Raw power will have a stamp of its own once the Postal Service™ dedicates the limited-edition America on the Move: Muscle Cars Forever® stamps at the Daytona International Speedway, Friday, February 22 — two days prior to the iconic Daytona 500. As the third issuance of the America on the Move series, the stamps celebrate an exciting era in American automotive history.
The stamps were designed by art director, Carl T. Herrman, carlherrman@earthlink.net, of North Las Vegas, NV, and created by artist Tom Fritz, tom@fritzart.com, of Newbury Park, CA (feel free to contact them). Other issuances in the series, ’50s Sporty Cars (2005), followed by ’50s Fins and Chrome (2008), were the work of artist Art Fitzpatrick of Carlsbad, CA. The Muscle Cars stamps are being issued as Forever stamps. Forever stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail® one-ounce price.
The Muscle Cars stamps celebrate the high-performance vehicles that captured our imagination when they roared onto our roads beginning in the 1960s:
n 1966 Pontiac GTO.
n 1967 Shelby GT-500.
n 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona.
n 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda.
n 1970 Chevelle SS.
Postmasters are asked to work with their corporate communications area manager to conduct special dedication ceremonies on February 22 or any day following that throughout the year. Note: the term “Second-Day Ceremony” is no longer used as it implies limiting local events to the day following the first-day-of-issue. Special dedication ceremonies can be conducted on the first-day-of-issue or anytime following that.
Outside of conducting special dedication ceremonies at Post Offices™, Postmasters are encouraged to be creative and conduct ceremonies at automobile dealerships, car shows, race tracks, county and state fairs, and other venues which attract the attention of car enthusiasts. Visiting carclubs.com provides a listing of many car clubs and car clubs by make.
Enclosed in this publicity kit you will find:
n Sample media advisory.*
n Sample news release (which contains background information on each of the Muscle Cars). *
n Sample speech.*
n Contact for obtaining a Muscle Car poster for use in local special dedication ceremonies.
n Contact for obtaining high-resolution images of the stamps for media use only.
n Government relations contacts by state.
n Corporate communications area manager listing for assistance in event promotion.
*Email mark.r.saunders@usps.gov for the word documents.
Sample Media Advisory
Date Contact: Name
Phone
email
http://www.usps.com/news
Raw Power Has a Stamp of its Own
(Name) Post Office Celebrates Muscle Cars Forever Stamps
High-resolution images of the stamps are available for media use only by emailing [contacts email]
WHAT: Special dedication ceremony for the Limited Edition America on the Move: Muscle Cars Forever stamps. The event is free and open to the public.
WHEN: Time, Date
WHERE: Location
Address
Provide website link of location, if available
WHO: Title and name of participants (in order of importance to media)
BACKGROUND: The Muscle Cars Forever stamps celebrate an exciting era in American automotive history. Typically equipped with big, powerful engines, these high-performance vehicles first roared onto our roads in the 1960s. The stamps feature five 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 stamps were designed by art director, Carl T. Herrman, carlherrman@earthlink.net, of North Las Vegas, NV, and created by artist Tom Fritz, tom@fritzart.com, of Newbury Park, CA (Feel free to contact them to get the backstory on the creation of the stamps. They are great interviews). Other issuances in the series, ’50s Sporty Cars (2005), followed by ’50s Fins and Chrome (2008), were the work of artist Art Fitzpatrick of Carlsbad, CA.
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A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 151 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 35th in the 2011 Fortune 500. In 2011, the U.S. Postal Service was ranked number one in overall service performance, out of the top 20 wealthiest nations in the world, by Oxford Strategic Consulting. Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines ranked the Postal Service as a leader in workforce diversity. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency for six years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.
Follow the Postal Service at www.twitter.com/USPS and at www.facebook.com/USPS.
Sample News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE Contact: Name
Phone
email
Raw Power Has a Stamp of Its Own
Muscle Cars Roar out of NAME Post Office
A high-resolution image of the stamp is available for media use only by emailing: [contact’s email]
City, State — [Name of City] gear heads and other car enthusiasts received their stamp of approval with a special dedication ceremony to celebrate the issuance of the Limited Edition America on the Move: Muscle Cars Forever stamps.
“The Muscle Cars stamps celebrate an exciting era in American automotive history,” said [Title and Name], who dedicated the stamps here today. “Typically equipped with big, powerful engines, these high-performance vehicles first roared onto our roads in the 1960s. Raw power has a stamp of its own, and these limited edition stamps feature five 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.”
Joining [Name] in dedicating the stamps were [Title, Name; Title, Name, etc.]
(Optional quote from other individual participating in event - if newsworthy).
(Provide additional details, such as the venue, a car being showcased at the event with infomration on its owner, or other newsworthy information).
The Muscle Cars Forever stamps are the third issuance in the America on the Move stamp series. The artwork was created by Tom Fritz of Newbury Park, CA, under the art direction of Carl T. Herrman of North Las Vegas, NV. Other issuances in the series, ’50s Sporty Cars (2005), followed by ’50s Fins and Chrome (2008), were the work of artist Art Fitzpatrick of Carlsbad, 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 2-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 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-of-Issue Postmarks
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at their local Post Office, at www.usps.com/stamps or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others and place them in a larger envelope addressed to:
Muscle Cars Stamps
Postmaster
500 Bill France Blvd
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by April 22, 2013.
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:
n 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
n 470508 Muscle Cars uncut press sheet (without die cuts). Maximum order 5. $92
n 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.
n 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.
n 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.
n 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.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
# # #
Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at http://about.usps.com/news/welcome.htm.
For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional, please go to http://about.usps.com/news/media-contacts/usps-local-media-contacts.pdf.
A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation — 151 million residences, businesses and Post Office™ Boxes. The Postal Service™ receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com®, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 35th in the 2011 Fortune 500. In 2011, Oxford Strategic Consulting ranked the U.S. Postal Service number one in overall service performance of the posts in the top 20 wealthiest nations in the world. Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines ranked the Postal Service as a leader in workforce diversity. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency for six years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.
Follow the Postal Service at www.twitter.com/USPS and at www.facebook.com/USPS.
Sample Speech
Postal Service Official’s Name and Title
United States Postal Service
“Muscle Cars”
Special Dedication Ceremony
Date
City, State
Good [Morning/Afternoon/Evening]. My name is ______________________ and I’m [Title] for the United States Postal Service. Welcome to this event.
OR:
Thank you, ______________________, for your kind introduction. And thank you all for joining us for this event. [Optional: add a brief comment about how this location relates to the muscle cars stamps]
I also want to thank our special guests for joining us in [City/Town/Type of setting].
In particular, I’m glad that our good friend(s) [Name of elected official] is here, along with [Other individuals who should be recognized].
We’re here today for one reason: Because everyone loves a great car.
Of course, it hasn’t always been this way. You might be surprised to hear that America’s romance with the automobile wasn’t a case of love at first sight.
The first Model T’s rolled out of Henry Ford’s factory in 1908. They cost $850 — which made them unaffordable to many Americans.
But as prices dropped and sensibilities changed, people warmed up to the car. It became a symbol of the American way of life — never standing still, always moving forward.
Since then, every generation has had its own favorites. But few automobiles have captured the imagination quite like the “muscle cars” — those powerful, vibrant vehicles that roared onto our roadways beginning in the 1960s.
The new limited edition stamps we celebrate today honor five iconic muscle cars. And today, raw power has a stamp of its own.
We begin with the 1966 Pontiac GTO, which stood for “Grand Touring Homologated.” Its nickname was “The Goat.” Could it move!
The GTO came equipped with a 335-horsepower V8 engine and went from zero to 60 miles per hour in 6.8 (“six-point-eight”) seconds.
With its Coke-bottle styling and split grille, the GTO was also one of the most distinctive looking muscle cars.
You might say the same thing about our second stamp, which honors the 1967 Shelby GT-500.
It sported grille-mounted headlights, a scooped fiberglass hood, a rear spoiler, and optional LeMans (“luh mahns”) stripes.
The Shelby looked like a race car, which wasn’t a coincidence. The manufacturer was Carroll Shelby, who began racing cars in the ’50s. His GT-500 was powered by a 428-cubic-inch, 355-horsepower engine.
Only 2,048 Shelby GT-500s were built. It’s rare today, although it’s not quite as rare as our third subject, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona.
Only 503 Dodge Charger Daytonas were produced.
This was another car with a look all its own. It featured concealed headlights, thick body stripes containing the word “Daytona,” and an almost 2-foot-tall, rear-mounted wing.
That wing was appropriate, because the Dodge Charger Daytona could really fly. It underwent wind-tunnel testing and also took the checkered flag when it made its NASCAR debut at Talladega in 1969.
Our fourth stamp features the 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda (“koo-duh”), which was the alter ego of the Plymouth Barracuda.
It featured a 425-horsepower engine and a hood scoop that vibrated as air flowed through the engine’s two carburetors.
It was available in a variety of eye-popping color choices, including Lemon Twist, Lime Light and Vitamin C.
The ‘Cuda also offered bucket seats, hockey-stick shaped stripes, and a shifter handle shaped like a pistol grip.
Finally, we have the 1970 Chevelle SS, which stood for “super sport.”
It was lightning quick. A 396-cubic-inch engine was available, but the 454-cubic-inch engine made it a favorite among muscle car enthusiasts.
The Chevelle SS came available as a coupe or as a convertible. You could also get it with a hood flap that allowed cold air to flow into the engine, giving it more kick.
In that spirit, we hope you’ll get a kick out of all our “Muscle Car” stamps, which are part of our “America on the Move” series.
The other offerings from this series were “50s Sporty Cars” and “50s Fins and Chrome.”
We also want you to know the “Muscle Cars” stamps are Forever stamps. They’ll always be good, no matter what the postage price might be.
And when you think about it, that’s fitting. Because these stamps, like the great cars they represent, are timeless.
Thank you.
[Pause for applause]
Now, on behalf of the United States Postal Service, I want to invite [Insert name here] to join me in dedicating the “Muscle Cars” Forever stamps.
[Unveil Stamp. Pose for photos.]
# # #
Obtaining Blowups for Dedication Event
Poster-sized blowups of the America on the Move: Muscle Cars Forever stamps can be purchased through Colours Imaging, coloursimaging.com, by contacting Zach Scott, zscott@coloursinc.com, or 703-379-1121.
Stamp Images for Media Use
Please contact Mark Saunders at mark.r.saunders@usps.gov to obtain high-resolution images of the stamps for media use only.
Government Relations Representatives
Feel free to contact these individuals for assistance in contacting elected officials you may wish to invite to your event. To dial extension, please use prefix (202) 268-XXXX.
Area Corporate Communications Managers
Please feel free to contact these individuals for assistance in promoting your events:
Capital Metro
George Maffett
email: george.t.maffett@usps.gov
Telephone: 301-548-1465
Eastern
Paul Smith
email: paul.f.smith@usps.gov
Telephone: 215-863-5055
Great Lakes
Victor Dubina
email: victor.dubina@usps.gov
Telephone: 216-443-4596
Pacific
Don Smeraldi
email: don.a.smeraldi@usps.gov
Telephone: 858-674-3149
Northeast
Maureen Marion
email: maureen.p.marion@usps.gov
Telephone: 860-285-7029
Southwest
(A) Debbie Fetterly
email: debbie.j.fetterly@usps.gov
Telephone: 954-436-4451
Western
(A) Brian Sperry
email: brian.s.sperry@usps.gov
Telephone: 303-313-5132
— Public Relations,
Corporate Communications, 2-7-13
