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Errol Flynn and Al Jolson.

After serving as a naval officer during World War II, Fitzpatrick turned to advertising art, producing automotive ads for General Motors, Lincoln/Mercury, Nash, Chrysler, Dodge, DeSoto, Plymouth, Kaiser, Studebaker, and Buick and turned down offers to return to the automotive industry. Nonetheless, in 1953 Buick signed him to an exclusive contract that became a 21-year association with General Motors Buicks, Pontiacs, and Opels.

This recent group of stamps highlight the sporty look of American cars in the 1950s with sleek, aerodynamic lines and the innovative styling of the types of European sports cars American GIs favored upon their return from World War II.

"Automobiles have always been a clever way of celebrating our history and culture," notes Patrick Donahoe, Deputy Postmaster General and Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Postal Service. "These cars are a perfect reminder of the 1950s and America's optimism that the nation's future was looking bright." He could have said the same thing if he was a Canadian.

Nonetheless, if you haven't already seen them, here they are. The "America on the Move: 50s Sporty Cars" sold in a booklet of 20 stamps (five designs) for $7.40 U.S. and as a booklet of 20 stamped postal cards (five designs) for $9.75. Some Post Offices may still have a few kicking around. If not, they are certainly available through various stamp dealers.

'53 Chevrolet Corvette
The fiberglass-bodied two-seater Corvette captured the public's imagination with its sleek styling and sense of fun. Only 300 hand-built, white, with red interior and black convertible-top models were produced in 1953. A marked departure from other GM designs, its appearance promised speed and high performance.

'55 Ford Thunderbird
Ford introduced the flashy 1955 Thunderbird in 1954 and dubbed it "a sports car with luxury" - a contradiction in terms, since sports cars at that time were built for appearance and performance, not comfort. The Thunderbird featured a steel body, interchangeable hard and soft tops, an overhead valve V-8 engine, and roll-up windows, as well as a host of luxury options. Styling remained essentially the same until 1958 when Ford produced a four- seater.

'54 Kaiser Darrin
This two-seater featured retractable doors that slid forward into the front fenders; a clever pointed, compact grille; long sloping lines; and a three- position Landau top. Nine months after it went into production, the last of 435 Kaiser Darrins rolled off the assembly

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