or known anyone, who restored a car buried so tightly? What did they find at the deep end?

Could a two door sedan donate body panels to bring her back? Amazingly, what top bows I could see looked very good! HELP!

MANY THANK YOUS!

[blueskies]

What part of Idaho are you from? I'm in Idaho too...

Pete

[Don Coatney]

What part of Idaho are you from? I'm in Idaho too...

Pete

Pete;

I think he must be from Cliffside, Idaho:D

[Jim Saraceno]

Well, if the Belvedere in Tulsa OK is any indication as to what happens to a buried car, I wouldn't expect too much it.

[blueskies]

Well, if the Belvedere in Tulsa OK is any indication as to what happens to a buried car, I wouldn't expect too much it.

But there isn't any water in Idaho. Might just need a paint job...

Pete

[JIPJOBXX]

Sounds to me like great yard art!!!!

[JIPJOBXX]

A couple of years ago I was helping someone clear out an old car junk yard (well it had old cars at one time but by the time I got to help all the good stuff had been taken) Well on this property there was a hill and to keep that hill from eroding the owner just shoved old cars over the top and then set them in place to keep the dirt from migrating. Well when we found out about this we did go on a search of that hill side and yes there were a few cars but none worth anything but the stainless steel trim was still in place so we salvaged the trim. If this convertible still has any trim on it than maybe you can go after the stainless steel stuff but the rest probably just rust. Jon

[John Reddie]

Here's one.

John R

http://www.remarkablecars.com/main/dodge/dodge-00051.html

[persmitz]

I did not realize I was getting answers cuz duh, been in the habit of

arrowing down, and this one goes up sorry! I am near Idaho Falls, Idaho.

And Pete, tis true are technically a desert climate, but believe me you, someplaces in Idaho sometimes get very large snowpack. I grew up near Palisade Lake, where most services were remote by 50 miles or so. Many was the time our family would come home from the big city after dark and my father would have to make several stabs through the drifts with his weighted chained two ton Chevy Flatbed, so we could get through in our 54 Chrysler New Yorker. We left there when I waS twelve, but I remember only one winter when the snow did not totally cover the fenceposts! An oldtimer there at that time called it "the ******* of creation" Now it is high dollar

recreation hang out! But no, they get nowhere near the snow they used to get in the 60s and before. Most of Idaho is less than 10inches a year, which is defined as desert. Yet a vast amount of the intermountain watershed really does originate in Idaho!

Back to the Plymouth, due to the cobble rock I was hopin you guys would encourage me go dig up a pristine automobile. Calendar art, maybe...yard art, no. You almost have to step on this car to know it is there! With later cars, it has not been uncommon to use the hardtop parts car as a donor for convertibles. Sincethis was pre-hardtop, would some of you familiar with d24 Dodge weigh in on whether a two door sedan might be used in this way! Thanks again, I really would like to see if I could get permission to dig this up. I am quite sure it is on private land. Will try to get a pic, ya'll will either laugh or cry!

[Don Coatney]

I did not realize I was getting answers cuz duh, been in the habit of

arrowing down, and this one goes up sorry!

You can fix that if you click on the User CP hot button above.

[blueskies]

... but believe me you, someplaces in Idaho sometimes get very large snowpack....

One thing I understand is snow... I live in Hailey and have three to four feet in my yard for months on end.

Even so, it is pretty dry. I've had bare metal on my '53 chevy truck since I bought it in 1983, and it still looks the same as it did 29 years ago. Granted, it's not sitting at the bottom of a pile of rocks... but it is stored outside year round.

Most of the dirt around here is free-draining river cobble, so even when there is water, it disappears quickly. I find stuff like this all over Idaho-

Been sitting there for 50-60 years, and nothing but minor surface rust...

If you dig up the vert, I want to come check it out!

Pete

[Jim Saraceno]

In Missouri, we keep our old cars (washers, tires etc.) in the rivers. I've never figured out how so many tires get into these rivers. You can't wade more than 100 feet while your fishing without stumbling over a tire.

One time I was fishing, looked down and saw a hubcap from a Studebaker that was in fairly good shape. I picked it up, took it home and am using it a "garage art". I'm still looking for the rest of it, I know it's got to be in there somewhere!

I know several places where there are cars in the river that have been there so long they are completely buried.

Every year volunteers gather to clean the streams and I'm always amazed by the junk they keep pulling out of these rivers.

[BobT-47P15]

48 Dodge from link above..........

[Captain Neon]

In Missouri, we keep our old cars (washers, tires etc.) in the rivers. I've never figured out how so many tires get into these rivers. You can't wade more than 100 feet while your fishing without stumbling over a tire.

One time I was fishing, looked down and saw a hubcap from a Studebaker that was in fairly good shape. I picked it up, took it home and am using it a "garage art". I'm still looking for the rest of it, I know it's got to be in there somewhere!

I know several places where there are cars in the river that have been there so long they are completely buried.

Every year volunteers gather to clean the streams and I'm always amazed by the junk they keep pulling out of these rivers.

If there weren't so few sanitary landfills in Missouri, us rednecks in the hills wouldn't be tempted to toss our trash in sinkholes and creeks.

[Jim Saraceno]

If there weren't so few sanitary landfills in Missouri, us rednecks in the hills wouldn't be tempted to toss our trash in sinkholes and creeks.

Don't towns have public dumps up in northern Missouri?

[Captain Neon]

Don't towns have public dumps up in northern Missouri?

Nope. Folks in the country either have to haul in to town and leave at a friend's on trash day, rent a dumpster, or haul to St. Joseph. When it is over an hour one way to haul off a load of trash, sinkholes and creeks look more inviting.

[Young Ed]

I think we need to see some pictures of this buried car.

[Jim Saraceno]

Nope. Folks in the country either have to haul in to town and leave at a friend's on trash day, rent a dumpster, or haul to St. Joseph. When it is over an hour one way to haul off a load of trash, sinkholes and creeks look more inviting.

That's crazy! I grew up in a small town in New England and every little town had a public dump. They used to be land fills but as EPA laws go tighter many of them went to transfer stations.

I always thought trash removal was a utility like water and electric. Do they have water and electric in Trenton? AND do you and your fellow Trentonians say MissouRAH like the politicians do or MissouREE like the city-folk do?

[Eneto-55]

We had a county dump back where I grew up in north east Oklahoma. There was one old man who ran the place, and he always had fires going to burn the trash. (It was sort of my picture of hell - a place where the fires never go out.)

But going to the dump (whether it was the public one, or a private one over the fence) was always an exciting day. Sometimes my dad would say that we brought home more than we took away.... (Once we had to pay 75 cents extra, to dump a stripped 53 DeSoto.) Now I try to get my family to recycle as much as possible, to keep all that trash out of the land-fill.

[persmitz]

Ed, I agree, ya gotta see this buried car. I will try hard to get some pics soon. The landfill in my OWN yard rather has me busy at the time. Back in the day, never could pass up a small town garbage dump, yard sale, or thrift store, nor of course any abandoned vintage iron! etc! Ever think about dragging just 2 items home each day 300 days a year for say 10 years? Makes ya scratch your head while wondering why ya can't find anything!

[Captain Neon]

That's crazy! I grew up in a small town in New England and every little town had a public dump. They used to be land fills but as EPA laws go tighter many of them went to transfer stations.

I always thought trash removal was a utility like water and electric. Do they have water and electric in Trenton? AND do you and your fellow Trentonians say MissouRAH like the politicians do or MissouREE like the city-folk do?

We do have trash pick-up in town, but for the folks that live outside city limits, they either have to burn what's flammable, and bring to town at a buddy's on trash day. If one has no friends in town that will let them drop off their trash, they have to haul what doesn't burn to St. Joseph. No county landfill.

BTW, in Trenton, we pronounce Missouri properly, Mizz-oo-RAH.

[53_Suburban]

I remember in the early 60s, the town dump in Redlands CA took everything including cars.

Seems there were always more old Chrysler Corp cars than Ford or GMs, since they weren't as popular. I had this 52 Olds that ran great but had a bad trans and major body damage on both sides. I just had to have my Dad sign the pink slip and give it and the plates to the attendant when I dropped it off. No charge to leave it.

Three days later it was gone. About a week after that it was back with no engine, no hood, front bumper, grille, windshield or front and rear lamps.

Those were the days. We used to go over there after school a couple times a week to see if anything cool had shown up. I remember picking up a pair of 40 Ford tailamps for 75 cents.

One of my friends picked up a running 46 Ford 2dr sedan for $15.

[Flatie46]

I work with a guy that was telling me his dad bought a farm back in the 50's. He said they had problems with erosion and a big gorge comming off the mountain side. He says when they bought the farm it came with a bunch of old 20's and 30's cars/tucks. His dad pushed 'em all off in the gorge to fill it in and covered 'em with dirt. He's been wanting me to see the spot where they are. Says you can see fenders and stuff sticking up outta the ground.

Anthor friend was telling me about an old Model T that was pushed off a hillside years ago on his papaw's property. He said it's still there but you'd have to nearly repell to get down to it. I plan on going to take pics one day I've got a twisted facination for such odd things.

[persmitz]

ENETO,

Re: small town dump and the old man running it! I believe that was a required experience for all small town folks, at least in the 60s and some of the 70s, then

came lady bird. In junior high and high school, we would go out and target practice

at the even smaller small-town dumps (who couldn't afford an old man to watch over the doings). Could find enough copper wire to keep us in gas and 22 shells! ah such wonderful memories. Generally, people throw the best things when they go out of style,

then want to buy them back later when they realize how cool the things were!!