Did any thirdgen Firebirds come with the screaming chicken hood decal from the factory? As an option? Or maybe dealer offered option? If so, when was the last year and any idea why they stopped such an iconic and, personal taste, badass symbol?

 

I don't think so but if any did it would have been 82-84

 

Yes I saw one at a car show once and the owner told me it was one year only factory option (1985 maybe?). It looked like this:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ansam-wiki.jpg

 

It was option code DX1 and it was available from 1985-1987 on the Trans Am only. Earlier Trans Ams had a much smaller hood bird on the front edge.

 

Actually it was available from the factory until 87. It was special order only. It was super cheesy, not nearly as cool as the 2nd gen decal which is prob why it wasn't very popular.

 

I can also confirm that it was on the order sheet in 1986 and was a 500$ option from factory!

 

To be clear, it was available through 1987 model year (from 1985) and only on the Trans Am. 1985, 1986 and 1987 order sheets have the DX1 large hood bird listed as an option on the Trans Am.

 

I remember thinking in 85.. gosh that is one expensive sticker!! luckily I had seen one and decided not to get it.

 

I have an '85 Water Blue with the Screaming Chicken on the hood. The sticker is completely faded and dry rotted but I will replace it when the car gets painted. It is a unique item and I don't see it very often on other Trans Ams. My car isn't anything special, LG4 coupled to a 700R4, power windows but no power mirrors, and I do have the cargo cover. Oh and the car has T-tops as well.

 

It wasn't cheesier, but rather simpler, smaller(because of the lack of surface area available due to the TA's hood louvers) and much less ornate than a 2ndgen decal, all of which contributed to its lack of popularity on 3rdgens, IMO.

Here are some pics I pulled from the net of the 82-84 decal, the 85-87 decal, and the 85-87 decal on a Ram Air 2/WS6 hood(the 3rdgen decal's smaller proportions making it a better fit on aftermarket hoods than it was on the stock hood).

 

That forth gen hood is awful, plus advertising the 3.8l by putting 3800 on the blister. Ugh.

 

1986 Firebird Order Sheet.

 

Great topic.

I knew about the 82-84 decal, but not the 85-87 version. Very interesting.

 

From an 87 TA that i parted out

 

Anyone on here putting new second gen style hood decals on third gen cars?

 

Been done. Rare that it looks anywhere close to good. Leave the hood bird in the 70s in my opinion.

 

This one is pretty decent, being a black car helps a lot and having a 2nd gen style scoop. But mostly I don't think the phoenix really worked very well on 3rd gens. It was great on the 2nd gens.

I did like the early third gen T/As with the emblem only limited to the hood bulge. I think the 3rd gens have a more refined look that called for restrained graphics.

I did not like the 4th gen hoods with the Ram Air nostrils. Ugly, kind of a high school look. I had an '98 T/A and went with the standard hood. The extra few horsepower weren't worth ruining the look of the car. Funny about the "3800" proudly advertised. It was a good, reasonably-powerful base engine and a big improvement over prior generations (stronger than some 3rd gen V-8s), but nothing to advertise.

And holy cow, $500 for a hood sticker in the 80s! Geez, for that money in 1985 bucks you'd think it could be an actual paint job.

 

Window sticker from my '85 shows the DX1 Hood Applique option was 95.00 in July 1985 - for what it's worth.

 

That makes more sense. $500 in 1985 would have been insane.

 

A Trans Am body with the DX1 decal in-place on the assembly line.

This is from the factory photos thread from a few years ago.

 

Did you see this? Hawks sells the 70s style screaming chicken for the 3rd gen.

https://www.hawksmotorsports.com/198...yle-hood-bird/

 

they look good done in pearl.. this way the bird shows in certain lights, and doesnt take away from the 3rd gen good looks

 

Where did you find this picture? Funny enough, the car in that picture is optioned identically to mine. Even recaro seats interior.

 

That picture is one of several that a member here took at the assembly plant. I believe it was the Norwood plant. Keep in mind there was a number of these cars produced with a lot of the same options. Dark red, DX1 hood bird, and Recaro option, while not any standard, was also not the most rare. Exact numbers are unknown but I've seen several examples of this combination as it is one of several of my favorites that I have came across over the years when looking.

 

 

looks factory. 86-87 era

 

Ad says it is an 85. The VIN 1G2FW87F9FL606670 but free vin decoder doesn’t pull anything up.

 

I'll revise my statement as 85-87 vintage. But yeah, looks like the factory one.

 

I've seen ^that^ or cars just like it in person, I've seen the one on the nose and at least in '83, there was a different sized one that went on the cowl optioned hood....just on the cowl part.