Sometimes, you have to know when to hold them, and know when to fold them. Obviously, I spent a lot of time attending Kenny Rogers concerts when I was a kid (seriously – holiday tradition, he came to the Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY, and my parents always went), but the words are quite true when dealing with a project or hobby car that isn’t getting much attention. One of the ultimate tests of loyalty between an enthusiast and a project is how many months can go by without driving it working on it and still feeling like it’s worth the garage space. The seller of this 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT listed here on craigslist claims to be a long-term Fiero enthusiast, but admits he’s not going to find the time to work on this one.
The asking price is a very reasonable $2,500, especially for a car with the preferred manual gearbox. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip. The seller notes this is his third Fiero, and it does seem like fans of Pontiac’s mid-engine coupe tend to buy in bulk. It’s hardly uncommon to see an owner with multiple Fieros, and it’s understandable given they came in a variety of configurations with regards to styling and engine options. In addition, there’s a vast aftermarket that will allow you to jam a V8 engine between the taillights and the back of your head, so it’s never a bad thing to have a dead car ready for an engine transplant.
Speaking of dead, the seller acknowledges that this Fiero GT ran great before the fuel pump evidently quit, and it sounds like he’s chalking them up to lack of use. The Fiero GT in 1987 was a much-improved car over previous years, gaining a still-sharp revised front and rear bumper treatment along with tinted taillights and handsome basketweave-style alloy wheels. The interiors remained the same as prior years, with excellent bucket seats and a driver-focused cockpit. The seller notes the seats will need upholstery but that the dash isn’t cracked and the carpets are in good shape. I’ve found the Fiero interiors to be quite hard-wearing, even in cars found in the junkard.
When Pontiac dropped the 2.8L V6 into the Fiero, it was a game-changer. Power increased to 140 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of torque. The car became what it should have been all along. However, 1988 is the truly special year when Pontiac also upgraded the suspension, eliminating a known issue with bump steer in both the front and rear ends. The good news is the ’87 cars still handle decently, but you can also upgrade it with OEM parts from an ’88 without too much consternation; in addition, the ’88s had lots of one-year-only features, which means this car will have more to choose from in the aftermarket. Either way, Fieros are still quite under-appreciated, and this seems like the right seller to buy a project from.
Here we go again. Projects that are “easy” or “cheap” would not be on this site. They would be completed.
That’s not always the case. A lot has to to with the ability of an owner to troubleshoot and/or their ability to pay to have a mechanic work on the car if it’s beyond their skill lever or their financial means. The sellers explanation has a ring of truth, it’s not hard to see someone retired and on a fixed income, who lacks specialized tools throwing in the towel. No one can tell which is true from an ad, but anyone interested will go and look at the car in person.
Steve R
Good point. This very well could be a true story.
True. Also, this being the 6 cylinder model is a good model to start from. I wouldn’t want to own the 4 cylinder.
Needs a v8 swap.
No, 3.4 (L32 out of a F body) or SC 3800, most V8’s are pretty heavy and affect handling.
That said good thing this is on the opposite side of the country lol my husband would murder me!
A common cause of pump failure on any car that isn’t a primary driver is ethanol gasoline which eats the rubber component in the fuel pump. When buying a classic car the first thing I do is run the remaining gas out and as quickly as possible filler up with non ethanol fuel. The likelihood that it will run again in the spring improves 82.49% over leaving that liquid poison in the tank.
Awesome looking car. I remember when the Pontiac Fiero was first intro’d to the public. It’s a damn shame it wasn’t successful. I would’ve preferred this over the Toyota MR2.
The one downside to the Toyota was that it wasn’t as comfortable as the Fiero, because it was smaller inside, but in every other category, the MR2 had the Fiero beaten. Again, I wanted very much to like the Fiero, but GM’s incompetence in the ’80’s doomed the car from the start. That’s why I feel so sad every time I see one. It reminds me of how GM could have had a winner against the Asian competition, if the management had simply gotten out of the way, and let the Engineers do their jobs! But they didn’t, and the rest, as they say, is history!
Loved both my MR-2s. No comparison to Fiero in both build quality and performance.
I owned a 1987 Toyota MR2, and so I agree. I found the car the most uncomfortable car I’ve driven with the Toyota name, and perhaps the most unreliable car I’ve driven. I don’t know if it was simply poorly built, or if it was simply poorly maintained. But the outer edges of the windscreen weren’t sealed properly, so it leaked when it rained, which happens a lot during the Autumn through Spring months. The temperature gauge would hang out towards the “Hot” section of the temp gauge. I would often fear that the engine would either die on me and not restart, or worse.
I don’t know what the Pontiac Fiero would’ve been like, since no one in my immediate family owned American cars.
Windshield leaking? Sounds like a rookie installed a replacement windshield and didn’t completely apply the adhesive all the way around.
that’s good, Kim. 8^ )
All ways wanted to have one of these in the shop.
Ralleyed the X one nine in the day. A yr or so ago
came acc an MR2 that needed work I finished’n sold
(no turbo but still went nice). 914 and this are on my
‘not yet’ list. I can still hope (along w/the bent4 – lancia
ford or SAAB – doesnt matter, want to tune, not drive).
I collect mid engine sports cars and yes I have three 1988 Fieros, a chopped GT, a T-Top and an original, all GTs. My 93 MR2 wins the fit and finish test easily but the fiero always has and still is the biggest head turner. The styling is the best, proportional and people often come over in a parking lot and quiz me on the car. It handles great and is a blast to drive. As for the X1/9 I still drive my 74 which can only be described as when you climb into it it’s like putting on a well tailored suit. Absolutely the funnest car to drive with its go-cart like handling.
Sounds like a cheap price for someone who wants a project. Comes with 2K in new performance upgrades. But, you have to be a left coast dweller to consider this one.
There you go. $3500 gets you the car and whatever you’ll need to get it running. Then you’ll be able to kick the chicken out of any $60k DeLorean on any track.
Always liked these little cars, though I prefer the harder lines of the early models more. Overall it doesn’t look too bad for what he’s asking. Don’t think I’ve ever heard door panels referred to as door cards lol, if that’s what he was referring to?
Door cards are the interior door covers, think the term started as a Brit thing that crossed the pond thx to the Internet. On many older (esp. lower-end) cars that interior trim panel was literally a large card of Masonite or similar material with padding and vinyl wrapped around it, trim pieces glued to it, etc.
In other words, a door panel lol?
Just never heard that term before for it.
BF’s own writer from Down Under, Adam Clarke, uses the term door trims all the time. So, there’s a 3rd term for it. You get used to it after awhile.