Today’s Post by Joe Farace
The U.S. Postal Service will commemorate the heyday of the pony car era with five new stamps featuring some of the most famous examples of these fabulous vehicles.
The first-day-of-issue event for the Pony Cars Forever stamp will be held at the Great American Stamp Show in partnership with the American Philatelic Society. The ceremony is free and open to the public. Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at: usps.com/ponycars.
When: Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, at 11 a.m. PT
Where: Great American Stamp Show
SAFE Credit Union Convention Center
1400 J Street Sacramento, CA 95814
In the 1960s, a new breed of vehicle started appearing on our nation’s roads. Over the past six decades, fast and fun pony cars have become a uniquely American obsession. Since their emergence, these performance coupes and convertibles have brought a spirit of performance and style to the automotive world.
In the mid-to-late 20th century, American automakers began catering to a segment of their customer base that was rapidly growing — younger drivers. And 23-year old me bought a brand-new 1964 Plymouth Barracuda (for $2660,) a car notably missing from these new stamps. These drivers, it was said, craved sporty, affordable cars that looked and felt different from what was in their parents’ garages. Several manufacturers initially produced models that fit that description, but the pony car trend did not begin in earnest until the Ford Mustang is officially unveiled by Henry Ford II at the World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows, New York, on April 17, 1964. Hence, pony cars.
By the time of the 1970s energy crisis, sales of the once ubiquitous pony cars had begun to decline. By the end of the decade, the cars had a resurgence. Pony cars were cultural icons; throughout the 1970s, and appeared in many television shows and movies.
Since then, the popularity of pony cars has ebbed and flowed. But over the past two decades, automakers have reintroduced many of the beloved models first launched in the genre’s heyday. Today, young and young-at-heart drivers enjoy the thrill of driving the modern era of pony cars.
The stamps will feature the 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. 1969 AMC Javelin SST, 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T and (my favorite) 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 GT. Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.