America on the Move

        

Classic Cars

#2381 - 2385 // August 25, 1988 // Detroit, MI

#BC47 // Cover image of "Classic Cars" stamp booklet (booklet contains four panes of five stamps each)
#2385a // Booklet pane of five stamps (#2381 - 2385) with separate designs
1928 Locomobile, Model 8-80 Convertible Coupe Locomobile Company of America, Bridgeport, CT (1899 - 1922)	1929 Pierce-Arrow, Model 125 Convertible Limousine Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company, Buffalo, NY (1901 - 1938)	1931 Cord, Model L-29 Convertible Coupe Cord Corporation, Connersville, IN (1929 - 1932, 1936 - 1937)
1932 Packard De Luxe Eight, Model 904 Sedan-Convertible Packard Motor Car Company, Detroit, MI (1899 - 1958) 1935 Duesenberg, Model SJ Convertible Coupe Duesenberg Automobile & Motors Company, Inc. Auburn, IN (1913 - 1937)
#2381 - 2385 // August 25, 1988 // Detroit, MI Classic Cars

        

Sporty Cars of the 1950s

#3931 - 3935 // August 20, 2005 // Detroit, MI

#BC209 // #3935b // August 20, 2005 // Detroit, MI 50s Sporty Cars Double-sided booklet pane of 8 stamps plus label on one side and twelve stamps on the other side. The stamps with five separate designs have self-adhesive gum.

#3935a // August 20, 2005 // Detroit, MI 50s Sporty Cars Vertical strip of five stamps (#3931 - 3935) with separate designs. (Only available from the side of booklet pane with 12 stamps).

August 20, 2005 // Detroit, MI (ex double-sided booklet pane of 20 stamps, 8 plus label on front and 12 stamps on back) Denomination 37¢ 50s Sporty Cars	August 20, 2005 // Detroit, MI Stamped Picture Postal Cards (ex booklet of 20 postcards, 4 sets of 5 designs) Denomination 23¢ 50s Sporty Cars
#3931 // Studebaker Starliner, 1953	#UX443 // Studebaker Starliner, 1953
The Starliner was low-slung, long and wide, and light on the chrome to give it a sophisticated, European look. Some considered it as the first American sports car. It was proclaimed "a work of art" by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which selected the Starliner as the lone American representative for the 1953 exhibition, "Ten Automobiles". (Studebaker Corporation, South Bend, IN, 1852 - 1967) USPS Postal News
#3932 // Kaiser Darrin, 1954	#UX444 // Kaiser Darrin, 1954
The two-seater featured retractable doors that slid forward into the front fenders; a clever pointed, compact grille; long sloping lines; and a three-position Landau top. Nine months after it went into production, the last of 435 Kaiser Darrins rolled off the assembly line. It could not compete with the Corvette which boasted more horsepower and sold for slightly less. Dutch Darrin himself bought 100 of the left-over cars and refitted them with powerful Cadillac V-8 engines. They sold quickly, but the Kaiser era had passed. (Kaiser Motors Corporation, Toledo, OH, 1947 - 1955) USPS Postal News
#3933 // Chevrolet Corvette, 1953	#UX442 // Chevrolet Corvette, 1953
The fiberglass-bodied two-seater Corvette captured the public's imagination with its sleek styling and sense of fun. Only 300 hand-built, white, with red interior and black convertible-top models were produced in 1953. A marked departure from other GM designs, its sporty appearance promised speed and high performance. In 1955, GM added a V-8 engine to raise the bar for the competition. USPS Postal News
#3934 // Nash Healey, 1952	#UX441 // Nash Healey, 1952
An elegant little sports car famous for its hybridized styling drew on the creative genius of three countries. The U.S. created the six-cylinder engine, England engineered the chassis, and Italy added the body before returning it to the U.S. With only 150 made, it priced itself out of the market. Sold exclusively in the U.S., the high-performing hybrid had a moment of glory when it came in first in its class and third overall in the 1952 LeMans sports car race in France. (Production 1951 - 1954) USPS Postal News
#3935 // Ford Thunderbird, 1955	#UX440 // Ford Thunderbird, 1955
Ford introduced the flashy 1955 Thunderbird in 1954 and dubbed it "a sports car with luxury" - a contradiction in terms, since sports cars at that time were built for appearance and performance, not comfort. The Thunderbird featured a steel body, interchangeable hard and soft tops, an overhead valve V-8 engine, and roll-up windows, as well as a host of luxury options. Styling remained essentially the same until 1958 when Ford converted it to a four-seater. USPS Postal News

        

Fins and Chrome of the 1950s

#4353 - 4357 // October 3, 2008 // Carlisle, PA

#4357a // October 3, 2008 // Carlisle, PA 50s Fins and Chrome Vertical strip (#3) of five stamps ex sheet of 20 stamps. The sheet consists of four strips with five stamps of separate designs. The stamps have self-adhesive gum and a description of the car on the back.

October 3, 2008 // Carlisle, PA (ex sheet of 20 stamps, 4 strips of 5 designs) Denomination 42¢ 50s Fins and Chrome	October 3, 2008 // Carlisle, PA Stamped Picture Postal Cards (ex booklet of 20 postcards, 4 sets of 5 designs) Denomination 27¢ 50s Fins and Chrome
#4353 // Chrysler 300C, 1957	#UX552 // Chrysler 300C, 1957
#4354 // Lincoln Premiere, 1957	#UX553 // Lincoln Premiere, 1957
#4355 // Pontiac Safari, 1957	#UX549 // Pontiac Safari, 1957
#4356 // Studebaker Golden Hawk, 1957	#UX550 // Studebaker Golden Hawk, 1957
#4357 // Cadillac Eldorado, 1959	#UX551 // Cadillac Eldorado, 1959

Cover image of USPS Philatelic Bulletin Winter 2008

        

Legendary Muscle Cars

#4743 - 4747 // February 22, 2013 // Daytona Beach, FL

#4747a // February 22, 2013 // Daytona Beach, FL Muscle Cars Vertical strip (#1) of five stamps ex sheet of 20 stamps. The sheet consists of four strips with five stamps of separate designs. The stamps have self-adhesive gum. A description of the cars is printed on the back of the sheet.

February 22, 2013 // Daytona Beach, FL (ex sheet of 20 stamps, 4 strips of 5 designs) Denomination: FOREVER® Muscle Cars

#4743 // Dodge Charger Daytona, 1969

The outrageously styled 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona was designed to dominate on the racetrack. The car took the checkered flag at its "NASCAR" debut in September 1969 at Alabama International Motor Speedway in Talladega. The production version of the car was powered by a standard 440-cubic-inch, 375-horsepower Magnum engine. A limited number of Daytonas were also available with a 426-cubic-inch Hemi, a race-inspired engine Chrysler introduced earlier that decade. Concealed headlights, fender-mounted scoops, a nearly two-foot tall, rear-mounted wing, and an 18-inch nose piece helped boost aerodynamics. Other signature touches were thick body stripes containing the word "DAYTONA". The distinctive vehicles were not easy to come by. In order to qualify for "NASCAR" racing, at least 500 Daytonas had to be made available for purchase; only 503 were produced. USPS Postal News

#4744 // Pontiac GTO, 1966

The Pontiac GTO ushered in the American muscle-car era in the mid-1960s, just as the baby boomers began to come of age. The first GTO was born when engineers dropped a 389-cubic-inch V8 engine, which was built for a full-size sedan, into an intermediate-size Pontiac Tempest LeMans. Initially offered simply as an option on the Tempest LeMans, the GTO - which in Italian stood for Gran Turismo Omologato, or in English, Grand Touring Homologated - became its own model in 1966. Available as a hardtop, coupe, or convertible, the 1966 Pontiac GTO was equipped with a standard 335-horsepower V8 engine. The "Goat" could really move; in tests, it went from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.8 seconds. It also looked much different than its predecessors. Starting in 1966, the car featured curvy Coke-bottle styling and a split grille. That model year, sales of the distinctive GTO peaked. USPS Postal News

#4745 // Shelby GT-500, 1967

Manufacturer Carroll Shelby's take on the Ford Mustang reflected his roots as a racecar driver. The 1967 Shelby GT-500 was powered by a 428-cubic-inch, 355-horsepower Police Interceptor engine. The car also featured a rear spoiler and optional dealer-installed LeMans stripes. Rocker panel stripes came standard on the 1967 Shelby GT-500, which also sported grille-mounted headlights. A scooped fiberglass hood, extended nose, and interior roll bar and shoulder harnesses further enhanced the racecar feel. The 1967 Shelby GT-500 was more than just a racer. The improved suspension softened the ride, resulting in a vehicle that was comfortable to drive on the highway as well as on the track. The car was both striking and rare; only 2,048 were built. Rekindling American pop culture's fascination with the model, in 2007, Ford reintroduced the Shelby GT-500 into the Mustang model lineup. USPS Postal News

#4746 // Chevelle SS, 1970

With features like optional twin racing stripes, the 1970 Chevelle SS looked fierce. SS stood for Super Sport, a fitting designation for the car, which had serious power: a 396-cubic-inch engine or a 454-cubic-inch engine option in two versions, the 360-horsepower LS-5 and the 450-horsepower LS-6. For its sheer power, the latter has become legendary among car buffs. The LS-6-propelled 1970 Chevelle SS was lightning quick. It finished in the 13-second range in quarter-mile tests. Optional Cowl Induction, a flap on the bulged hood that allowed cold air to flow into the engine, added even more kick. In addition to its impressive road performance, the 1970 Chevelle SS was also known for its unique style. Available as a coupe or a convertible, the 1970 Chevelle SS featured a black grille and SS emblems on both the grille and the rear bumper. USPS Postal News

#4747 // Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda, 1970

The Hemi 'Cuda, the performance-oriented alter-ego of the standard 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, oozed power. The car's 426-cubic-inch Hemi engine was a 425-horsepower beast. The car was part of what Plymouth called "The Rapid Transit System". One of the 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda's more audacious features was a Shaker hood scoop, which vibrated as air flowed through to the engine's two four-barrel carburetors. The car was available in a variety of eye-popping color choices, such as Lemon Twist, Lime Light, and Vitamin C. Hockey-stick shaped stripes denoting engine size, a shifter handle shaped like a pistol grip, and bucket seats were also offered. The model is also a rare specimen: Fewer than 700 were produced. USPS Postal News

#4744 // February 22, 2013 // Daytona Beach, FL America on the Move Series Muscle Cars Pontiac GTO, 1966 First Day Cover Digital Color Postmark