The Pontiac Fiero was perhaps one of the most “stereotypical” vehicles to come out of the 1980s. Its pop-up headlights, wedge-shaped silhouette, and malaise-era 92-horsepower motor (at least in the earliest four-cylinder models) gave it all the ingredients of a period-correct vehicle.
The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Allentown, Pennsylvania. (Click the link to view the listing)
Let’s cut to the chase: the Fiero gets a bad rap in some automotive communities for the fact that it shared chassis and drivetrain elements with some of General Motors’ economy cars of the same era. But the fact that it could deliver an exotic look with a reasonable price tag gave it a solid foothold in the competitive sports car marketplace. When it launched in 1984, the Fiero was the official pace car of the Indianapolis 500, and it landed on Car and Driver’s Ten Best list.
Showing just 33,000 original miles, this Fiero is said to be 100 percent original. It is also mechanically sorted, as opposed to being a low-mileage car that was just pulled out of a garage or barn after lengthy storage. The listing reads, “Current owner had for the past year, previous owner installed a new water pump, radiator, fuel pump, strainer / filter, fuel pressure regulator diaphragm, and injectors. The engine received a full tune-up including replacement of the spark plugs.”
The Fiero first went into production in August 1983 and was built (fittingly) in General Motors’ Pontiac, Michigan, assembly plant for model years 1984 through 1988. Its P-body platform weaved in architectural elements from some of other GM cars of the time, like the compact Chevrolet Citation. While this granted some financial advantages, it also opened up criticism about the Fiero’s true sports car intent.
The good news is that today’s car has one of the larger motors offered during the Fiero’s five-year lifespan. It is powered by a mid-mounted, fuel-injected 2.8-liter V6 that as rated at 135 horsepower. The brake rotors, pads, calipers, and lines have been replaced, so this Fiero is ready to both accelerate and stop with confidence.
The seller says that aside from a few chips and scuffs around the body, the paint is “still shiny and looks great” for a car of its age. The cloth upholstery is said to be in nice shape, too.
The asking price is $9,995, which seems like a compelling opportunity for a Fiero enthusiast. By the way, there are lots of Fiero clubs around the country including the Mid Atlantic Fiero Owners Association (MAFOA), the Northern Illinois Fiero Enthusiasts (NIFE), and more. Join in on the fun!
To view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com, cruise on over to the listing here.
Lol. Of course it didn’t mention the car is an automatic.
The photograph wasn’t a hint?
The photo of a console shifter with a wrinkled boot? That could be a manual, could be an auto- that photo, Diego?
All you have to do is click on the links in the story to get to the ad, which specifies the transmission as an automatic.
Every Fiero pre-88 is trash. The 88 was the first year that they got it right. I traded in a 84 Indy Fiero for a 88 GT.
I don’t know why I never liked these cars to begin with. There was something about them that seemed so wrong to me. Just like there was always something wrong to me about the Fiat X 1/9 after I drove one. I would rather have a 65–69 Corvair instead of either of these. Then again, I might even take a 60–64 Corvair instead. I’ve owned two Beetles and I must say, if it has a rear engine and doesn’t say Porsche on it, I would have to pass. Not that some Porsches weren’t death traps back then too. Neither the Fiero or Solstice lasted that long for some reason and it wasn’t just because I didn’t buy one.