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The intention here isn't to post a "look what I got" thread. It's not my style to do that. Rarely do I even talk about my car, unless it's about something that might also interest or benefit others. And with only 2400 posts in 18-1/2 years on TGO, I don't post much at all lol. But I do a lot of research, and when it's about a product that people have shown a lot of interest in, such as this hood, then I might post my findings, especially if I have purchased such products.
And there has been a lot of mystery surrounding this hood throughout the decades, its existence, its availability, and so-on. Also, yes, I've been one of those interested people. I wanted one, for real, not just to chat about wanting one someday. And when I discovered that, yes, it still exists after nearly 40 years, it can still be purchased, I purchased one, and here it is, fresh from its manufacturer. So after decades of wonderment, now we know, for the record, that, yes, people CAN still get this hood.
Made-to-order. Arrived 09/08/22.
Lightweight. Solid. Dimensionally spot-on. Bolt-on. White gel coat top. Partial black gel coat underside.
Out-of-the-box looks good enough to install and go, so prep and fitment should be "normal," hopefully.
Bulge is about 2-1/4" tall. That's about 3/4" to 1" taller than factory.
Production time was long because it was made-to-order, so that was expected. Follow-up communications were positive and prompt.
Box and packaging were impressive.
Shipping from PA to NV is what it is these days. But if you're near PA and have the means, will-call is welcomed.
After years of considering what I wanted to achieve, I decided it was time to make the call to see if the listing for this hood was for real. Had a long, excellent conversation with Rob and Charlie. Nice people. Ordered it during the call. Glad I did.
Finish plans won't be disclosed at this time, and I don't do progress pics or threads, so nobody is likely to see anything new about this until it's finished, which won't be anytime soon.
Last edited by LAFireboyd; 10-07-2023 at 02:01 PM.
My post was a bit cryptic. People like pictures, not words, so I kept the commentary to a minimum lol.
For people who might not be familiar with this hood, it was part of a body kit for the 1984 Trans Am for the ISMA Racing Series. Throughout the decades, one will pop up from time to time, giving it a somewhat mythological/legendary status. And whenever one would come up in a topic on TGO, people would wonder if it still might exist and can be purchased. Now we know. Yes, it does exist, and it can still be purchased. I just didn't want to post anything until I had one in my possession. Such things have to be kept on the DL until there is real evidence to share.
Having originated in 1984, it's probably the first fiberglass hood ever made for the 3rdgen Firebird. Some 82-83 Camaros received fiberglass hoods from the factory, but I don't think any such hood was available for the Firebird at that point in time.
This is fantastic news! Thanks for sharing this. I had these folks page bookmarked, but didn't know if it was for real.
Any photos of the bottom of the hood (engine compartment side)?
Just this past weekend, I was talking to a metal fabrication shop about making a Turbo hood with a mirror image scoop on the other side, forming a sort of Pontiac cowl hood if you will. This is exactly what I had envisioned.
I'm not in town to take more pics right now, but when I began opening the box it was upside down, so I did see the underside. But then flipped the box over to open it upside up. The underside is partially finished. Finished around the perimeter and bolt-on "structural" areas, black.
Here's an underside picture from a sale listing during the pandemic, so it's not my specific hood, but mine looks like this on the underside.
Edit: I suspect that the photo above is of the hood on this car below. No proof of that, but just a hunch.
I found this car for sale online about two months after that hood sold. Coincidence? Since evidence of these hoods emerge online about once every 5 to 10 years, and the ad for the hood, and the ad for the car, both showed up within a couple of months of each other, seems to me it's not coincidental.
Last edited by LAFireboyd; 09-17-2022 at 11:47 PM.
That is beautiful! The cowl isn't actually functional right? Looks blocked off? I prefer my honeycomb vent in my 84 hood but I suppose one could make a honeycomb for it...
It looks beautiful to me, too. It's my first fiberglass hood, though, so I have nothing to gauge its quality by. But if someone had a white car, the hood looks good enough to bolt on and leave it as it is. My neighbor is a former paint and body man. He looked it over and was impressed by the quality. I knew he wouldn't want to paint it, but I asked anyway lol. No equipment anymore, but he recommended an excellent custom shop in the area.
Correct, the cowl isn't functional, but it could be made to be. Like most fiberglass hoods, cutting openings to make them functional is up to the owner. For this hood, a couple of honeycomb grills would be required due to the width of the bulge, although I suppose you could place one grill within the center of the area. I have a couple of junkyard power bulge hoods "in stock" with grills.
I removed the block-off plate from my Formula's hood and replaced it with a grill from an 82-84 TA hood, decades ago when you could still order the grills from the dealer. Heat waves pour out at stop lights.
Not many quality fiberglass hoods available for Firebirds anymore. Duraflex hoods look questionable in their pictures, and people who've purchased them have confirmed that the quality is poor, but that's all that appears to be available in the RA1 hood these days. Not sure about the quality of RA2 hoods or the few other style hoods. But it's nice knowing the ISMA hood is both, available and nice.
When are you going to do a fit up? That's what I'm really waiting for. It's kind of still just a picture in a catalog until confirmed how well it fits...
Not for a long time, as I stated in the last sentence of my initial post. Far more important things to deal with than the car, including newer things that have come up since that initial post. Until then, enjoy the pictures.
Having originated in 1984, it's probably the first fiberglass hood ever made for the 3rdgen Firebird. Some 82-83 Camaros received fiberglass hoods from the factory, but I don't think any such hood was available for the Firebird at that point in time.
There were some early aluminum parts available for certain models in the early '80s, primarily the aluminum front bumper support (it was supposed to be a Iron Duke I-4 engine thing, but my '83 TA had one on it) and aluminum early TA/later formula hood, that was sort of the equivalent of the 'glass Camaro hood.
Originally Posted by LAFireboyd
It looks beautiful to me, too. It's my first fiberglass hood, though, so I have nothing to gauge its quality by.
From the pictures, that looks EXCEPTIONAL even for a high-quality "street" hood (street 'glass parts typically have a better fit and finish as well as more structure... because people expect more of them than a race car hood which typically needs to be as light as possible and look OK from 20-50' away.
But if someone had a white car, the hood looks good enough to bolt on and leave it as it is.
You really don't want to do that, most parts like this don't use UV-stabilized gel-coat and after a few months out in the sun, it will get chalky and start cracking.
Originally Posted by QwkTrip
When are you going to do a fit-up? That's what I'm really waiting for. It's kind of still just a picture in a catalog until confirmed how well it fits...
That's what we're all itching for. I would argue EVERY serious Pontiac guy has drooled after this hood, but I've never seen good pics of one on a car without the rest of the IMSA stuff (basically widebody kit), and am worried it might be too much without it. Back in the day, I took an '83 TA hood (basically a later formula hood), glassed in the scoop insert, and then built a mirror image on the other side that I thought looked INCREDIBLE, BUT- it was stock hood height and had a dip in between the 2 sides (think similar vintage corvette hood), making the hood scoop add a lot less visual weight to that part of the body.
Like if the price they quote on the website is correct and if it doesn't look overly large on a TA without a wide body... I'd be all about getting one.
OTHO, the site says they are all made to order, I wonder if they can make it with a lower scoop (and some other changes 😉huh...
FWIW, my car currently has the short Harwood cowl hood which I feel is the only real tasteful aftermarket hood easily available for these cars... I think it's advertised as being a 2" cowl...
Two more people have hoods on order. Maybe we'll get feedback on a fit up in the next couple months from one of them.
Regarding cutting the opening of the cowl, I am told it has a skin layer that can be cut out, and there is another structure layer behind it. They will make it open but you would have to pay extra for them to redo structure in that area.
These are very heavy for fiberglass, not much weight savings over stock, so maybe shop elsewhere if weight reduction is your motivitation.
I'm away from home. Visiting family in Indy. Even updated the location on my profile. I probably won't be driving home until the springtime thaw. Even when I return, living in Vegas and working in LA doesn't leave much time to play.
I purchased the hood so I would have it when I'm eventually ready for it, and I'm not. But when I phone vendors to inquire about products that I'm serious about purchasing, I'm prepared to put my money where my mouth is. I don't waste their time with, "ok, thanks, bye." This hood was one of those things. And since its availability has always been suspect, I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to get one if I could. Turned out, I could, so I did.
Then I wanted to get the word out to other members, but it was important to have one in my hands first, just in case it turned out to be not real. Sounds like people are on it, which is . And if someone gets his installed before I do, then good for him. Until then, all I can provide is this "catalog" for y'all to enjoy.
Ok. Now that I have time. The hood was made back in the 80s by a company called diversified Glass. The first one had a removable cowl section. That could be cut open. The real IMSA/SCCA hood aka the DG one, is wider.
09-09-2022, 05:46 PM
. And if someone gets his installed before I do, then good for him. 
