Snail mail gets V-8 power

The U.S. Postal Service is getting some extra horsepower with a new set of stamps honoring five iconic American sports cars.

The Pony Cars Commemorative Forever stamps feature oil paintings of the 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302, 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT and 1969 AMC Javelin SST.

The stamps, which cost $12 for a panel of 20, were released last week at the Great American Stamp Show.

“My challenge was to create five jewel-like, descriptive portrayals that every person who fell in love with this era can appreciate,” Tom Fritz, the stamps’ artist, said in a statement. “The adventure isn’t just painting the cars’ details but capturing their emotion and power. Cars don’t just ‘sit there.’ They hunker down, they lurch, they shake, they shimmy and skitter. Those are the thrilling moments I look for.”

Other new Forever stamps released this summer include former First Lady Nancy Reagan, elephants, marine sanctuaries, mariachi music and fictional astronaut Buzz Lightyear from the Toy Story movies.

Forever stamps can always be used to cover the postage required for a 1-ounce letter; an amount that increased from 58 to 60 cents in July.

“My mother had a 1970 Mustang with a 351 cubic inch V-8,” said Postal Service Chief Technology Officer Scott Bombaugh, who officiated a dedication ceremony for the new stamps. “My brother learned to drive in that car, but by the time I was ready to drive, my parents sold the Mustang and had a Pinto wagon. Is it any wonder I have bought two Mustang GTs since then?”