How many car models were smothered by manufacturers as soon as their initial flaws were cured by corporate, never to be seen again? In Britain, the Triumph TR8, with its capable small block V8 and improved … everything, is the poster child for this phenomenon. Over at GM, the Fiero wins the prize. Introduced in 1984 after a very long incubation period punctuated by infighting among divisions and personnel, the Fiero disappointed nearly everyone. Hulki Aldikacti – project manager – was thwarted in his efforts to produce an actual sports car, because… Corvette. A skimpy budget kept the Fiero dipping into the parts bin, preventing technological advancement. Automotive journalists damned the car with faint praise. Buyers were underwhelmed, then alarmed as the cars began combusting due to engine fires. The Fiero’s promising exterior was not supported by its mechanical aptitude. Yet. By 1988, the car could be optioned with a six-cylinder, the suspension had been revised, new larger vented brakes were fitted, and even the old four-cylinder gained a few extra ponies and a larger oil pan. Then the nameplate was killed, just like that. Of course, those engine fires didn’t help matters: the ’84s were recalled in 1987, and by 1990, every Fiero ever made had been recalled at least once. Here on craigslist we have one of the best Fieros you can buy, priced at $8450. This car is located in Malibu, California, and we owe thanks to Jack M for the tip!
Yes, sorry, it’s the four-cylinder, but this car is so well-kept, we owe it a close look despite the power deficit. The 2.5-liter Iron Duke received a balance shaft in ’88, and oiling issues had been solved. Output was up to 98 hp – not scintillating, but adequate. The rear-mounted engine feeds power through a five-speed manual transaxle. The seller has installed new tires, new belts and hoses, and new brakes. The oil and fuel filters are new, and the fluids have been flushed and replaced. The odometer reads 20,400 miles – with no claim about total mileage covered.
The interior is just as nice as the exterior: carpets are clean, dash is intact, upholstery is nearly flawless. Of course, it’s nearly devoid of character, but this is what you got in the 1980s from GM’s budget car line-up. The seller notes that the glass t-tops are in pristine condition, easy to remove, and transform the car for summer driving.
This car was made within three weeks of the end of production in 1988. By then, several body styles were offered; this is the Plain Jane base model, which remained nearly unchanged externally from Day One. I confess to a fondness for this underloved classic, but I slightly prefer the fancier GT with its V6, sail panels, and wing. That variant will cost five figures in nice condition, however. Have you ever owned a Fiero? Let us know in the comments section!
I actually had an opportunity to drive one. A base 4 cyl. I remember comparing it to my ’77 Delta 88 that it felt like a street legal go cart and I loved it. The 4 may bot have been powerful but these were very light and it felt pretty quick ( at least to a then young me). This is a nice one and hopefully it gets preserved.
I don’t think i have ever seen the words collector and Fiero together before.
Am pretty sure it can only be applied to the 88s. I’d argue that the car should be sporting the original wheels, to qualify for the word. Looks pretty sharp, with the T-Tops removed.
The cars aren’t without their fans, and I can see if it was 100% original 1988.
But these seats aren’t original and the car’s been converted over to power windows with switches from something else. Those alone kill the value.
Too bad it’s not the 6cyl. The ad says the t-tops were a $10k original option on the car. The whole car new listed for $10K lol wtf?
I’ve owned 10 Fiero’s. If mileage is accurate, this is a great COLLECTOR car. Also, being a factory authorized T-Top makes it very rare.
I had an 86 with the 4 cylinder and 5 speed. I drove it 180,000 miles and loved it. On trips I got in the 40 MPG. Handled great and lots of fun. If you want a performance car then get a Vette or similar. The Fiero was just what I wanted it to be and was very reliable. The potential for it to take away from the Vette market was part of why GM stopped production.
Slumping sales and a bad rep killed it.
True. You only get one chance to make a good first impression, and GM blew it! Or, a Lee Iacocca said in his autobiography: “You can overcome everything but a bad reputation!” The Fiero sold well until the word got out and it had some competition. When the car’s poor reputation spread and the Toyota MR2 came out, it was game, set, match, Toyota!
Oh, and BTW, how come the Fiero never got door pockets or a proper glove box? Just a sad little cloth pouch in front of the passenger’s seat! Yet another example of GM cost-cutting in action!
They did get a proper glove box of sorts, just mounted vertically between the seatbacks.
I bought one in 1984. The car had a major design problem. The cooling system cooled the water too much, which resulted in excessive thermal cycling stress. Mine ended up having a bad head gasket, a cracked head and a cracked block- all on different occasions. The 1987 or 1988 6 cylinder is the one to buy if your intent is to drive the car i.e., not just a collector vehicle.
These Fiero’s have a cult following. They are a fun car to drive and are like an adult size go-kart. Like Mazda Miatas have a following, or those who own Elcamino’s usually have owned more than one. I have a 1987 4-cylinder 5 speed, & my son has an 1988 GT V-6 Automatic. We hope to upgrade the 1988 to a 3800 the motor that should have been in the 1988 all along in my opinion.
I cross-shopped a Fiero with a Toyota MR2 and the Toyota was the much superior car, sad, but true. The Fiero’s body was writing checks that the Iron Duke engine couldn’t cash, it was underpowered, rough and noisy. The MR2’s engine sang while it smoothly revved forever, especially with the supercharger, while the Fiero’s engine wheezed and vibrated. The MR2 has a quality interior, with upmarket “soft touch” materials in place of the Fiero’s hard plastics. The MR2 had T-Tops from the start, while the Fiero didn’t get them until much later. All in all, the Fiero story is one of disappointment, about a car that had the potential to be great, but was below average. As usual, by the time GM finally got the car right, its reputation, and its sales, were in the toilet, and GM cancelled the car as a result of poor sales. Another example of GM mismanagement from the eighties!
BTW, the only reason I didn’t buy the Toyota was the usual Toyota dealer gouging. At markups of between $3k and $6k over sticker, the Toyota was staying on the lot, thank you very little! Toyota, Oh what a feeling! Bend over and grab your ankles and that bar of soap, boy, while I teach you the meaning of the word: Respect!
The only explanation I can find for the bad decisions is that GM’s marketing was terrified that the Fiero would steal sales from the flagship, the Corvette. GM management never wanted the car from the start, so the Fiero project team had to develop the car on the cheap, with “parts bin” engineering. Even that wouldn’t have been so bad, except that some of the choices from the parts bin mystify me to this day! For example, why not use the “Brazilian Family Two” 2.0L engine from the J-Cars instead of the “Iron Duke”? Almost the same power output, but the 2.0L four was significantly smaller and lighter than the Iron Duke, which would have improved the handling significantly and left more room in the engine bay. Why Chevette front suspension pieces? Why not the front end from a Citation, or a Monza? Inquiring minds want to know!
The stillborn 1990 replacement for the original was what the Fiero could have been and should have been from the start, with the Olds Quad 4 as a base engine and the V6 as the optional engine. All of the gremlins had been slain by 1988, the car’s last year on the market, but it had such a poor reputation by then that sales were only 26k in the final year and the car was cancelled. GM needed to learn that you only get one (1) chance to make a good first impression! They failed to learn that lesson with the Fiero. Rob Sad.
owned the fiat X 1 / 9 to run SCCA 25 yrs ago. Just rehabbed/sold the MR2. Like to try one of these out, esp the v6 (and the 911 boxer6).
Aint nuttin like the rear/mid (RMR) in my mind, need more (esp lilll cars. I’m
not for the super cars; MC20, Revuelto, or whatever they are today, love the Pantera tho).
Don’t like a leaky t top (they all leak), but otherwise nice. I cloth interior would be better, as would nice earlier Pontiac wheels. The engine does not bother me at all. A good engine, better with Mitsubishi licensed balance shafts.