Vern Tardell poses with the ’32 Frank Rodgers Roadster he built.

The official unveiling of the post office’s new Hot Rod forever stamps took place at the NSRA Street Rod Nationals East in York, PA in June, but on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 the two cars that inspired the stamps were on display at the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA.  The Post Office presented the stamps in special dedication ceremony at the Peterson, joined by Peterson Chariman Bruce Meyer, Post Master General Patric R. Donohue, and master builder Vern Tardell.

“It’s not often we get Vern out here,” remarked emcee Barry Meguiar, “but when the post office was looking for a car to represent hot rodding, they knew that one of them had to be a car that Vern built.”

The black ’32 Frank Rodgers Deuce Highboy Roadster is now owned by Mark Graham of South Dakota, and built by Vern Tardell. The car has yellow and orange flames in the stamp, but that detailing represents pure artistic license.  

“Sometime between (artist) John Mattos seeing the car and painting it, the flames appeared,” joked Graham.
 

“I’ve been building hot rods since the sixties,” said Tardell. “I am truly honored to see the USPS issue a stamp with one of my cars, celebrating a great American tradition.”

The other roadster pictured is also an icon, the red ’32 McGee roadster owned by Meyer.

“We chose these hot rods after stamp artist John Mattos conducted extensive research,” explained Donohue. “He found the McGee roadster that was featured on a 1948 cover of Hot Rod Magazine which is often refered to as the ‘Holy Grail of Hot Rods.'”

The two cars were the shining superstars of the event, but the truly gorgeous stamps do represent the passion of the hobby.  “Nothing is more Americana than hot rods,” emphasized Meguiar, and the sentiments were seconded by the other speakers.

“Hot rods are like jazz and baseball when it comes to American achievements,” said Meyer. “The Postal Service honoring hot rods and hot rodding is a giant step in the long overdue recognition and appreciation of this pure American art form.”

From left to right: Barry Meguiar, Vern Tardell, Mark Graham, Barry Meyer, and Patrick Donohue.

Every year a committee examines over 10,000 suggestions for subjects that represent American culture, art, and industry to become a forever stamp, and the support to finally recognize the hot rod was tremendous.  The forever stamps are already selling well, but are limited edition, so be sure to get them now!