This Pontiac Fiero is what some would consider the best spec to buy outside of the 1988 Fiero GT. The Formula is the ideal incarnation of the original design with some desirable cosmetic upgrades, from updated bumpers to the black mesh wheels shown here. If you’re going to buy a Fiero – whether GT or Formula trim – the closer to the end of the production line, the better. This Formula is listed here on craigslist with just over 81,000 miles and offered for $8,500.
My seventh-grade science teacher owned this exact car, and whenever I see one pop up for sale, I always wonder if it’s his car. In retrospect, I didn’t appreciate it at the time that he chose this car as his daily driver; of course, at that age, there’s not much a teacher can do to win your favor outside of never assigning homework and taking a firm stand against pop quizzes. The Fiero shown here is listed for sale in southern California, and given my science teacher moved to Arizona with the Fiero many years ago, it’s tempting to ask the seller who he bought it from.
The Fiero interior didn’t change much over the years, and that’s not a bad thing. From the nicely bolstered sport seats and driver-focused controls that put the shifter right at the tip of the seller’s hands, the cabin was surprisingly sporting despite the Fiero’s economy car roots. Like so many other of the more interesting cars that GM has made over the years, the Fiero reached finally reached a point of development where it was a truly decent package with sharp handling and great looks, and the bean counters abruptly pulled the plug.
The early models of the Fiero were equipped with a wheezy Iron Duke four-cylinder, but later examples made up for it with a mid-mounted 2.8-liter L44 V6 pushing out a respectable 140 horsepower and 170 ft.-lbs of torque. Other improvements were made to the suspension, with the biggest change courtesy of a new tri-link rear end. With improved looks, handling, and performance, the 1988 Formula is clearly the one to buy – and this one is offered for a fair price. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for the find.
that factory A/C delete is not ideal for a quick California sale…
But it’s RED!
I like the color.
All fieros are junk. Waste of money
I test drive one way back when and it was the most uncomfortable car I ever drove. It is pretty tho.
Ha, I have the impression that you have not driven many truly uncomfortable cars? Personally I am not sure whether my vote would go to the Fuldamobil or the Lloyd LP400S. Pretty sure the Fiero is closer to a Cadillac than to either of those two cars.
I agree. When the Fiero came out I thought it was an interesting cool car. So I went to the dealership to check it out. When I sat in the car I knew right away that I would never own one. There was simply not enough leg room even with the drivers seat all the way back. I am 6ft tall so not super tall but tall enough that I would never be able to drive the car and feel right about it. Years later someone I worked with bought a Fiero GT and said he was happy with it but he was several inches shorter than me.
The ‘88 model year cars were significantly better cars under the skin. They received revised suspensions and brakes that made the cars more enjoyable for spirited driving. That said they were still a Fiero, it wasn’t enough.
I had one back in 96 with the v6 engine, stick shift great little fun cars loved it ,
But “Factory A/C delete”???? That’ll keep the sales price down! Glad my 88 Formula has cabin cooling!
As for why GM would invest in such major improvements just for one final year only, they didn’t, at least not intentionally.
The 2nd-gen Fiero was then in late development and due to launch for ’89 or ’90, so they decided to roll a few of those more significant improvements into production early, as a sort of sneak preview of better things to come and an attempt to goose sales.
Despite glowing reviews lauding those improvements, sales for ’88 not only weren’t goosed but actually dropped by nearly half vs. ’87 production, which itself had already dropped by nearly half vs. ’86 production, so they decided to pull the plug on the 2nd-gen Fiero entirely.
Here’s a photo of the 2nd gen Fiero prototype. The 4th gen Camaro owes a lot to this design.
No AC, No Thanks
looks like it is going to be a hard time getting those other 3 plugs on the other side of that engine anyone have experience with one??
It’s really not that bad if you sit in the trunk area behind the engine and do it by feel.
The Fieros with the V6 are highly underrated… not so much a point and squirt car, but good as a GT cruiser. GM’s TR7… they finally got it right, then promptly killed it.
’86- got the bent6, ’88 (only) got the suspension. Pud’em together’n forgedboudid for the 1st 2 yrs. This 1; MR2; X one nine; 914; lotus – my favs. Y not make ’em now? (Karmen Ghia, 850. miata priced?)
They never made a convertible! So i bought a few mr2’s and had a blast
T-tops and sunroof ´s are not convertible wich was too bad because the engine possibilities are numerous
Brother in law had one . Put a Chevy 350 4 bolt conversion…. Stupid fast, fun as hell😎😎😎😎😎
I just remember seeing a few of these on the side of the road…smoldering. 🔥🚗.