Firehawk clone- badging advice
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TECH Apprentice
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Joined: Mar 2012
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From: College Station, Texas
Firehawk clone- badging advice Hey guys, I'd like as many opinions as I can get. I am trying to find a identity to give my car. It started as a black firebird v6, it now has a iron block v8, trans am high rise, and firehawk hood. I have removed the door 'firebird' emblems, and added the rear filler panel bird and firebird lettering. I love the firehawk cars, as well as the logo itself. I'm not usually a fan of clones however.
Options:
Remove the filler panel firebird lettering, possibly leaving the bird, and adding a LSX aluminum badge on the bumper and calling it good?
Add the firehawk door and rear bumper decals, with or without the filler panel?
What are people's opinions or advice here?
Options:
Remove the filler panel firebird lettering, possibly leaving the bird, and adding a LSX aluminum badge on the bumper and calling it good?
Add the firehawk door and rear bumper decals, with or without the filler panel?
What are people's opinions or advice here?
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 112
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From: Tacoma, WA
My opinion is stay away from cloning. I would actually leave the whole car as is (minus the body parts... I'm partial to T/A's though lol) For me, clones are... distasteful, I suppose. The identity of your car should be "My Car", not a "cloned car"... I'm kinda having a hard time finding the words for it, as you can probably tell haha, but I think you get the idea. But this is all just my own opinion.
I'm not a fan of cars badged as something they are not.. Just not my style. the only time I'm *somewhat* ok with it is with old schools/ classics that are fully done to the original specs of the cloned car.. And they should always be specified as clones.. Nothing worse than a person who actually tries to pass the car off as something it is not. IMO of course.
But for your car, I'd just suggest doing a larger bird with the firebird text like you mentioned, with maybe the badge like you said on the bumper. I did a custom larger bird on my filler panel, loved the way it came out! Pic in sig. Id also do a front license plate filler. And I'd either say no door emblems, or the original firebird ones, perhaps some stainless ones. Or just leave it with the clean look, also remove the door molding if you haven't already.
But for your car, I'd just suggest doing a larger bird with the firebird text like you mentioned, with maybe the badge like you said on the bumper. I did a custom larger bird on my filler panel, loved the way it came out! Pic in sig. Id also do a front license plate filler. And I'd either say no door emblems, or the original firebird ones, perhaps some stainless ones. Or just leave it with the clean look, also remove the door molding if you haven't already.
DE-badge, I like the idea of keeping the bird on the filler, but since it's not really a firebird (since it doesn't have the v6) and it's not a true trans am (which 99% of people are gonna call it one anyway because they don't know the difference, hell i've had more then a few call my firebird a camaro 
) I say it shouldn't be "labeled" it's it own unique creation and should be left as that.
) I say it shouldn't be "labeled" it's it own unique creation and should be left as that. no shame in labeling it what it is -a firebird- it'll just throw people for a loop wondering WTF your car is exactly with all the different parts and a sound that clearly isnt the stock v6
it is your car though, so do what makes you happy. just seems a tad odd to use badges from another car on your car as an appearance mod.
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Mine is a base model Trans Am, but I've done the hood from a real WS6 and I put on a WS7 emblem. It's not a real WS6, but with the emblem and hood most people can't tell the difference. If they ask then I correct them, but other than that I just leave it be and feel no shame.
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TECH Apprentice
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From: College Station, Texas
Thanks guys. It's not that I mind the whole clone thing, I just want opinions on what will look best as an outsider. Here are pics I took today, besides the filler panel and small triangular nose badge to cover the gap between the hood and bumper, any ideas to complete the car more?
Thanks guys. It's not that I mind the whole clone thing, I just want opinions on what will look best as an outsider. Here are pics I took today, besides the filler panel and small triangular nose badge to cover the gap between the hood and bumper, any ideas to complete the car more?
Just don't be one of those people who try to pass it off as the real thing when / if you go to sell it. You have put a ton of blood, sweat, and tears into your car and it looks great! As far as what to do, if you want to do the clone thing then do your homework on the proper colors and decals and make sure you get the right ones to complete the look. Good looking car regardless! 
Have a custom decal cut. Liarhawk in the same font. I was going to do it a couple years ago, then I decided to keep the flat hood on my TA. I would just do a pontiac arrowhead on the nose to fill the gap.
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 1
From: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Personally, I'd leave it de-badged, remove the side moldings and only add some different wheels, whether they are GM wheels, Torque Thrusts, whatever. Let the car and others knowledge call it what it is. As for Firehawks, most people have no clue what they are, I've been asked so many times what mine is, even at car shows and cruise ins. A lot of first reactions is, its an appearance package on the Firebird, hence half the name change, even looking at the motor too, some still don't know its a V8.
12 Second Club
Joined: Jun 2012
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empi agree with above, its ur car if u like the firehawk look do it, so long as u dont try to sell it as such.
personally, i would look into emblempros, and have something custom designed and made. be proud that u made it ur own and create its own image.
personally, i would look into emblempros, and have something custom designed and made. be proud that u made it ur own and create its own image.
My car probably has one of the biggest identity crises on here. It's a 99 Firebird V6 that I turned into a 97 Trans Am WS6 with an LT1 in it. I'm leaving the badges off because I like the clean look, but I wouldn't lose any sleep over putting on a WS6 badge or the T/A door scripts on it. Of course, there's no way I'd sell it without advertising exactly what it is. It's your car, put whatever you want on there.
