GM has had a lot of hits over the years, and certainly their share of misses too. But their efforts are not for lack of trying. One of those efforts was the two-seater, mid-engined Pontiac Fiero (1984-1988). A car without its controversies, it’s still an interesting study in where GM was in the early ’80s. Today’s example is a final year, 1988 GT variant that is located in Parrish, Florida and is available, here on craigslist for $19,950. Thanks to Pat L. for this tip!
On the surface, one may question why GM’s “Excitement Division” was allowed to build a two-seat sports car when Chevrolet was sitting on top with their very popular, 30 years strong, star car known as Corvette. The ‘Vette and the Fiero had two seats but that’s about where the similarities ended. Where the Corvette was a bonafide sports car and trying to climb out of its late ’70s/early ’80s malaise, the Fiero was more of a sporty car along the lines of a commuter vehicle with a bit of a fun quotient. Look no further than the Fiero’s standard “Iron Duke” four-cylinder, fishing line sinker engine to know that real sporting intentions were not it’s main calling in life. And Fiero’s reputation took it on the chin with problematic engine fires that plagued the 1984 models. Still, Fiero was popular with over 350K units finding new driveways in its five years of production. Nevertheless, quality control issues and cost overruns per unit ultimately doomed Fiero. By ’88, the production volume was down to 26K units and discontinuation was decided.
Being a Fiero GT, the previously mentioned four-cylinder engine has been usurped, fortunately, by a 135 net HP, 2.8 liter, 60 degree V6, located amidships and engaged with a five-speed manual transaxle. The seller claims, “Flawless Condition, 30K original miles, never driven in rain, 5-Speed, V-6, Best/Last year production, everything works perfect(ly)”.
Other GT traits that are more obvious than the V6 engine, include the rounded nosepiece and the fastback, extended C-Pillars. There’s no doubt about it, this two-previous-owner-Pontiac has been well maintained and undoubtedly garaged as claimed by the seller. There is nary a smudge, ding, fade or dent anywhere visible across its mix of steel and composite body panels. Its gold-hued lattice wheels are a nice inclusion and help further its Pontiac family membership. Nice to also see is the fact that they don’t appear to be marred or pitted by brake dust.
Other than the hip leopard skin floor mats, the interior of this Fiero is ’80s GM all the way. The seats are upholstered in a typical velour-like fabric that spread across more than one GM division in this era. The entire environment is in clean, like-new condition – no mean feat considering the light buckskin shade. The blocky dash is ’80s all the way and the instrument panel reveals pieces that were common to other GM models. While hardly sophisticated in its design or material content, it does look great – there’s not an item out of place.
If I were interested in a Fiero, this is the one that I would select – not just due to the condition and low mileage – it’s the elevated presence that the GT package brings to the table. The Fiero GT, such as this example, had certainly evolved beyond the scope of a simple commuter car, and going with the last of a model run has its benefits too as earlier known foibles have usually been resolved. I’ve only known one individual who owned a Fiero and that was a very long time ago. So tell me, has anyone owned or currently own a Fiero, and if so, how was it or is it?
Jim, I’ve DRIVEN quite a few Fieros (when they were new) and will say that by 1988, they had become excellent, well, “sporty” cars. Never quite enough performance, of course, but the chassis had been developed to the point where they were real go-karts on a twisty road.
My personal taste leaned toward the somewhat plain-jane Formula model. Not quite as swoopy, but everybody has an opinion. Including me.
Once again, I find myself bemused by the ask, though with so few miles on the clock, it should be good for some pretty pleasant cruising. Still, 135 bhp just wasn’t enough. Still, a nice car, and for the Fiero enthusiast, where will you find a better one?
Plenty of ways to upgrade performance on these.. I’ve seen supercharged 3800’s crammed in them!!
At the Steel Valley Nationals in Canfield Ohio years back there were two red Fieros sitting side by side, one had a tunnel ram 350 and the other one had a blown 350 in it. They said as long as you got on it after you were moving the trans held up, they said they replaced a few before the learned you couldn’t nail it out of the hole.
I worked at a Pontiac dealership then, they really were good at the end. The V6/stick cars were a blast to drive and all of them were a bear to purge the air from the cooling system.
Agreed, the Formula (without the spoiler) was better looking in my opinion, but could you get that body style in 1988 with the improved handling?
Yes, the Formula was available in 88. Would be my first choice too.
General Motors – When they finally get something right,
they discontinue it.
Nailed it 👍 that’s the entire end story of Pontiac. Just when things were getting on track, cancel it!
If you wanted a Fiero, the 88 is the one to get…I believe that is the year the suspension was tuned by Lotus…could be wrong…it’s right up the street from me…hmmmmm…
I own a 1987 GT Fiero 76k original mile car still runs great I think a car that was way ahead of its time fun car to take to Cruise nights gets a lot of looks , I’m gonna just hang onto it might be worth something down the road.
I owned an 88 Fiero GT Black with gray interior. Drove it over 120,000 miles. It was the best handling car I ever owned. I have owned two Corvettes since the Fiero. A 93 and a 2014 and the Fiero out handled them on tight curves. I ran it with Goodyear Eagle GT tires.
Current owner of a 1985 Fiero SE 2M6, with the Muncie 4 spd trans.
Absolute hoot to drive, and I have scared many a passenger with how fast it is.
And Lotus had nothing to do with the redesigned 1988 suspension. Influenced it a bit, but the design was all GM engineering.
I’ve owned 10 Fiero’s. Two ’84 Pace Cars (one of which was #2000, the last one made), at least one of each year in either the SE or GT style. I also had two ’88 Formula’s, one was a factory authorized T-Top, one of only 200 made. All of these were great cars and a blast to drive. The sad part with Fiero’s is that they are just as expensive to restore as any other collectable car but have such a small following and aren’t (at least yet) gaining much in value. This is a nice example, but $19K?
I have an 88 Fiero with 135 hp naturally aspirated and also a 1993 Toyota MR2 turbo, aside from fit and finish of the very refined Toyota, the Fiero is more enjoyable to drive. The MR2 havi g 200 hp, the turbo lag takes some of the fun out of it. The instant-on power of the 2.8 Fiero V6 makes it feel every bit as fast as the Toy. But numbers don’t lie, the MR2 is faster. Both enjoyable cars but Toyota refined the sports car feel out if it.
” its mix of steel and composite body panels”?…uh…no…
Could you explain what it is then? Plastic panels and a steel unibody comes from:
https://ateupwithmotor.com/model-histories/pontiac-fiero/
JO
Steel space frame, but no steel body panels
But aren’t those plastic/composite panels, take the doors, for example, attached to a steel frame? My point was that the car’s body structure isn’t made entirely of plastic it’s a mix.
Note the attached Fiero door image
your comment was – “There is nary a smudge, ding, fade or dent anywhere visible across its mix of steel and composite body panels.”…there is no steel visable…
$19K sounds high now, but wait a couple of years, it will look like a bargain. This is a very well kept example, the one to buy.
Sellers price is NOT unreasonable. Hagerty has it listed at $28k+ for a #1 and $18.3k for a #2 car, with a 15% increase in value from Jan-Dec 2021. Really nice car. I am reaalllyyy tempted.
These gm multi shaded puke beige/brown interiors are soo horrible to me 🤢
I do not remember seeing any Fieros with that color interior – all were gray.
Nor a fastback without a rear spoiler.
Oddly, i remember seeing 1 very early 3000GT without a rear spoiler.
They weren’t all gray. I had one just like this. Same wheels, too.
My first brand new car was a 84 SE 2M4 one year after I graduated high school. Traded my 79 Camaro Berlinetta for it. As much as I loved my Fiero, I wish I kept the Camaro. But, this Fiero is tempting!
Imagine a modern camaro 2.0 turbo in there .. 🙌🙏