# 5102 - 2016 First-Class Forever Stamp - Pickup Trucks: 1953 Chevrolet

Pickup trucks have come to represent the heart of American living.  Back in the early 1900s, trucks were seen as a tool for completing work, and nothing more.  But halfway through the century, people began buying pickups as part of a new lifestyle.

The 1950s saw an expansion of the middle class in America.  More people could afford to buy a family car.  And some working families had both the family car and the family pickup.  These trucks were now used for leisure instead of just work.

Americans form relationships with their trucks that really stand the test of time.  A lot of people held onto their old pickup trucks.  Some have lost their truck along the way and look to buy one that reminds them of it.  Many spend their time and money restoring these trucks to their former glory.  A few prefer their old pickup to age naturally.  Each layer of chipped paint and rust represents a memory they wouldn’t dare cover up.

There’s a ruggedness about pickup trucks that appeals to a lot of Americans.  People love their trucks.  For some, old trucks represent hard work and simple pleasures.  These pickup trucks and their history have become an important and lifelong part of the American spirit.

 

Method:  Offset, Microprint

Quantity Printed:  250,000,000