Oh, I think the people of 1957 were more optimistic than that. More likely they figured that after the future Tulsans had lifted the car from its vault with hovercraft, they would simply zap it with a Restore-O-Matic ray that would turn any rust to gleaming steel. And afterward the workmen would enjoy a fine lunch (delivered via pneumatic tube) of white bread and Veg-O-Pills, followed by a couple of Luckies.
What the Tulsans of 1957 expected compared to what they really got is about the same as what Tulsans of 2007 expected and what they really got.
It's both sad and amusing at the same time. Maybe the Germans have a word for that.