McLaughlin-Buick Model 28-496, 1928, Special Car

Topical stamp collectors will be able to add to their "car" collections when a six-stamp souvenir sheet is issued featuring Canadian automobiles on August 23, 1993. It is the first of a four-year series on historic vehicles, highlighting transportation's major role in Canada's development. The most significant transportation revolution on this century has been the mass-production automobile. The supply and demand for newer and faster vehicles never ceases as Canadian continue to make innovative contributions to the fascinating story of the automobile. Vehicles powered by internal combustion engines began to appear in Europe in the 1880s as dozen of inventors strove to develop the automobile. The enthusiasm for self-powered vehicles in Canada was initially hampered by streets better suited to carriages and sleighs, and trains were available to avoid bumpy and slow treks over poor roads. As the advantage became clearer - no fixed itineraries, no time schedules, and the more autos were used - the better the road became, car sales boomed. The McLaughlin Car Company of Oshawa, Ontario has proven to be one of Canada's most successful manufacturers. From producing sleighs in 1867, the company was the leading carriage builder in 1907 when persuaded his father to enter the automobile manufacturing business. A deal was struck with Buick to build a car with a McLaughlin-made body and a Buick engine. "It's Better Because It's Canadian" was a slogan used to promote their cars and with impressive detailing, superior chassis construction and powerful engines, McLaughlins spelled class! In 1918 the company was sold to become part of General Motors of Canada, with the McLaughlin name continuing on the more expensive cars. In 1939 a special McLaughlin-Buick was built for the Royal Tour. This souvenir sheet was created by using images of the six cars, drawn and illustrated on computer. All of the line, tonal and full-colour drawings were produced in Aldus Freehand. The typography and image assembly was done in Quarkxpress.