The vault in which Tulsa buried a Plymouth Belvedere 50 years ago was built to withstand a nuclear attack.

Water, apparently, not so much.

Workers lifted the vault's lid Wednesday morning to find about two feet of standing water and indications the vault may have been filled to the rim sometime during the past half-century.

The car itself remained encased in several layers of purportedly water-tight material, its precise condition a mystery. The outline of the Belvedere's trademark tailfins was clearly visible under the coverings, but hopes for recovering the car in something like pristine condition faded.

Rain at mid-morning brought work at the site to a halt. The vault was covered with a canopy and opaque plastic attached to the chain link fence surrounding to keep spectators from looking in. Workers hoped to assess the condition of the steel skid supporting the Belvedere.

The condition of the time capsule, which in appearance resembles a small propane tank, was not clear.

The discovery of water in the vault was particularly difficult for the scores of volunteers who have worked for more than 18 months on the car's excavation. Their chairwoman, Sharon King Davis, wiped away a tear as she surveyed the vault.

She brightened a few minutes later, though, and said, "The party goes on!"

In addition to Friday's unearthing and unveiling activities, two Tulsarama car shows featuring 500 classic automobiles and a Saturday night sock hop are scheduled for the weekend.

Find complete coverage of Tulsa's famous buried car: An archive of every Tulsa World and Tulsa Tribune story about the 1957 Plymouth Belvedere; a slide show and video of the burial; and a schedule of events for the unearthing Friday. Readers also can submit their own stories and photos.