Vehicle manufacturers rarely take bold risks because the financial stakes are typically too high. If we buy a car that is a lemon, we could find ourselves out of pocket to the tune of thousands of dollars. If a producer creates a lemon, that figure will invariably soar into the millions. That is why I admire Pontiac and its experiment known as the Fiero. Although the company touted it as a two-seat economy model, the styling seemed to loudly trumpet that it was a mid-engine sports model. This 1986 example is an original and unmolested survivor that presents better than many we’ve seen at Barn Finds. It is unmolested and has a genuine 32,000 miles on the clock. If those attributes have you wavering but you can’t decide whether to pursue this Fiero further, the seller’s decision to list it with No Reserve may make it irresistible. It is listed here on eBay in New Baltimore, Michigan. If the bidding stays close to the current figure of $4,150, this could be an affordable classic for the winning bidder.
The Fiero’s styling has a distinctly European feel, which is unsurprising since many vehicles of this type hailed from there or Japan. I’ve often wondered whether its designers placed the plans for the Fiat X1/9 on the Xerox machine and hit the “Enlarge” button because there are striking similarities between the pair. Pontiac introduced Light Gold Metallic to the color palette in 1986, which is the shade gracing this car’s panels. The overall presentation is impressive, and although the seller admits there are a few imperfections, these are too small to show in the supplied photos. The original owner ordered this beauty with a factory sunroof, and the lack of interior issues confirms the seals are in good order. I can’t spot deteriorating plastic, damaged glass, or wheels stains that might indicate a hard life or long-term exposure to the elements. The underside shots reveal spotless floors, meaning this classic is structurally sound with no apparent panel, paint, or structural shortcomings requiring attention.
The Fiero’s interior supports claims that these cars were developed and built on a tight budget. You would typically expect vehicles of this type to feature plush upholstery and a long list of luxury appointments. However, Fiero buyers receive cloth seatcovers, plenty of plastic, an AM/FM radio/cassette player, a tilt wheel, and a factory tachometer. It isn’t much, but the lack of features is offset by the exceptional condition for a vehicle of this type and age. The seats show no typical wear on the outer bolstered, with the remaining upholstered surfaces and the carpet looking excellent. The seller identified a functional issue with the temperature gauge, and I would add warped plastic on the top of the console binnacle to the list. Those are the only flaws worth noting in a car the seller rightly describes as a time capsule.
The Fiero never received the mechanical package its creators craved, with the company focused on raiding the parts bin for drivetrain components. It may have looked like a mid-engined sports car, but the 2.5-liter “Iron Duke” four had humble origins. It delivered 92hp and 132 ft/lbs of torque to a five-speed manual transaxle. The word “fast” wasn’t in its vocabulary because, despite that svelte body, the engine ran out of breath with the needle hovering at 114mph. However, outright speed wasn’t the aim of the exercise, with Pontiac focused heavily on good fuel economy. They succeeded handsomely, with this Fiero capable of returning 30mpg in the city. If the driver kept the speed pegged at 65mph on the open road, that figure improved to 40mpg. That made the Fiero a cost-effective commuter option, which was Pontiac’s aim with the program. This Fiero is in excellent mechanical health, having 32,000 miles on the clock. The seller doesn’t mention verifying evidence, but they say it runs and drives perfectly. That makes it a turnkey proposition for the winning bidder.
Although it was no record-breaker, the Fiero sold well during its first year in Pontiac showrooms. However, that proved the financial high-point because the figure plummeted by 40% during 1985. The situation failed to improve, and the company dropped the range entirely at the end of 1988. This car is 1-of-83,974 Fieros produced in 1986, with 24,866 buyers choosing the four-cylinder SE version. Its presentation is impressive, and it has some positive points that make it worth a close look. The bidding has been modest, meaning it could fall into the “affordable classic” category when the hammer falls. It isn’t a fireball in a straight line but will return excellent fuel mileage. Combine those factors, and submitting a bid could prove wise. Are you tempted?
This could be a nice weather driver, the iron duke is usually reliable if cared for and not overheated. If driven within its mission of economy runabout its gonna last a long time. 30 years ago had one in the service bay of the garage i worked in and hopped in for a road test. My 6 foot frame once inside was decently comfortable but when time to come out was an adventure in flexibility test, nice machine but not for me.
The Iron Duke really left a lot to be desired in these. Much better to find one with the 2.8 liter V-6. That’s no barn burner either, but at least it offers respectable 0-60 acceleration in the 8 second range. This would be roughly 3 seconds slower. It’s a noticeable difference, as I learned back in the day driving S10 pickups with both the 2.8 and Iron Duke. Better still would be the 4.3 liter V-6, but that’s another discussion!
Or a H/O Quad-4?
Pontiac actually planned on the 190 horsepower Quad-4 replacing the Iron Duke as the base engine in the 1990 Fiero, with the 231 SFI intercooled turbo V-6 or, more likely, the 210 hp DOHC V6 engine used in the Lumina Z34 and Grand Prix as optional.
All the parts were available at the dealer over the counter to convert the plain iron duke to a SUPER DUTY duke.
“In addition to parts matching the Iron Duke’s stock 2.5 L displacement other crankshafts and their corresponding connecting rods were offered by Pontiac Motorsports, resulting in displacements ranging from 2.1 L to 3.2 L. A 2.7 L, 232 hp (173 kW) Super Duty engine powered the 1984 Fiero Indy Pace Car to over 138 mph (222 km/h) during the race, but Super Duty engines were never available in factory-built GM vehicles. However, GM sold the Super-Duty-specific parts at authorized dealers and all of the parts required to convert a stock Iron Duke engine to a Super Duty version were available.”
Anyone ever see such an animal on the street? Emissions tho could have been an issue back then.
With 32k on a Duke in a few more miles it’ll we wheezing like grandma after her 3rd pack of smokes at lunch HhhhaaAa
Is this Badger’s car from Breaking Bad?
The Iron Duke was rough in these. Noisy, crude, and mounted a foot behind your ears as you drive. I don’t recall it as a fun experience
There was a Super Duty version of the Iron Duke called the SD4 that powered the 1984 Fiero Indy Pace Cars (not the replicas) that made 232 horsepower. It obviously was never released for production, my guess would be because of emissions and drivability issues (the engine has to work for the dumbest driver in the worst climate conditions). Supposedly, you could build one through the Pontiac parts counter back then. Just Google it and you’ll find stuff on it.
I test drove a new one like this. I liked it, but not practical for my family at the time. I have heard the insurance companies greed ruined these, as they rated them as a sports car because of the 2 seats. Is that true? The car needs a flashier color in my opinion. Red maybe.
Hardly a sports car, more like an economy commuter car. Insurance companies, thieves that they are, will look for any excuse to gouge the customer. They love to collect money, but do everything they can to avoid paying out anything.
I test drove one when they first came out … An old lady with a walker passed me on a straightaway. Total wheezer.
I must be in some sort of time warp…. I drove one of those off the dealers lot… on a “test drive” and it was not at all a dud in performance. As a matter of fact the salesman said “wait till we get around the corner on that straight stretch of road… and let her rip!” I was surprised at his comment but did what he suggested. The car I drove was fantastically fast!!! I was a cop at the time and knew what a fast “cop car” was… and this not being a police car was very impressive. I don’t remember what engine was in it but it was not a 4 banger … I’m baffled by everyone saying that it was not very capable in the speed department. It even handed well. It must not have been the same car everyone else is talking about.
I am sorry, but if you were impressed by the sheer power of an Iron Duke Fiero, you must have been driving Ford Fairmont police cars with the 2.3 liter four cylinder!
My police car was a Chev with the Corvette eng. fastest police car I ever had. The Fiero was used, and I know it did not have a 4 banger. Maybe I am thinking of a different car… but I can’t remember any other GM car that was a two seater that was available in those days with the engine behind the driver. Did they put a bigger eng. in the later models…? The one I drove was fast! And it did not feel “light”.
The 2.8 liter V-6 was added for 1985 in the GT models (and subsequently the SE and GT). My guess is that’s what you drove, as I can see that feeling quick back then. It was no powerhouse, but it gave pretty decent times for the era. There’s no way on earth that an Iron Duke equipped Fiero felt fast, unless your sense of fast was way, way off!
Well, I’m certainly not talking about top end… I didn’t attempt to take it to “the end”. I never took the cop car to the top either, though many other guys did. But it did impress me as a very quick off the line and responsive car. I liked it. It did not look like the one in the picture either, and the engine sounded like it had some power when idling, not a wheezing little 4 banger. Of course cars of those days are nothing like what we have today. When I was in high school it was a fast car that could get to 60 in 6 seconds. That was what Corvettes were used to doing, and now the family sedan will do that, and a Tesla is neck breaking at less than 3. No comparison to 80’s and 90’s cars for sure.
It depends on what your expectations are before the test drive. I drove a 79 Omni at the time of my drive, so after the test drive I thought it was wonderful. I found it to be well balance, and the engine, while not Honda smooth, was more than fine. Maybe if you were used to driving Hemicudas, then you felt it slow, but remember, the 55 MPH speed limit was just being phased out at the time, and many places kept it in place for “safety” (among other insidious reasons) so this was really all the performance you would need at the time. I for a short moment in time, considered buying the car for my commute. I was on the road a lot and it was fuel efficient and comfortable. We already had the minivan that my wife drove for our family stuff, but I was pretty into being economical with my cars as to save money for the college tuitions we were soon about to pay. It was a good trade off (we have two physicians and an engineer in our family these days) but I did miss out on some nice cars back then. My late father always told us that a real man puts the needs of his family before his own wants and needs.
I could never understand why the Omni/Horizon was not available as a 2 door! arrgh!! Did Plymouth & Dodge forget about single people? Imagine if the Vega, Pinto, Gremlin, Bug were only 4 door – who would buy one BACK THEN?
The 1978 fiesta, 1975 rabbit & 1983 alliance could be had or were only avail as a 2 door. & even the later Dodge/Plymouth Neon was avail as a 2 door, tho not the Neon SRT model – 4 door only – that should have been 2 door only!
Forget about today.
Joe, the TC3 and 024 were the variants of those, later called the Charger and Turismo. Pretty cars, plus they were handy hatchbacks.
I’ve always found that the elevation of your head to the pavement and ambient noise level contributes to sence of speed and time. When you plop down in one of these you sence of equilibrium is about 30 inches off the street and you swear uou can hear the valves open and shut. Hence “We Build Excitement”. Going fast in a low slung car with tire sidewalls in the 3 inch range always feels faster than a full grown truck. But, 90 mph is still 90 mph
Really nice car to drive. Too bad the GM plasticky interior. I’d re-do the seats,wheel,boot and knob in leather and cover all the rest in vinyl.
Looks really nice, but how can we be SURE it was never molested?
Cadillac Northstar V8 fit’s in these
OMG….
Can you imagine a v8 in this little frame !
Former Pontiac dealer here DEATH TRAP do not EVER drive a Fiero – you might think it’s a nice controllable sporty looking car for a girl or teen boy.
I watched one get sideways at 50mph on the freeway after a Loose tire clipped drivers rear quarter panel – it slid & impacted a large aluminum Freeway light pole which are designed to SNAP OFF – it didn’t not enough weight …instead the Fiero BROKE IN HALF with engine compartment continuing a few 10s of yards maybe 50 & driver a man named David Morgan instantly DEAD & not a MARK on him.
The plastic body panels have ZERO crush resistance & impact is transfered directly to bird cage frame which seats are bolted into transferring impact energy directly to anyone seat belted into Fiero.
It’s an extremely deceptive design of pretty on the outside & brutally stiff on the inside.
All inertial energy is transferred to passengers through the seat bolt mountings.
Front end DOES have a crush zone BUT the ENGINE is in the REAR and it’s inertial energy is transferred directly into Passenger compartment by any frontal impact.
Making passenger compartment suspect to collapse.
I was there within SECONDS of witnessing the Fiero slide sideways & impact the EMPTY passenger side on the B PILLAR after sliding I would in my professional & experience say 35-40mph going UP a slight uphill grade after losing traction.
The driver a normal mid 40s man was instantly GREY all over dead not a heart attack it was the inertial impact energy transferred which broke every blood vessel in his body.
Seen a lot of stuff this one wasn’t spooky just really really Truth telling in the DEADLY BIRD CAGE DESIGN where body panels are cosmetic and your strapped into underpowered frame that leaves you to the mercy of anything that can knock that Barbie car around.
A motorcycle would be safer cuz there’s no ILLUSION of safety
I wonder how safe the Pontiac Banshee XP-833 (1964) is, since it was a prototype – i believe 1 of the handful made is privately owned & maybe driven on public roads on rare occasion!
1963-81 vettes have fiberglass bodies which can crack with a minor parking lot bump & they too have birdcages – does that make them unsafe too?
My friend with a 1985 steel MR-2 tried to take the same curve as a ’70s T/A at the same speed – the latter had no problem, but the MR-2 went into an almost 360 degree spin. I wonder how the Fiero would do – last model yr with much better suspension than 1st year.