There’s no proof that these muscle car stamps by Los Angeles artist Tom Fritz will make your letters get to their destinations faster, but they certainly can’t hurt. Fritz is no stranger to illustrating things that go fast; he began his career as a staff artist for three Fortune 500 defense firms, before moving onto painting classic cars, hot rods, and motorcycles full time. Tom’s work graces many of the motorsports industry’s boardrooms and offices, as well as the walls of private collectors and motor enthusiasts. His paintings are more than mere decoration. They tell a story, recreating a time and place and moment instead of simply displaying a beautiful automobile or motorcycle. They’re transformative and transportative.
Now, Tom’s talents are gracing a set of Forever Stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service commemorating some of the iconic muscle cars of the past: the 1970 Chevelle SS, the 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda, the 1966 Pontiac GTO, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, and the 1967 Shelby GT-500.
These stamps are set to be released to the public on February 22, 2013, and Tom’s original artwork will become part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Postal Museum in Washington DC. Tom, born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, was the perfect choice to turn these cars into a living representation of an era. His memories of 60’s and 70’s car culture in Southern California has shaped his life and his work.
So why these five cars? Pontiac’s “Goat” kicked off the muscle-car era, going for 0 to 60 in 6.8 seconds. The ’69 Charger Daytona was designed to tear it up on the track, sporting the wild rear wing and the big Magnum engine. The Chevelle SS showcased a 450-bhp LS-6 and a fierce front grille. The Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda was a beast in a sea of citrus-flavored neon, while Carol Shelby’s GT-500 had a 428 cu-in, 355 bhp engine and LeMans stripes. These cars represent the big names of the era, as well as the big engines and bigger reach of car companies longing to showcase big, bright bold American muscle.
For those of us with a fascination for the growly motors and track-tearing ability of these cars, the Forever stamps are an earnest and evocative recognition of an era, and of an artist who can fully capture the feeling of these cars.
Visit Tom Fritz’s website for a look at his hot rod and classic car work: http://www.fritzart.com/