Bird or no bird?

[jeff s]

So we just finished painting my restored sterling silver 1976 trans am 455 4 speed car. In my younger days I couldn't stand a TA that didn't have the screaming chicken on the hood. But now I have mixed feelings. There was a bird delete option so it could be correct either way. What do you guys think? Bird? Or no bird? BTW the correct color for the bird on this car is black, charcoal with a bit of red.

[exwestracer]

What the hell, give em the bird...! That's part of the whole TA 'thing", right?

[Jim Nilsen]

Hey Jeff, leave the big decal off and if you want to put a bird on it do something new and different with the design of it. Lot's of those cars looked so ugly with that bird and I have seen a few different renditions that looked way better over the years. It really can make a difference with or without but with carbon fiber hoods taking over like they are you could really do something with the bird and a see thru theme with a carbon fiber decal that would look good. More $$$$ but that's what it takes to be new and different.

See ya, Jim

[WS6]

Jim brings up good points. However, my personal opinion is that color bird looks good on silver. So I'd be more inclined to go with the bird.



Pictures might help people decide.

[trex1270]

The bird....I think it would look cool ghosted

[67gtonut]

Gotta have a Bird...... just gotta....

[novaderrik]

i thought everybody heard..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WNrx2jq184

a 2nd gen Trans Am without the big, glorious, cheesy bird on the hood is just a Firebird.

[LT1Nova]

I like updated birds as well, air brushed or something redesigned on vinyl.

[DesertFox]

Did this to my GTA...
now you see it..
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/12/DSCF1179-1.jpg
Now you don't...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/12/DSCF1178-1.jpg

[nine lives johnny]

1976 t/a f-yes!!! 1996 t/a.... nah

[LeighP]

The charcoal/red/black bird looks great on a silver Trans Am.....go for it!
On any other car, those birds would be all wrong...but on a 70's Trans Am, they are right!!!

[LeighP]

Bird....
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/12/1976transam121107-1.jpg

no bird....
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Give 'em the bird!

[buickfunnycar.com]

Bird...

[g-machine]

BIRD......it's just not the same without the screamin' chicken!

:-)

[moreHP]

Bird is the word!

[JAWSS]

The bird is a huge part of TA's in my opinion. Add the bird!

[FirebirdSteve]

I'm doing my 81 birdless.....

[SoonerTA]

Bird!

[Hartz]

Bird!

[aidanfancystang]

I think the bird makes those cars, but I agree maybe try to update it alittle.

[MrQuick]

bird....in red/black carbon fiber

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/12/red20carbon20fiber20kevlar20panel-1.jpg

[NYTRANSAM]

It needs a bird,

[js1977]

From one bird owner to another, give your T/A the bird...

[68GTOSCA]

Go w/ the Bird

[jeff s]

Keep in mind, my 76 trans am in this case is a stock restoration.
The car will be used as a comparison for customers to my "Full Force" 1981 Trans Am, which has our bolt in full chassis for 2nd gens, one of my twin turbo LS engines, and a one off bird on the hood.
Thanks for adding pics, couldnt figure out how to do it from my I phone,
And thanks for the opinions so far.

[mc84_zz4]

You gotta have the bird.
If you change your mind, it can come off.
If you change your mind again, you can add a new one...
Do it!

[Mike Holleman]

Jeff, I never did like the graphics on those cars. Just a bit on the gawdy side. If you have to have the bird you will need the mullet to go with it.LOL I had a friends 79 TA in the shop recently and during a general PM BS session our group of "design experts" (guys with beer in hand) decided that Pontiac had a beautiful design that was ahead of it's time but the graphics were just too much. Especially the overuse of Gold pinstripping. We are available for design consultation most days after 5:00 EST at the most reasonable cost of two beers each.
Mike

[jeff s]

LOL!
BTW the 79 up had a larger hood bird, also gold pistripes were on the special edition models only.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

birds are for KFC

[BulldawgMusclecars]

I'd keep the stock bird, or not use one at all. Of all the variations I have seen on custom birds over the years, most were hideous, and even the ones that weren't are often dated in no time (just like most other graphics, IMHO). One done in LaValle-style flames that I saw at the World of Wheels is a perfect example...it looked ok, in 2002. Now, not so much.

[Bill Howell]

Bird!

Albert has some pretty cool ideas on modernizing the bird, pm him and he will be glad to share his thoughts.

[LeighP]

The bird and the stripes...everything about the 2nd gen Trans Am.... was a perfect reflection of the times. I've also never seen a custom hood bird that looks as good as the originals.
Either go with the correct original (nothing looks worse than the wrong year bird on a T/A) or no bird.....stay clear of the easily dated "updated bird" ideas.

[SRD art]

From a design stand point keep the bird. Especially if it's a restoration, they look naked without them.

52278

[southernfriedcj]

The bird and the stripes...everything about the 2nd gen Trans Am.... was a perfect reflection of the times. I've also never seen a custom hood bird that looks as good as the originals.
Either go with the correct original (nothing looks worse than the wrong year bird on a T/A) or no bird.....stay clear of the easily dated "updated bird" ideas.

I concur 100% with this opinion.

[shortrack]

I personally would do without it but I see lots of people at shows going nuts over them.....

[dws1216]

I think something different would be cool.

I saw this during a google search

http://th03.deviantart.net/fs71/300W/f/2010/235/6/a/6a0bc8690c1e6986f39dfd5d453d11f5.jpg

[BonzoHansen]

Keep in mind, my 76 trans am in this case is a stock restoration.
The car will be used as a comparison for customers to my "Full Force" 1981 Trans Am, which has our bolt in full chassis for 2nd gens, one of my twin turbo LS engines, and a one off bird on the hood.
Thanks for adding pics, couldnt figure out how to do it from my I phone,
And thanks for the opinions so far.
then correct bird is the right answer.

[js1977]

At first I replied with giving the T/A the bird, now that I have my own T/A back, I'm finding it hard to put my own bird on. I feel your pain... it just looks so good without it, but I know it'll look just as good with it... decisions, decisions... good lucky :)
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[workbenchracer]

Its gotta have a bird!

[WS6]

I'll expand on my response some more. Since you are showing a before/after type display with the 76 sitting next to the Full Force car, you need to have the birds on the 76 as well. That way people can fully see the difference between the two cars. After all, you have custom birds on the FFTA.

In general though, it's either all or nothing with these cars, IMO. They look great without the decals and the bird in most cases(I'm biased towards dark colors on these cars) but to have some of the decals and not the bird looks off regardless of the fact that you could order it that way.

So have you made your decision, Jeff?

[American Pastimes]

Bird!

[chevnut55]

I drove my black 81 t/a for a few years all in black everything blacked out it looked great but got bored and bought a decal kit and it transformed it into a different car..all of a sudden I was getting thumbs up everwhere and invited into cruise nights insted of being told to park with the regular cars.
If I had to do it again I probley would tint some clear black and tone it down,my plan then was to airbrush a custom robot or flaming bird when it was done being a daily driver.
put on the screaming chicken!