1950 & 51 hood emblems

[Bill Davis]

Bill,

I have not compared the two side-by-side, in-hand, so to speak, but I believe
that the '50 emblem and bezel have a sharper peak (the center crease) than
the one for the '51, because the shape of the '51 hood is flatter.

[Bill Ward]

I have searched my photo archives from my old website and I believe that the plastic inserts are the same for both years although the part #'s are different (1335 317 vs. 1347 185) so I may be wrong here.  However, the 50 bezel ( 1335 316) has a "pine tree" shaped device on it while the 51 bezel (1347 251) does not.  Otherwise the bezels are, I believe, the same.  Both bezels can be mounted with the "wings" either up or down - if you like your medallion upside down.  I attach photos - sorry i don't have a good one of a 51. 

[Lew]

The original '50 owners manual, parts book and service manual show the chrome portion with its "wings" oriented at the bottom.
Interesting observation.
LR

[Jim Benjaminson]

The '50 hood ornament fits either way.  I guess the not too observant have installed them upside down.  The Johnny Mantz Southern 500 winner has the emblem upside down.  And I've seen at least one car in a museum with the emblem upside down.  Can't saw that I've ever seen the '51 ornament that way!

[Ken Bartz]

I recall reading somewhere that some of these Plymouths came from the factory with the hood emblem mounted upside down.  I have a 51 that is that way and I have not taken a closer look at it.  I will do that tomorrow.

[JimCno]

I have also noticed the emblems being upside down for those models. I just assumed that whoever mounted them, they just weren't paying attention.

[Bill Davis]

I just received my May-June, 2009, issue of The Plymouth Bulletin.
  As usual, Lanny has done a fantastic job on another issue.

What I want to ask, since in the current issue of the club magazine shows
examples, is why do some owners of these two years of Plymouths
turn the hood emblem upside down?  See page 37, lower right hand
photo of a 1950, and page 55, bottom photo of a 1951.

In the plastic insert there is a ship (in the red part) and what looks like
lions in the gold part.  Since the plastic insert cannot be turned over,
if you mount the emblem upside down, then both the ship and lions
are upside down.

I don't get it.  What is the explanation for this?

Thank you.