The REAL Story of the Pontiac Firebird Hood Bird!
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- Опубліковано 12 лис 2023
- The Pontiac Firebird hood bird is as famous as the car itself! Learn the REAL story of its creation from the designers at GM in the late 60s and 70s that are responsible for the notorious graphic!
For more information on the larger project that contains excerpts from this mini-doc, check out www.NorwoodLegends.com - Розваги
I have loved the hood bird ever since I saw it on the car. GM should have never killed Pontiac at the end of 2009. That still makes me mad. I'm definitely a Pontiac guy.
I know, right. Just seems so short sighted to kill Pontiac. They really flat lined a HUGE loyalty base when the did that.
GM is like Biden. Catering to China by keeping the Buick brand.
Obama killed Pontiac , look it up.
Pontiac and Plymouth, two great brands killed by idiots.
They “killed” Pontiac because no one was buying their bland and identity less products. Chevrolet easily filled the void with their bland and identity less products.
We always referred to the bird as “Screaming Chicken” or “Fire Chicken”.
Former owner of Trans Am.
Yep, she goes by many names!
Super Chicken. Back in the day, I had a red '75.👍
As a multi Trans Am owner over the years, I always detested that nickname especially from Chevy guys. It morphed to include all second gens with the possible exception of the early Formulas where people now ask, ‘What’s that?’.
It's not a screaming chicken
I always thought Screaming Chicken was the official name
Those '70-'73 front ends are the best looking.
Agreed. Are used to be partial to the 79, 80, and 81, but it’s hard to beat the original!
The blue and white 70 T/A is one of the most beautiful cars ever made, imo.
they remind me of my last wife pissed off and gorgeous
The passenger-side bucket of a '72 Formula was the seat I literally grew up in, from 0-13 years.
@@RecklessFables ha ha nice
I worked as a painter for Pontiac at a dealership and installed dozens and dozens of those decals, you would think that they would be difficult. They were one of the most easy decals that I ever put on,when you got over the sheer size, about 10 or 15 minutes from start to finish when I first started, and after I got used to them It’d take about five minutes😁😁😁
Find it ironic that often people in charge cannot see a great concept. The now iconic firebird plus the spoilers on the Trans Am's of that era, made every young man (including me) want one.
100%!
I know...they will fight tooth and nail against something that is plainly the right choice. Shows how blind corporate is.
I was born in 1974. I still remember that hood bird. It made a massive impression on me in the first five years of my life. To this day I still think it is one of the coolest paint jobs any car has ever had… and I still want one.
Thanks for sharing the feeling! We couldn’t agree more!
I love when Burt Reynolds drove the trans am out of the semi-trailer.
One of the greatest movie car reveal scenes of all time!
"Honey hush".
Yea it looked like a Lion stepping out of a cage.
I don't know man, a certain DeLorean had a pretty bit*hin reveal from a step van too. Lol
We all did!!! 😁
I'm 50 years old now, I remember this car when it first came out, I loved that bird so much! And so did my dad!
I’m 73 and never heard this story before. Thanks
Glad we could bring it to you!
I worked at the Baltimore Assembly Plant. Muscle car Heaven! During plant tours the visitors were flabbergasted to watch the "Body Drop." That was when the completed body, from the firewall to the rear bumper, was lowered to meet the chassis on the first floor. One body was dropped onto the frame at a rate of one per minute. I think this would make a good feature for this channel. These were the years we built the Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Chevrolet "A" bodies all on the same assembly line. In later years we converted to the M-Vans.
I had a 1974 Formula 400 4-Speed Manual. I did not have the Bird, but I did have the Coolest RAM AIR HOOD SCOOPS. Man, I always loved Firebirds. As a Old Guy now, my Wife and I have a few Corvettes.
Sounds like a nice stable of cars over the years!
I had a 76 formula those were rare to find loved those hoods
I miss mine. Had a '79. The 1st car I bought on my own. Good memories.
This is a wonderful story of just plain brilliance seat of the pants evidence of what sells, the story of Mr. Schinella pointing out all of the hoods coming in on one assembly line without the bird, and every one leaving with the hood bird, is just a plain Fact, and you can't deny sales in the car industry, if the bird is on the hood it's a sold car ! Great story !
I have heard this story many times and it never gets old 👍
Glad it was brought into the documentary for all us enthusiasts to find out about it!
Thanks, Dan. Appreciate the comment and support! :)
Great story, my best friend bought a black firebird in 1980 and brought it over to show me and take a ride into Westwood. Everyone who saw us were waving and yelling Awesome ride guys. That was some good times.
"Absolutely riveting! Exploring the backstory of the Pontiac Firebird Hood Bird is like taking a thrilling journey through automotive history. The twists and turns, from initial rejection to the ingenious transformation showcased on a black car with gold stripes, paint a vivid picture of innovation and perseverance in the world of car design. As a passionate car enthusiast, I'm eagerly seeking more captivating stories like this. Are there other tales of automotive evolution waiting to be uncovered on this channel? Can't wait to dive into more intriguing narratives from the fascinating world of automobiles!"
Thanks so much for the kind comments. We definitely have more stories coming, so check back, and please share with anyone else you think might be interested! Again, many thanks!
Thanks for the story from the designer's view. Fire chicken on the cover Hotrod magazine had me sold at first sight. A diehard Pontiac man, for life, the only manufacturer that had its head cut and still doesn't know it's dead.
I bought a 1973 Formula 400 brand new in 73, that car had a punch, one of my favorite cars that I have owned.
Great video! Love the interviews with Bill Porter and John Schinella. It’s not a Trans Am without the Firebird on the hood!
Thanks and we agree 100%! We’re so happy both of those amazing guys sat with us to talk about their careers at GM and the development of the bird! Really interesting that it went through so many iterations.
Being a car enthusiast, stories like this about the design evolution of iconic cars like the Pontiac Firebird Hood Bird really resonate. It's remarkable how even a seemingly small design element can have such a significant impact on the overall appeal and legacy of a vehicle. The blend of artistry from Tiffany vases and feathers with the practicality of automotive design showcases the intersection of creativity and engineering in the automotive world. It's a testament to how every detail, even on the hood of a car, can become a piece of automotive history
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Absolutely, and we’ll put! Thanks for the great comment!
108377
It's your email right , "drew money " ?
reads like something from a magazine?
I bought my new 1979 Trans AM in February of '79. I ordered it special, fully loaded. It took 18 weeks to arrive. When it showed up it had $700 worth of damage including the bird being scratched by the car carrier. Many other issues as well. Total value of the deal, $9,435 delivered! The fake gas shortage was in full swing by then. I had to give the dealership another $10 just so I could get home! The Pontiac 400 was no longer available by Feb 1979. So I opted for the small block 403 Olds Automatic! Myan Red with black hob nail cloth bucket seats. Power everything! Tri-band antennae. I loved that car.
It's hard to imagine those 70s T/As without the screaming chicken decal but to this day my favorite T/A is the Duke's Brewster green '73 in McQ. Just the small bird on the nose. This is the classiest Trans Am made in my opinion.
I have to agree. The big bird is fun, but the smaller nose bird with the formula hood is the classiest!
It's not a screaming chicken though
Iconic piece of automotive history. Right up there with The Mustang logo, Jaguar cat emblem etc.
Yep, it’s definitely become one of the most iconic symbols in all of automotive history. Don’t know a single person that couldn’t identify it. No doubt helped by the popularity of Smokey and the Bandit.
I have the Firebird tattooed on me and I never knew this about the symbol!
That’s great! Send us a pic to Hello@OriginalMotorCar.com
This was a truly fascinating video. The history of the bird’s origin, the behind-the-scenes stories (“a poet of profanity”) and the archival photos were fantastic. Bravo!
Had a 75 with the bird. It was about 3 years old at the time, but still one of the best driving machines I've ever owned. The way that car made me feel was like nothing else.
They really were fun to drive!
I bought a used one when I was 16 - my first car! High School was a lot of fun that year!
The Fire Bird is the Phoenix. A symbol of rebirth and rising from it's own ashes.
Let’s hope, maybe one day the Firebird will rise again!
Of course the video just said it's not a Phoenix. It's the Firebird of Hopi Legend, which is a very different story where the firebird is killed for the destruction it caused and never comes back
Absolute love!!!!! Why does corporate not know already that people like wild stuff?
Fantastic production ! Loved seeing the archived video footage of the GM plant .I have been a fan of the Transam hood graphic design ever since its release.I installed them and we developed a generic version to install on owners cars and at the dealers . I worked for a autographics company called Trimline. here in Atlantic Canada.Thank you for the well researched content in this video.
I'm still amazed how America made all these good looking cars with massive 5 or 6L engines and less than 260 hp. While in other places they made 2L engines with 160hp.
Yeah, those engines were so inefficient and strangled by emissions regulations. Now you can get a supercharged 4 cylinder in the 300+ hp range! Wild!
That time was pretty much the bottom for performance in American cars ... the pollution regs strangeled them
Very cool new channel great work on this video! Looks like you are definitely on to something with the viewership this video has, and as a Pontiac guy really appreciate the interviews and information! Keep up the good work!
312802 I like the large hood bird. It's bold and in your face with no apologies. When Bill Porter said he doodled the idea on a napkin is pretty awesome. I bet alot of good ideas start out that way.
Hey man, did you got the reply
Not since I put the code up, but it's the holidays so I'm being patient.
@@countyline02 me toooo
Thanks guys and congratulations again! Appreciate the support!!
I had a 77 Firebird, and I actually made my own bird for the hood, keeping in a similar style but sweeping the wings even further towards the mirrors (more like flames) and tapering into a stripe that went along the body towards the tail. I miss that car.
This is a great interview, thank you for publishing this! I started watching the video wondering if Bill would talk a bit about John Schinella also, since he was in the Pontiac Design Studio also around the same time. AH! You mention John at 4:08...fantastic, thank you! And 4:36 Here John is! What a great interview sequence!!!
I love that hood bird. Its as iconic as the tail fins on a 57' Chevy. The Trans Am is my dream car, and I hope to get one someday. Pontiac should never have taken the bird off the hood, they should never have killed the Firebird, and GM should never have killed Pontiac!
Agreed! The 2008 financial crisis brought GM to its knees with bankruptcy, which meant they had to streamline their brands and cut something. Buick was a big brand in Chinese due it its presumed popularity in the US (haha), but now is a perfect time to bring Pontiac back!
Nice work on this video. Looking forward to more content. 👍🇨🇦
A Tiffany vase. No shit?
🎉😂
Really cool channel. I really enjoyed learning about the history of the hood bird, i love it always have. Also, I didn't know that Norwood was where these cars were made and I lived there for 10 years and grew up in a neighborhood close by. So learned something new today and thats always a plus😂 thanks and stay safe and blessed 🙏
Great video! Bill and John are great guys and have fantastic stories. Both of them have come to Trans Am Nationals many times and I love their lectures. I have many items John has signed for me, including my map pocket in my '89 Formula 350.
Great video !
It was neat hearing it straight from the designers mouths!
I look forward to the documentary.
Thanks for the comment. Full doc releases later this year so stay tuned!
LOVE THE BIG BIRD! It had its followers and copycats! The Firebird screaming chicken is as iconic as the racing stripes everybody else had. And those special edition Trans Ams only made them more spectacular! Thanks for being bold guys!
Wow! Amazing history. Thank you. I'm a big fan...
I love the fire bird!
Has always been a favourite of mine and a dream car.
Very interesting how the team got the bird going.
Thanks very much for sharing these great stories.
Thanks so much for watching! We really appreciate it!
Thanks for sharing this interesting story! I own a 71 455ho trans am and dive it often
REALLY nice video! Many photos I have never seen before, along with great info from the very folks responsible. I guess I gotta subscribe now, don't I? :-)
I never knew the story until now! I remember being a little kid and watching Smokey amd the Bandit and falling in love with the TA.
Years later when the 4th gen was out my mom and I test drove a WS6 and she was this close to buying it but didn't. Later a friend of a kid I went to school with bought it and I drooled over that thing!
Then the 98 model came out and I was mesmerized seeing it on the cover of Motor Trend. I HAD to have one. I finally did get one a few years back and have been going back and forth on putting a Screaming Chicken on it for fun. I've seen the hood decals and t top decals and can't decide, but after watching this I am leaning towards the hood decal! Great video!!!
Definitely do the hood decal and send us an email with a picture when you do! Send it to hello@originalmotorcar.com!
@@OriginalMotorCar I'll keep you posted if/when I do it. Wouldn't be for awhile as I work for a local school district and the end of the year is crazy!
Awesome video 💯💯 my pops and I have a 2002 WS6 TA now. My pops had a 70 firebird back in the day as well. Wish the Pontiac brand would come back.
Thank you OMC for posting this video. The Bucky Red Pontiac ad in 72, for the 73 car really grabbed my attention. Was 18 at the time, loved GTOs, but the early T/As, ('Specially the 73 hood bird cars,) IMHO was Detroit's best work of art. thanks for the memories. :)
Really appreciate the comment. Definitely subscribe so you can see more on your UA-cam feed. We’ll be posting some great videos in the next few weeks and months!
@@OriginalMotorCar Anything, (Pontiac related) I'll be lookin fwd to. Thanks again.
Thank you for this video! I've owned several Firebirds and Trans Ams, and never knew this story. Very cool!
It’s pretty great as far as design evolution goes. It’s always interesting to hear the story behind something so iconic!
My mom had a White 1984 15th Anniversary TA, it was a great looking car from the exterior the interior was a bit well Plastic with fake plastic rivot/bolts on the dashboard. But damn did it sound great on I-77…heading to the Richfield Coliseum.
" Corvette Summer" clips. Nice touch.
Thanks! Yeah, they really fit the tone of what John Schinella was talking about with the cruising culture.
It's interesting how the first generation Firebird used a native American bird emblem, which is actually the Thunderbird. The Firebird and the legend of the Firebird isn't even native American at all.
The Phoenix or firebird originates from ancient Greek mythology. However, some Native American tribes may have adopted the Phoenix or firebird as a symbol or incorporated it into their culture through modern cultural exchange.
I was 13 years old when I happened upon one of these cars, it left an indelible impression on me which lasts till this day, so a big thank you to those that bought it to fruition and many thanks for creating this documentary. 👍
Couldn't agree more! Thanks for the comment and the support!
Great story! Loved it!!
Great story. Thank you!
Keep dropping videos it really helps understand the what happend as a younger person that likes cars it keeps the knowledge being passed around can you do a Dodge daytona and the plymouth superbird please I think it would be a good edition to the channel
We actually have a SuperBird video coming out next! Stay tuned.
Good information, thanks.
This was an awesome peice of GM history. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for watching!
Thank you! I always loved that bird.
The question I've tried answer is which style bird for which year. From what I can tell the flame style wing was up to 78 and the feather wing was from 79-81, with the wildcard is the gold special edition 78 had a feather style bird . I've seen a few other 77/78 with a feather style but don't know if that was done in a restoration and not period correct. I was 8/9 when they first came out so wasn't in the market to buy but love the car.
We’ll try and do a story about this. I have some folks I can talk to that can get it straightened out. The confusion comes in when people swap the bird during restoration. I am a fan of putting the correct bird on for the year of the car if you’re restoring it for sale or collecting, but if you’re restoring it to keep and drive, put your favorite version on regardless of year!
Hi Drew! I love the hood bird. My '84 Norwood Trans Am has the optional decal. Keep up the videos! Firebirds forever!!!
Thanks for the support! Send us a pic to hello@originalmotorcar.com. Would love to see it!!!
I was 17 yrs when I saw the Firebird Trans Am in dark green and gold, it was a thing of beauty, I went bonkers, I mean, I couldn't sleep, had to get one. Love at❤ first sight, couldn't live without the bird/ decal on the car.
Nice! Did you end up getting one?
Subscribed. This channel is going to blow up.
We hope you’re right! Thanks for the support!
Great story. It is now and forever will be a BIG part of American muscle car history.
Yup, the Pontiac Fire Chicken
@@Beaulocks_
🔥 🐔. 😆
🔥 🐔. 😁😆
100%! Thanks for watching!
@OriginalMotorCar
70-73 were the best nose and body with a taller shaker than later years. I had a '79 W30 403.
Our maroon 86 TA had a black outline onlyone. Our white 85 had the same design but in a silver\grey. Loved the bird.
I remember my stepdad after seeing Smokey and the Bandit he had to have a Trans Am. So he went out and bought a 76 with the 455 and a manual trans, 4 spd I think. This was about 1977. I really liked that car but the summer I was 16 (1979) and I went out to see him and my mom, I asked if I can drive the TA but they had sold it for a Datsun 310. The gas crises of 79 convinced them that 8 mpg was not enough. So I never got to drive that car. :(
My favorite two car's, a 69 Camaro and a 70 Bird with a honeycomb grill.
Good article. I will always remember the hood bird being called the "Screaming Chicken." I had an '84 Trans Am at one time, there was a mini hood bird on the Ram Air scoop.
Very nice! What color was it?
@@OriginalMotorCar My 84 HO was red with a black bird and stripes
I've had 2 Trans Am's ('98 and '00) and my dad currently has his second, black and gold, '78 WS6. The bird is perfect! Owning Trans Am's becomes an addiction.
Very cool story. Just subscribed!
Welcome aboard! Thanks so much for the support!!!
Had a white '75 with the red, black & silver bird. Loved that ride.
We didn't have Trans Am in Australia, but this car was every teenage boys dream after watching Smokey and the Bandit with Burt Reynolds and Sally Field in 1977.
Yep, I think that was an international phenomenon for sure! Thanks for watching!
Great video! Love the bird!
Thanks for the comment and thanks for the support!
Just great keeping doing it!!!
We’re definitely in the works on more videos! We promise there’s more coming soon!
Had a Firebird. Never heard the story. Thanks.
I had a baby blue 78 Firebird Esprit, with the "Sky Bird" emblems on the B pillar and nothing on the hood, and there was nothing I wanted to do more than to paint that thing black and slap a baby blue Firebird decal across the hood. I never did it but wish I had.
Simply Iconic.
When I was a baby my Dad decided to trade in his 1970 Corvette for a 1979 Trans Am with
T-Tops because his family was growing and a little 2 seater wasn’t going to work any longer. When I was about 5 I realized how cool his car really was and that was one our family vehicles until 1998 when his wife sold it. I was devastated.
Bummer that it was sold, but that was common. Who would have known how special these cars would become!
Trans am!!! Love this car!!
Agreed!
I had a 79 Trans Am Silver Anniversary Edition. The bird was phenomenal - very large, even went onto the fenders. No small bird here.
Those 79 SEs were awesome!
This was cool! I always wondered about this. My Dad worked for the GM plant Anderson, IN in the late 70's early 80's. He started on the "line" and worked his way up to Plant Manager, that was pretty cool in itself. One day he brought home the Firebird resin pieces that go on the outside by the window. I was a kid with little or no interest in cars at the time. I wasn't sure what to do with them. By this time he was remarried (parents divorced around '80) I was visiting him at his "other" home and instead of taking them home with me when I left, I just gave them to my step-sister. I never saw them again! Oh, I wish I had those NOW!!! UGH!!
That's an impressive career for your dad! Plant managers had a LOT of responsibility!
@@OriginalMotorCar Yes and this was in the 80's. My uncle (on my mom's side) and I were having a conversation about that. My uncle said-"Do you know how much your dad was making?" I had no clue. "about $25 an hour." Now I understand how we could afford a brick house (we had built) on 2 acres of land, just outside of town. It all makes since now! Hmm.
Perfect example of why car guys should be making/designing cars.
100%. Bob Lutz was a car guy that brought us some real performance and fun right before Pontiacs demise. GM need more “car people” deciding what to greenlight!
So cool, my first new car was a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am in Martinique blue, ordered it with out the bird decal, wanted a 'sleeper' looking car, had no t-tops, no a/c, 4 spd manual, WS6 pkg, & no radio.
My brother had the 75 Trans Am with white and Blue bird. I loved that car
White and blue is classic trans am!
@@OriginalMotorCar sad story about the car may he RIP .
Very interesting story. To think that back then these people were just working away every day, no idea that years later their workdays would be interesting stories so many of us car nuts would love.
I grew up in Norwood. Everyday on the way to and from practice I walked passed the storage lot. Man I wanted one so bad!
That’s cool! I can only imagine seeing all those Camaros and Firebirds as a kid!
Very informative about the story of the hood bird know as the Firebird Phoenix
As a former owner of a Trans Am GTA, in our circles we never referred to it as Phoenix, instead it’s either “Screaming Chicken” or “Fire Chicken”. It’s because of its American Indian origin.
Yeah, it goes by many names, but it’s an unmistakable icon in automotive history!
My friends and I referred to it as the Fire Chicken. Great car
Excellent! Thank you very much. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thanks so much for the kind words! Please share it with anyone else you know that you think might like it as well! When we uploaded this video originally, we racked up 45K views in 2 days, but we accidentally deleted it when we uploaded the corrected version! :(
Hoping we can keep sharing it so the UA-cam algorithm will pick it back up and run with it! It's a fun story that needs to be told!!!
Please consider subscribing as well, as we will be release MANY more interesting stories in the future!
Great Video!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! Please share with anyone else you know that might like it too!
This is Gold!
Back in the day, 1978, I bought my first new car.... A Gold Trans Am. I tried to get it without the Screaming Chicken, but seem to recall it was a $60.00 DELETE option. You had to pay to NOT have the bird decal on the hood. Loved the car though.
Only The Burt could make a screaming chicken look cool.
Hahah. Agreed!
Love that bird! I wish I still had my 77
Had a 79 Trans Am loved the car and the Big Bird. 👍
I have always loved the hood bird. Being a kid in the 80’s, the Firebird to me was the car He-Man would have driven.
This might just be the best comment yet! Love the image of he-man driving a Firebird Trans Am. You’re totally right!
That bird made that car look cool!!!
Indeed!
The 'screaming chicken' is the Firebird / Trans-Am. IMHO the Trans-Am & in particular the post '77 car is the continuity Muscle Car that kicked the trend of the Malaise era and held the fort until the Fox Mustang and others returned in the 1980's.
I'll take my Firebird as a Bandit replica please.
Great point!
I'm a Mopar guy and never cared much for these cars, but that was a great story. The Firebird hood bird was a quintessential and iconic design element, it would seem strange to not have the decal there.
My step dad was one of those tote the note dealers when this car came out. I told him, as a kid, that he should buy and sell the Trans Ams and he thought it was a dumb idea but he grabbed a black one and made good money....next thing you know we had gone through multiple colors of these cars and ir was the first car i ever tried to sneak out. I was in the 7th or 8th grade and had visions of how kewl i would be driving around. Damn... those are some good memories
Thanks for sharing the memories! Those hood birds were definitely an acquired taste. Took some getting used to, but once you did, it was hard to imagine a world without them!
Thanks for sharing the memories! The hod bird was definitely an acquired taste! But once you got used to it, it was hard to image a world without them!