Twin Falls classic car featured on U.S. Postage Stamp

Stamps roll into Postal showrooms Oct. 3

TWIN FALLS, ID—One local classic car will soon be featured on a U.S. Postage stamp.  The 1957 Chrysler 300C owned by Twin Falls resident George McKovich was used as the actual model for a 42- cent stamp. McKovich’s car will be on display Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the USPS Pioneer Station, located at 1376 Fillmore St. The car is one of five featured in the 50s Fins and Chrome stamp series, and will be available for sale at all local Post Offices on Oct. 3. USPS has printed 50 million of the 42-cent First-Class stamps.

The stamps are the second issuance in the America on the Move commemorative stamp series and feature paintings by renowned automobile illustrator Art. M. Fitzpatrick. The other vehicles featured include a ‘57 Lincoln Premiere, a ’57 Pontiac Safari, a ’57 Studebaker Golden Hawk and a ’59 Cadillac Eldorado. All of the vehicles on the stamps are modeled from actual restored classics.

“This is your chance to own a rare vehicle,” said Twin Falls Postmaster Bill Reese. “It’s a great tribute for our community. We’re honored that a local car will soon adorn millions of letters nationwide.”

The Twin Falls Post Office is also incorporating the first-day-of-sale stamp release with a customer appreciation day. Refreshments will be served on the front lawn of the office. Additionally, a special souvenir envelope will be available for sale. A free pictorial postmark will be available with the purchase of the souvenir envelope or First-Class postage. 

To interview George McKovich, contact him at George@mckovich.com or call (208) 308-2681.

Interesting facts

• The car depicted on stamp is based on an artist’s rendering of George McKovich’s 1957 Chrysler 300C.
• The 300C is extremely rare: Only 1,767 coupes manufactured. Of that number, only about 380 survive.
• Only 180 were manufactured with the red paint scheme
• The stamp release coincides with McKovich’s birthday.

About the 1957 Chrysler 300C
During World War II, American carmakers devoted themselves to manufacturing military vehicles and aircraft. But after the war, peace and a booming economy propelled public demand for larger, faster, and more attractive cars. Manufacturers like Chrysler turned their attention to innovations in automotive design. The 1957 Chrysler 300C was the latest and most popular in the 300 Series, a line of high-performance luxury vehicles inaugurated in 1955. Part of Chrysler’s “Forward Look” design campaign, the 300C featured upswept tail fins and the powerful and efficient Hemi®, an engine with hemispherical combustion chambers originally developed for aircraft.

The award-winning 1957 Chrysler 300C was the first car in the 300 Series that was available as either a hardtop coupe or two-door convertible. It was large and low with a muscular 392ci Hemi® V-8 engine. The fully restyled front grille sported a round red-white-and-blue 300C emblem, an appropriate symbol for a vehicle rated America’s fastest car. Standard leather interior, “Flight-Sweep” styling, and minimal chrome trim added a sense of understated elegance and won legions of devoted drivers. Chrysler continued to produce cars in its original 300 Letter Car Series for 11 production years, ending with the 300L in 1965.

Download a hi-res image of the stamp here: http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2008stamps/downloads/finsandchrome/300c_300dpi.jpg