Original B/M emblems ....

[parkeracing]

Maybe you guys can help me out on this. I have 2 sets of Motion emblems with the proper script, but one is slightly larger than the other. Which one is correct? Are both correct (one size for valve covers, another for the hood)? Was there a change in size at one point? Or, is one a real good copy?

[x Baldwin Motion]

I believe there were at least two different sizes, and one was clipped on the ends to fit inside one version of the ansen valve covers. I could not speculate on the originality of these as I have not had a set in hand in many years. However, these appear to be different from the packaged originals and the current repoops on peebait.

[COPO]

I believe the larger emblems were the initial design and the ends were trimmed so that they would fit into the finned valve covers circa very late '69. At some point the later smaller versions were produced and fit into the valve covers without the need to trim.

[camarojoe]

There were indeed 2 sizes, but your 2 sets look nearly the same size, at least in the pics. The original larger ones were considerably wider and taller than the smaller versions. The bottom set you posted IMO are originals, the top set may be reproduction. Hard to tell for sure in photos...You can usually tell the differenceby the chrome, with the originals having very crisp,sharp edges on the letters and the perimeter, while some repro attempts have been overly polished, taking the sharp edges off. Some repros are also cast from a very soft metal and will "bend" easily with little pressure... originals won't. Also compare the texture in the blackout area. I haven't held any of the latest fake ones that are on ebay in my hands, so I can't say for sure what the differences are with them, but I'd say its a safe bet they're detectable as fake too if you know what to look for. They made several batches of these, and I've seen slight variations in known original emblems too... in fact, judging from the pics of yours, vs. the originals in the package, it appears the letters are "thicker" on BOTH of your sets compared to those. Doesn't necessarily mean yours aren't real, but just some more differences to note.

[P.J.]

the real ones I have have been cut and dont have the chrome
trim on the ends.They are not the big ones.
PJ

[camarojoe]

Not sure why that would be PJ. Any small originals I have all are uncut, the only reason they cut the bigger ones was to fit in the covers... the small ones fit in the covers without modification with a good 1/4" left inside the recess.

[Dog427435]

Not to over state the obvious - But those three sets of emblems look totally different.

The font and letter placement is not the same. The I and the O almost touch on Keith's first set,
and are connected on the second. The packaged set has an equal spacing around all letters.

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[JRSully]

Easy way to tell most of the repops from originals is that the "O" is THINNER at the top and bottom of that particular letter on the original's, fatter on the repops.

[Tommy]

I wonder when the first repops started showing up ? these were on a 72 Chevelle I bought in 02-03 and from the looks of the car had been on the car for several years. Repops from the 80's or early 90's maybe .



This will be thier new home eventually.



Tommy

[camarojoe]

I mentioned this in my earlier post, but apparently it needs repeating... Motion had those rectangular emblems made for YEARS... Starting in about 1970 and clear up until who knows when... likely the mid to early 80s at minimum... not every one is exactly the same. Just because one has fatter "o's" than another doesn't mean one is fake. Yes, there have been repros made, but there are also at least 3 different "runs" of real ones made too, (likely more than that) possibly from different castings, manufacturers, etc... I know all the originals I have or have had are always very stiff or "brittle" if you will, and have seen some very "soft" repops made, and some that I honestly wouldn't know weren't legit if I didn't know their source... Some are very good, some are very bad... like those rediculous ones with the non italicized font that sold on the dozens of sets of valve covers on ebay. I also know I've had several I believe were original but weren't all exactly the same. I made note of some of the similarities that seem common to all of the real ones and some of the things I've noted about repro ones, but to be honest, unless you know for sure where they came from, its tough to tell with 100% certainty. That's why NOS ones in the Motion package sell for 800 bucks and you can buy a set of valve covers with the emblems installed for 400.00. Because you KNOW the ones in the 30 year old package are real. The ones Tommy just posted look like real ones to me... and are indeed slightly different than the ones in the NOS package, which are also of course the real deal. Moral of the story, just because they aren't all identical doesn't make 'em fake. OK, I'm done.