Raw Power Has a Stamp of Its Own Muscle Cars Roar at Spring Classic Auction
What do you get when you bring the U.S. Postal Service and Dana Mecum’s Original Spring Classic Auction together at the State Fairgrounds — a Muscle Car Extravaganza!
Since it began 26 years ago, Mecum’s Spring Classic auction in Indianapolis has featured the largest auction of muscle cars in the world. This year, the Postal Service will celebrate the raw power of the performance vehicle at the Spring Classic event by dedicating five, limited edition stamps featuring iconic muscle cars — the 1966 Pontiac GTO, the 1967 Shelby GT-500, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, the 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda and the 1970 Chevelle SS.
“The Muscle Cars stamps celebrate an exciting era in American automotive history,” said Greater Indiana District Manager Bernice Grant. “Typically equipped with big, powerful engines, these high-performance vehicles first roared onto our roads in the 1960s.”
The Spring Classic Auction event will take place from May 14 to May 19, 2013 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46205. Gates open daily Tuesday through Sunday at 9 a.m. Greater Indiana District Manager, Operations Programs Support Dale Sparks will dedicate the five Muscle Car stamps at a ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, May 15 at 11 a.m. ET.
The Mecum Auction Company is the world leader of collector car and Road Art sales, hosting auctions throughout the United States. The company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 26 years, now offering more than 15,000 vehicles per year and averaging more than one auction each month.
The Muscle Cars Forever stamps are the third to be issued in the America on the Move stamp series. The artwork was created by Tom Fritz of Newbury Park, CA.
The Muscle Cars stamps are being issued as Forever stamps in self-adhesive sheets of 20 (four of each design). Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.
1966 Pontiac GTO
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 mph 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.
1967 Shelby GT-500
Manufacturer Carroll Shelby’s take on the Ford Mustang reflected his roots as a race car 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 race car 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. A customized or original version of the 1967 Shelby GT-500 has appeared in contemporary movies and magazines, rekindling American pop culture’s fascination with the model. In 2007, Ford reintroduced the Shelby GT-500 into the Mustang model lineup.
1969 Dodge Charger Daytona
The outrageously styled 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona was designed to dominate on the racetrack. The car, which underwent wind-tunnel testing before its release, 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. Chrysler first used a version of the Hemi — a high-performance engine with hemispherical combustion chambers — in automobiles in the 1950s.
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.
1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda
The 1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda, a 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.” The 1970 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda was “our angriest, slipperiest-looking body shell wrapped around ol’ King Kong hisself,” one advertisement bellowed.
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’s styling was an extension of its bold ethos. It 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 as fewer than 700 were produced.
1970 Chevelle SS
With features like optional twin racing stripes, the 1970 Chevelle SS looked fierce. SS stood for Super Sport, a fitting designation for this power car. A 396-cubic-inch engine was available, but a 454-cubic-inch engine option gave the 1970 Chevelle SS credibility among muscle car enthusiasts. Two versions of the 454 engine were available: 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 enough to finish 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 also was known for its unique style. Available as a coupe or a convertible, it featured a black grille and SS emblems on both the grille and the rear bumper.
Customers may view the America on the Move: Muscle Cars Forever stamps, as well as many of this year’s other stamps, on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, on Twitter @USPSstamps or on the website Beyond the Perf at beyondtheperf.com/2013-preview. Beyond the Perf is the Postal Service’s online site for information on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news.
Ordering First-Day Covers
The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog, online at usps.com/shop or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:
U.S. Postal Service
Catalog Request
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014
Philatelic Products
Six philatelic products are available:
- 470506 Muscle Cars uncut press sheet — a unique way to showcase an exciting era in American automotive history and perfect for framing, this 36.25-inch x 12.6-inch press sheet with die-cuts contains 10 sheets of 20 Muscle Cars Forever stamps positioned five across by two down. Maximum order 5. $92
- 470508 Muscle Cars uncut press sheet (without die cuts). Maximum order 5. $92
- 470510 Muscle Cars Digital Color Postmark Keepsake — Teeming with horsepower, this collectible package includes a sheet of 20 Muscle Cars Forever stamps and a set of five #6 ¾ envelopes — each with a different, affixed Muscle Cars stamp and a First-Day-of-Issue color postmark.
- 470516 Muscle Cars First-Day Cover — Rev up your collection with this dynamic set of five First-Day Covers! Each #6 ¾ envelope features a different affixed Muscle Cars Forever stamp and a First-Day-of-Issue black pictorial postmark.
- 470530 Muscle Cars Ceremony Program — Celebrate an exciting era in automotive history and the Muscle Cars Forever First-Day-of-Issue with an official ceremony program and cover. The full-color, custom-designed program features the First-Day Ceremony agenda and participants on one side, with a narrative about these iconic cars and the stamp designs on the reverse.
- 470521 Muscle Cars Digital Color Postmark (set of 5) — Rev up your collection with this dynamic set of five First Day Covers! Each #6 ¾ envelope features a different affixed Muscle Cars Forever stamp and a First-Day-of-Issue color postmark.
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