Having just enough information, but not all the facts, can result in dangerous assumptions. Such is the case with many non-automotive media outlets speculating on the value of the Tulsarama’s 1957 Plymouth once it’s pulled from the Tulsa earth. Such assumptions wouldn’t ordinarily bother me enough to spout off about them, but it appears many of these sources are quoting the No. 1 value from Old Cars Price Guide, and that’s not right.

First of all, unrestored cars are not No. 1 cars. A vehicle has to have undergone a nut-and-bolt restoration that’s recent enough to make its owner comfortable with eating a sizzling steak from the “dirtiest” crevice of the vehicle’s underside (note: there should not be a dirty or rusty crevice ANYWHERE on a true No. 1 car). Not many vehicles are restored to this level, which is what makes No. 1 cars so valuable. Now, I love unrestored cars, and I’m the first to admit that unrestored vehicles can be worth as much, if not more, than restored cars. But it’s impossible for an unrestored car, even if it has zero miles, to be in No. 1 condition, and we all know these media sources are not aware of that fact.

Furthermore, celebrity car prices cannot be charted through any price guide. Remember the “Dukes of Hazzard” Dodge Charger? (I know, I know, we haven’t let you forget about that car on this Web site.) Every knowledgeable person will tell you that Charger will be worth more than an identical-appearing Charger from the same year, because it has some screen time, and it was owned by one of the famous people who helped make second-generation Dodge Chargers even more popular.  

The Tulsarama Plymouth may not have any screen time behind it, nor was it ever owned by a celebrity (or any person at all), but more importantly, it’s a celebrity in its own right. In fact, it’s quickly becoming the world’s best-known car, and only a handful of people have ever laid eyes on its gold-and-white body. And, since this Plymouth’s odometer has turned less often than a short-term politician, it’s all that much more valuable, even if it comes out of the earth looking less like a car from 1957 and more like a car from 1857.

So, what is this Plymouth worth? That question can be answered with as much confidence as predicting its condition. But, it’s safe to say the car will easily fetch six figures. If it’s in nice condition, and since there are at least two well-known and well-funded institutions interested in acquiring this special Plymouth, there’s a small chance it may reach seven-figure territory in heated bidding action at the right auction venue.

There is one thing you can count on, however, and that’s the fact this Plymouth is worth more than $30,000 -- and we’ll keep you posted on its fate within the pages of Old Cars Weekly.

I relish old photographs. Since I wasn’t lucky enough to be alive when many of my favorite collector cars were built, I enjoy picking up vintage black-and-white photos showing the cars I enjoy when they were new and used every day.

Since my coworkers know I enjoy old photographs, they directed a coworker over to me when he brought in a photo album depicting a race course with several great machines careening around corners (and sometimes into fences). The album features many different cars, including MGs, Alfas, Jaguars and other exotic European cars thundering down straight-aways. Even a few Ford faces are spotted occasionally on the track, but the real excitement for me was the every man cars in the parking lot. New 1949 and ’50 Ford convertibles, Dodge coupes, and Chevrolet sedans are pictured, but in more instances than not, such grand cars as Lincoln Continentals and even two 15-year-old Auburn Speedsters can also be found.

Also included in the photos are views of brass-era cars performing a parade lap. The car that comes to mind from this batch is a Stutz Bearcat.

Unfortunately, the photos are not labeled, so I’m not positive on the location of the track. Maybe you can figure out where the track is and share it with me and other readers of this blog. To whet your appetite, I’ve posted a few pics from the album here. Note the SS (early Jag) that’s losing it, losin it, and then lost it, landing right into the fence, as well as the Bugatti, Alfa and the circa-1950 Cadillac dealership.


My question to you is this: What is the name of the track and where is it located? What automotive celebrities frequented this track?

If I get enough response, I’ll post a few more photos of the album, and maybe the answers I can confirm!

Hint to posting on this blog: Some Old Cars Weekly readers have told me that have not been able to post to the blog. Those that have been successful said they had to post their message twice. I suggest copying your reply before you post it in case you have re-post it a second time. If you do need to re-post your message, you can paste your response to avoid re-typing it. I apologize for this inconvenience while we work to correct this problem. In the meantime, please bear with us! We want to hear from you!

Every once in a while, the old car hobby surfaces in the mainstream media. It’s unfortunate when the news centers on the value of our cars, because there’s much more to this hobby than dollar values of our cars.

The most recent incident revolves around a 1969 Dodge Charger owned by John Schneider, who co-starred in the TV series “Dukes of Hazzard” alongside Catherine Bach, Tom Wopat and an orange 1969 Dodge Charger named “The General Lee.”

Following the end of the “Dukes of Hazzard” TV show, Schneider had an orange 1969 Charger built to look like the General Lee that he drove in the show. That Charger, which was created in the image of the TV General Lees well after the show ceased production, is said to have recently sold for $9.9 million, though that bidder hasn’t surfaced to comment and legitimize the sale.

Now, like many elementary age children in the early 1980s, I sat in front of the television to watch the Hazzard County antics of the General and the Duke boys. Even after several swigs of Alabama moonshine, there’s no way anyone call sell me on the idea that a recreation of a TV show car is worth almost $10 million, even if it was built for one of the people who helped make it famous.

Of the 200-plus General Lees built for stunt scenes and for pretty scenes in the TV show, around 20 are said to survive. All of those cars have camera time during the magical period in which the TV show was filmed. This most recent car does not.

So, why would anyone pay such serious money for a clone? You got me. And I think even Cletus would agree. During and after the TV show, every town sprouted at least one General Lee look-a-like, and as far as I am concerned, Schneider’s car was just another one of those look-a-likes, but with a celebrity twist.

Not surprisingly, more General Lees have hit Internet auctions following the sale of Schneider’s car. What’s troubling, however, is that a 1969 Dodge Charger said to be one of the 200-plus cars used in the filming of the show was placed on the same internet auction site. The listing for that Charger said the seller could document the car as belonging to the Warner Brothers studio, yet it didn’t draw one bid with its opening price of $150,000.

Not surprisingly, other Chargers with “Dukes of Hazzard” TV and movie provenance have popped up on the same internet site, and it will only be a matter of time before the market is flooded with Dukes Chargers. Maybe we’ll even see Boss Hogg’s Cadillac show up.

What do you think? Is one of Boss Hogg’s business partners up to no good? Is the sale as legitimate as Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane’s affection for his dog Flash? Is Schneider’s Charger worth as much as all of Hazzard County? Let me know what you think.