The Pontiac Fiero was a single-generation 2-seat sports car with a rear mid-engine design. Not known for its get-up-and-go capabilities, the auto was only in production from 1984 to 1988. Yet 370,000 copies saw the light of day, though when was the last time you saw one in person? This GT edition from 1985 has been languishing outdoors for some time and needs restoring – unless you think it would better serve as a donor for another project. Located in Anderson, Indiana, this interesting plastic Poncho is available here on Facebook Marketplace for the cheap wheels price of $1,500. Thanks for the tip, “ccrvtt”!
By launching the Fiero in the mid-1980s, it gave Pontiac its first 2-seat vehicle since 1938 and the first mass-produced, American-made rear mid-engine automobile. Both 4-and-6-cylinder engines were offered in a car that used composite body panels to save weight, yet performance was not considered spritely. Despite that, the machine made Car and Driver’s Top 10 list for 1984 and the official pace car for the Indy 500 that same year. The GT version came along in 1985 with more power from the V6 engine and a suspension that was fine-tuned for better handling.
For the 1985 model year, the GT (like the seller’s car) represented 30% of the Fieros sold that year. So, buyers were interested in both speed and style. The seller is disposing of this car, which belonged to his father, as part of an estate sale (other vintage cars can be seen in the photos). He/she does not know when this car was last in running condition at more than 117,000 miles. The engine does turn over, but an electrical issue prevents it from starting.
Mother Nature has taken a toll on the car’s black paint, though the plastic panels aren’t subject to rust (but the undercarriage is). The grey interior may be okay except for the driver’s bucket seat which needs to be reupholstered. With a manual transmission, this car will not be an expensive acquisition, but what would you do with it when you got it home? We haven’t seen a collector’s market building for the Fiero.
Depending on the steel understructure’s rust content, this could be anything from a parts car to a good entry-level project car, but my money’s on the parts car ending. Don’t get me wrong, I always liked Fieros, and thought that a few bad decisions by GM kept the car from reaching its full potential, with the choice of the “Iron Duke” 2.5L four-cylinder as the initial engine offering as the worst decision on my list, followed rapidly by GM using their customers as development engineers to work the bugs out of the design. In addition to some internal issues that severely undermined the quality of all GM cars at this time, GM seemed almost paranoid that the Fiero would cannibalize sales from the Corvette, a completely unfounded fear, as the Corvette cost more than twice as much as a Fiero at the time, and appealed to a completely different market.
This car and the TR6 after it could use a good old fashion pressure washing. I don’t want to see how dirty cars are now but if I’m a buyer I’d like to see what they could possibly look like.
“I thought that this was a gol’dang Ferrari until I washed all the dirt and mold off of it…”
& thus stiffles sales, but if true, this seller is a lill typical of what we find in the mrkt (affordable cars w/interest – we can bring back to test/enjoy & sell when/if advantagious). Any mid engine gets a check, nota pass, on my list. These the last 3 yrs bent6/5 speed only. The suspension was a lill better than earlier too.
I look at them and wonder if abart is available? Yes, X 1/9’s upgrader.
The MR2 was sold in less than a wk. Never went thru a 914 but those are there (if the initial buy is right. I dont spend a lota time on the labor/parts addition. Yes, if its close on the total value but that’s often obvious). Anyway, thnx Russ. Could be a winner in the right hands~
Still waiting and wondering why some one hasn’t taken the drivetrain out of one of these and stuck in a ’69 Corvair! Looks like it be a great fit and an the Corvair looks better!
this particular car he’s selling here was a gorgeous car brand new the GT was great styling GM dropped the ball on the fieros
They finally built them right in 88 then dropped them
Clearcoat to preserve the patina!
I’d rather have the Firebird ragtop behind it…
It’ll buff out….
Price is ok for what it is but it’s to far away to pull that trigger I’m sure the mice living in it will enjoy the move to their new field
Should buff out no problem
Nu Finish will restore the shine to this weather beaten car!