Oh, boy – I like the late-production Pontiac Fieros. There is no denying these are sexy machines, and it’s a shame that GM pulled the plug on this mid-engined classic right when it got good. That hasn’t stopped some enthusiasts from building the Fiero that Pontiac may have created if they had kept the iconic model in production. The seller of this 1988 model has dropped a supercharged 3800-series engine into his Fiero, making a decent performer a seriously quick car, with the description noting that the car is capable of a sub-14 second 1/4 mile in informal testing. Find the Fiero here on eBay with bids to $10,500 and no reserve.
The revised front and rear end treatments of the later models completely transformed the Fiero, in my opinion. While the Formula models of the previous years were an improvement, the GT made the Fiero a legitimate player, and you can absolutely see how GM began to worry that the mid-engine coupe could cannibalize Corvette sales. I realize that this theory is just that, a theory – but given how lackluster the initial C4 Corvette was, you can absolutely see how a high-performance Fiero would make for a compelling alternative to a Corvette or Camaro of the same era. In addition to the drivetrain upgrades, this Fiero has a terrific stance on upsized aftermarket wheels.
The supercharged 3800 V6 sort of snuck up on us, as Buick dropped it into the snooze-fest Buick Regal and it seemingly took a few years for enthusiasts to wake up to the fact. Now, clean Regals with this surprisingly powerful mill pull good money and are a great auction sale find as they don’t command much money in a wholesale setting but enthusiasts will pay a fair price for a clean example. The engine swap is well-documented among Fiero owners, so I wouldn’t be too intimidated at the prospect of making someone else’s project car my own. Check out the YouTube videos in the seller’s listing – this thing sounds awesome and pulls very hard.
The seller includes a long list of improvements and modifications in his listing, which ranges from a short shifter to upgraded suspension components. Other upgrades include poly bushings, bigger brakes, Magnaflow exhaust, and a 3.4 pulley. The interior looks mostly stock aside from the shorter shifter; this is fine with me, as the Fiero interior was pretty much on point when it was introduced. I love the bucket seats in these cars, especially the headrest speakers. A supercharged Fiero is a fun weekend driver or potentially a track day sleeper, and however you use it, you’ll likely be the only one at the meet or the track with a car like this.
I still think it was stupid of GM to kill the Fiero. Especially after the body update. GM could have done so much with this chassis. One thing for sure the 2.8V6 was never going to threaten the Firebird or Camaro let alone the Corvette.
A classic and characteristic case of GM finally getting a model right, as it should have been from the outset, only in its final model year or two and then promptly giving it the axe.
This final ’88 year of Fieros finally got the suspension and steering geometry Pontiac engineers had intended all along, plus refinements learned from the racing program among other improvements to brakes, engines, etc.
Seems puzzling GM would bankroll such a major upgrade for just one model year, until we consider the next-gen Fiero was still in development then, so they probably expected the upgrades to carry over to the next gen, making this ’88 run a sort of “sneak preview” of things to come… which ultimately never came at all.
The Fiero’s ending is even sadder than most people realize. I was a sophomore engineering student in fall, 1987, when I interviewed with GM for an internship. The position was with the Fiero team, working on the second-generation Fiero, which was scheduled for the 1990 model year. They showed me photos of the car and told me it was going to get GM’s HO Quad 4 (not the smoothest engine, but it would have been a hoot in a Fiero). The big surprise was that they were developing 4-wheel steering for the car. As good as the 1988 Fiero was, it sounded like the 1990 Fiero was going to be even better.
There are photos around of the 1990 Fiero prototype….it was a damn good looking car. Just imagine how well it would have done with the HO Quad 4 engine and the Lotus tuned suspension. Shame it was never made.
Nice find, Jeff, and you hit all the highlights. I put 200,000 miles on an L67 Regal GS tweaked to about 300 HP. The morning after I bought it used I took fishing line and removed the word “SUPERCHARGED” from the back. It was super-reliable and I buried a ton of challengers including C4 Corvettes and other V8 sports cars. Often times it took multiple doses before they’d lay off or give me the head-shaking / thumbs up. With four people and luggage I’d get 27 MPG and around 30 with just my lazy butt on board. Folks have been putting them in the Fiero for decades. Looks like fun!
Hey, that’s my car! I’m flattered that you guys thought enough of my car to post it! Thank you!
Good to hear you are staying mid-engine with the C8.
” Formula models of the previous years?”
Really?
The 1988 Pontiac Fiero Press kit calls it a “new” model.
Where does this day Formula models of previous years?
Nevermind, I see it. Lol.
GM did the same pull-the-plug with the Allante and Solstice. Something about two seaters …
Very nice car. I remember when the Pontiac Fiero was first introduced. I found it more attractive than the Toyota MR2 of the time. I was mor than disappointed when it was discontinued. Leave it to General Motors to discontinue the most interesting cars.
Nice car. As a indy fiero owner I guess I’m the odd man out that prefers the early styling of the notch back with the aero nose.
I’m truly saddened knowing what gm was capable of engineering-wise but stopped from doing by management. While my indy isnt as fast as this even the original cars are pretty neutral handlers and a lot of fun to drive.
The truly sad part of the Fiero story is that GM in their typical lack of vision designed and intended the car for an urban commuter car so it wasn’t until it’s demise was immenent did GM put a better engine in it and more importantly gave it a halfway decent suspension