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Who Says '49 to '52s Are All the Same?!!
This page contains much of an article written by David Pollock and published in the Plymouth Owners Club Bulletin back in 1997. I have shamelessly copied much from it (after having been given permission to do so by David) and added a bit here and a bit there. David is the Plymouth Owners Club Technical Advisor for the 1950 model year and has written the best article I have seen on the subject. Articles like this are just one more reason for joining the Plymouth Owners Club. - Bill Ward
In addition, I kept hearing about cars designated "1949 - First Series". After considerable searching, I found Jim Dora, over in Aurora, Colorado, who enlightened me about these elusive cars. The information Jim provided will be found later on this page - BKW
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A lot of people can't tell the difference between '49, '50, '51 & '52 Plymouths. They are similar, to be sure, having come from the same drawing boards carefully monitored by K.T. Keller (Henry King being Chief of Styling). But as the years progressed, changes were made to reflect styling trends of the era.
The Era - 1949 was the first major restyling following World War II by all automakers. Studebaker made modest steps in that direction in either 1946 or 1947 when they introduced their box-on-box style where both front and rear were similar, evolving to the popular bullet-nose style of 1950. In 1949, Chevrolet changed all their body styles and both Ford & Chrysler introduced the 'box-on-box' designs. In 1950, everybody enhanced their '49 designs, giving them a less cluttered appearance. 1951 was a further improvement of '50 styling but then the Korean 'conflict/police action' caused the '52 Plymouths to retain most of the '51 design, so although there are a number of minor differences, these two years (51 & 52) are very similar. As you peruse the information below, you will see some of these differences.
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Engines - Engine serial numbers are found on the left side of the block, just forward of the oil breather and just below the edge of the head. The preface to the engine number identifies the year of manufacture. P17 & P18 engines are for 1949's, P19 & P20 engines are for 1950's. P22, P23C & P23S engines are for 1951's & 1952's. P19 & P20 engines are virtually identical except for a new distributor and a narrow fan belt introduced in the middle of the 1950 model run. A new water passage in the head elimitated some extra plumbing from 1950 and later engines. In 1952, the starter was modified to remain engaged until the engine started - no more annoying kick-out and spin-down of the starter; sounded better too.
Bell Housings Vents were simplified in 1951, but the structural dimensions of the housing are identical to those of 49s & 50s. The standard transmissions are interchangeable and the total length of a transmission/overdrive unit (introduced in 1951) is the same as that of the standard transmission, making retro fitting of an overdrive transmission a very easy modification. Short wheelbase models had no tailshaft on their transmissions, thus eliminating 7-1/2". On these models it is necessary to shorten the driveshaft if an overdrive transmission is installed.
Bodies - Body styles during these years included: 4-Door Sedans, 2-Door Sedans (fastback style), Club Coupe (2-Door box-on-box styling with rear seat), Business Coupe (2-Door with no rear seat), Convertible and Suburban (station wagon). 4-Door "Woodies" were built in 49 & 50.
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Grilles - From the front, the grille is the first thing that tells the tale. The '49 is "busier" than the '50, with non-integrated parking lights. The 50 reduces the 'busyness' of the '49 and integrates the parking lights. The '51 and '52 are the virtually the same but, due to the lower hood profile, which is are not as tall at the nose as a '49 or '50. This is a case where the photos above are worth more than 1000 words of explanation.
Front Bumpers - The '49 bumper is distinguished by its unique horizontal ridges, very popular with the street rod set. The '50 is more contoured and has but one horizontal ridge. The '51s and '52s have no horizontal ridges and are identical except that the '52 front bunper has two slots for the mounting of the license plate while the '51 is the last year to use a separate plate bracket supported by a single bolt in the middle of the bumper.
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The hood badge on a 49 is integrated with the stainless hood trim on the front hood lip located immediately above the grille with the letters P L Y M O U T H located half way up the front seam the hood badge between and the hood ornament.
On the '50, the hood badge is moved off the hood lip stainless trim to a point two thirds of the way up the front seam of the hood. The letters P L Y M O U T H are located between the hood lip trim and the hood badge. These letters are slightly larger than those on the '49.
On the '51, the hood is a one-piece stamping without a center seam and the hood badge is similar to that of the '50, although not interchangeable. The letters P L Y M O U T H are plastic letters inserted into the hood lip trim bar.
The '52 has the same hood except that the hood badge is round and the letters are cast right into the hood lip trim bar and were painted red.
On the '52, the hood badge emblem is round. The letters P L Y M O U T H on a '49 are slightly smaller than on a '50.
The '49 was the last year of the cable-operated hood latch otherwise '49 & '50 hoods are interchangeable, as are '51 and '52 hoods.
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Hood Ornaments were almost the same for 1949 & 1950. Careful inspection, however, shows the waves below the "prow" of the stylized ship on the 1950 ornament that are not present on the 1949. In 1951, the hood ornament took flight. In 1952, it went back to a stylized version of the old Plymouth sailing ship. (Thanks to Neil Riddle for the photos.)
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Dashboards - Above are photos (from left) of 1949, 1950, 1951 & 1952 dashboards.
To see more of each configuration & color, click on the photo - it is a link to more photos
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Rear Bumpers - Rear bumpers for each model year matched the cross-section of the front bumpers except for the Suburbans as shown in the photo below. Also, the 2-Door models used a different curvature across the rear span as did the Suburbans. Rear bumpers, model for model, are the same for '51 & '52.
Pictured above, left to right, are a '49 (all except 2-Door Sedan & Suburban); a '49 Suburban; a '50 (all except 2-Door Sedan & Suburban) and a 51 2-Door Sedan. It is interesting to note that the tail lights on the above photos are all different, due to the years & body styles shown. Not shown are the flat tail lights on business coupes.
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Rear License Plate Light Housings Left to right are:
Panel #1 - 49 brake light and trunk handle housing - lower portion.
Panel # 2 - 49 plate light trim - upper portion
Panel # 3 - plate light housing for 50 & 51 (same)
Panel # 4 - plate light housing for 52.
Please note - Suburbans were different and, I think, 2 Door Sedans also. I have no info or photos for these yet (sorry).
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Windshield/Firewall - The '49 windshield is the same as the '50 and the '51 windshield is the same as the '52. Convertible windshields on all years are shorter than on other models. The '51 & '52 bodies are much wider at the windshield, most noticeably at the front door seam, thus the wider windshields on '51s & '52s.
Other differences include the way the spare is mounted in the trunk, windshield wiper pivots (49 & 50), cowl vents and hole positions on the firewall. The main wiring harness hole has been moved to the side of the '52 firewall. Also, about half way through the '50 production run, a rubber plug was substituted for the metal cover over the gas tank sending unit. See later notes on further differences in Canadian manufactured cars.
Front fenders - The main difference between '49 and '50 fenders is in the format of the parking light bucket assembly - remember that the parking lights are not integrated into the grille on a '49. However, the design of the '50 grille is such that you can use '49 fenders if you also use '49 parking lights, bezels and lenses. '51 & '52 fenders are interchangeable.
Rear styling - Here is where it gets tricky. A variety of rear treatments makes this more of a problem since there are coupes, 2-door sedans (fastbacks), 4-door sedans, business coupes and wagons to contend with. Rear fenders for a '49 are different than a '50 in general - see Galleries 49 & 50 for examples although there are those who swear that '49 & '50 rear fenders are interchangeable (Author does not know). The subtle difference between '50 - '52 rear fenders lies in the placement of the fender spear mounting holes. On a '50, they are about even with the center of the tail light bezel, but by '52, they have dropped to the lower edge. This is not a particularly big problem unless you happen to mismatch your fenders - then it might look a little funny to the very observant.
Trunk Lids - The '49 is quite unique, with the plate recess being higher. The latch handle and plate light are in one unit and differ from later years. The '50 & '51 lids are identical. The '52 lid has no holes for the "Plymouth" nameplate and uses a "push-to-shut" latch.
Front Doors - '49 and '50 front doors (model for model) are interchangeable. The '51 & 52 front doors (model for model) are identical but are wider at the leading edge due to the extra width of the body. The character line is not as deep as on '49 and '50 front doors. A '49 or '50 front door will not fit on a '51 or a '52.
Rear Doors - These are interchangeable on all 4 years (model for model).
Glass/Windows - The '49 rear window is not as wide as the '50. '51 & '52 rear windows are the same but bigger than on the '50. Canadian cars will have chrome vent window frames. Side glass is interchangeable, model for model - throughout '49 - '52. '51 & '52 rear glass is interchangeable but the rubber seal is different. Canadian cars used tempered side glass while American cars generally came with laminated glass. Convertible and hardtop side windows will interchange with the exception of the vent panes which are squared off on the convertible.
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Tail Lights - '49 Tail Lights were mounted above the ridge of the fender at the body seam. '50 thru 52 Tail lights are interchangeable (model for model). 2-Door Sedans & Suburbans had different tail lights.
From Left to right - standard 49 tail lights, 1949 Suburban tail lights, 50 2-Door Sedan (fastback) tail lights, 50 thru 52 standard tail lights.
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1949 - First Series Plymouths
To further add to the mix, there was a "First Series" of 1949s. Primarily a continuation of the 1948 P15 series, these were built because Chrysler was, for some reason, unable to introduce the new P17 & P18 styling until several months into 1949. For more information, visit the 1949-First Series page, linked below.
Click here for more information on 49 First series cars.
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Canadian Manufactured Cars - Someone sent me an article relating to differences in cars manufactured in Canada. I don't know its source but suspect it may be from the Plymouth Owners Club Bulletin but have reproduced it below. I hope I don't get in trouble for reproducing it.
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CANADIAN PLYMOUTHS
Just Suppose you found yourself in a large shop with four completely disassembled cars; a '49, a '50, a'51 and a '52. Just to prove that there is a joker in every deck, one of them was built in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. One joker is enough so we won't include one manufactured in Australia or one made in Europe (Belgium?). All the parts have been reconditioned and painted. Since, as often happens, the party who disassembled everything has lost interest, it is your job to put them all back together.
The Chassis - Lining up the four frames, you will notice that one has an extra two inches between the engine mounts so that it might accomodate the 3-3/8 bore Windsor engine. Closer inspection reveals that the steering box mounting holes are farther forward on this frame too, thus enabling the tie rods to clear the oil pan of the longer engine. A longer steering column is also needed for the Canadian car.
Assembling the frames to the rolling chassis stage will reveal a few more differences. One of the rear axles is narrower than the others. This is the '49, with axle lengths unique to that year. Another differential has the Spicer cross-and-yoke universal joint, which was used in Canada from 1946 through 1951. Some minor changes in the shock absorber mounting pins were made when Oriflow shocks were introduced in 1951.
One frame does not have the over-center spring on the clutch linkage, since it was deleted for the 1952 model. If an overdrive transmission is included in the pile of parts, it properly belongs to the '52, as it was introduced as an option in June of that year.
The Canadian 3-3/8" bore engine is longer than its U.S. counterparts. Another difference is the location of the choke unit. It is located behind the carburator on the U.S. engine. The units are not interchangeable. Canadian air cleaners are of a different shape also, becoming much wider in '51, even though hood clearance was not a problem.
Wheels and tires are all the same, but striping went out of fashion in 1951 in Canada although it continued through 1955 on some US models.http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/prairiepoc/index.cfm
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