Muscle-car icons immortalized in new postal-stamp set

Perhaps sensing that it's at risk of going the way of the carbureted big-block and leaded gasoline, the United States Postal Service is apparently willing to try anything to boost its bottom line.

Though we're sure its recently announced line of postal worker-inspired apparel will be a runaway (and runway) success, we're glad to see the USPS reaching out to the automotive-enthusiast community with a new set of limited-edition stamps that commemorate the American muscle car.

We told you about the stamps earlier this year, but we can now confirm the lineup. The following cars get a postage stamp-size nod thanks to automotive artist Tom Fritz:

-- 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona

-- 1966 Pontiac GTO

-- 1967 Shelby GT500

-- 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

-- 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda

Sorry, American Motors fans -- the SC/Rambler didn't make the cut.

The five-stamp set can be purchased for as little as $2.30, though the USPS offers a wide range of commemorative options for those whose passion for brash Detroit metal is matched only by their love of philately. First-day covers run $4.50 and uncut press sheets will set you back $92.

Cars have graced American postage stamps before, with two sets appearing within the past decade. In 2008, the USPS commemorated the finned wonders of the 1950s with a set that included the '57 Studebaker Golden Hawk, '59 Cadillac Eldorado and more. A 2005 series featured such early American sports cars as the '53 Corvette and the '52 Nash-Healey.

By Graham Kozak