Please help me ID these 2 cars

Hey everybody.
I'm working on my family tree and came across some undated photos that include cars in them. While I thought I made some progress in IDing the cars, I figured that enthusiasts on this site could ID them as though they are current models. Hopefully, you can help me ID these two cars. I've included two photos because each provides a portion of the car that might help in IDing them.

Here's my best guess for the dark car with white top. I've pegged it as a 1954 Chevy Bel-Air based largely on the grill, the shape of the side markers (blinkers) and that the grill intersects the side markers. I ruled out 1953 because the side markers were round and fully enclosed in the grill. And ruled out 1955 because there was a radical change in appearance. But here's where 1954 (and even Chevrolet) doesn't fit. First, I don't think Chevy had a split windscreen on any 1954 model. Second, the side marker trim doesn't wrap to the body side as it does in every photo I've come across for that year. Third, the hood badge (oval shaped with points coming from top and sides) doesn't look right for 1954 or for Chevrolet.

As for the white car with the fake induction scoop and substantial hood ornament? It kinda looks like Chevy but not any Chevy I know and the hood badge is unrecognizable. So I'm really perplexed by it.

I'd certainly appreciate your thoughts as to the make/model/year of the two cars.




Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

Looks like a 51 Plymouth on the left and a 53 or 54 Merc on the right. I don't know the Mercs well enough to distinguish between the two, but I do know that the 52 had a 3 piece rear window.

 

'51 Plymouth is correct; the light car is a '52 Merc. I don't know about the rear window, but that's a '52 grille.

 

Thanks fellas. You guys are great!!

 

""I figured that enthusiasts on this site could ID them as though they are current models.""

I'd say most of us can not ID late models as well as we can ID the oldies.

 

I thought the same thing at first.

What I think he's meaning is this site can easily ID these old cars as if they were made yesterday.

 

1953 Merc. HRP

 

Odd; just a few years ago, posts like this would be about teens, twenties touring cars. Now they are about cars from when I was a kid, that I thought everyone knew. I am really staring to show my age.

 

The Merc has to be a 52, the 53's grille had small chrome bars above the bumper and bullet style bumper guards.

Mick

 

The Merc I new was a merc, around 53' but the plymouth I labeled as a Mopar..I did better than usual!!!

 

I quit trying identifying after 1958.