The Mid Engine Pontiac

Nearly four decades before the 2020 C8 Corvette brought mid-engine architecture to Main Street U.S.A., lets not forget that the 1984-1988 Pontiac Fiero attracted over 370,000 buyers! What made Fiero so much fun and - inexpensive? Watch and see!

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

If you're not aware, Steve is in the hospital, so no new videos. I'm re-watching all of Steve's videos to try to help out. Please do the same. Get well Steve!

[@jetsamperes5762]

My uncle was an engineer at CPC and worked on the Fiero and the Lumina APV. I worked for a video company that was a GM vendor. I was at the Pontiac Assembly plant in Pontiac, MI the day they announced they were ending production. All the line workers were attending the big press conference and thought they were getting bonuses. We didn't know what the announcement would be either while setting up the staging. Talk about a crushing blow.

[@johneckert1365]

Wow 😢

[@oldblueshhrchannel1847]

Get well soon, Steve ! Missing you!

[@codger8]

My first new car was a Fiero I bought in 1988. I still own it 30+ years ltr.😁

[@johna.4334]

Did you ever get around to ditching the Iron Duke for a 3800 V6?

[@shanecutbirth1835]

Let's drop a K20 T in her!

[@rickjones1277]

@@johna.4334I don’t think the Duke was being used in 88? My 88 has a v6 .

[@markjohnson5081]

Some Fiero's did come with a removable glass sunroof direct from the factory. And there is storage in the rear behind the engine.

[@jonathanmorrisey5771]

Apples-to-oranges. Fiero never got a removable targa panel like the c4 'vette as Steve referenced.

[@DittotheFritto]

I had one red 1984 2.5 import back in the days with the optional glass roof , which could be removed and stored in the frunk.Yes a Frunk !! Lots of fun now sadly missed. Drove it from the Netherlands 🇳🇱 to the Czech Republic 🇨🇿 and back.

[@davidgalinat4257]

They also had t-tops available in either '87 or '88, a rare option.

[@FastSS02]

@@jonathanmorrisey5771 In 87 and 88 there was a T top option through GM done by Cars and Concepts. There was another company that did aftermarket T top installs. Not a true targa as the vette, but had to be done for structural reasons the same as the F bodies.

[@JerrSpud]

I think you ordered that a dealer, but an outside company made the conversation after it left the factory.

[@autophile-cv621]

Steve, the speakers in the 1985 were in the headrests and the dash but later models had the rear speakers in the B-pillars, not the center console. (those were the computer cooling vents). One reason GM pulled the plug is with the 2.8L turbo upgrade it was out running the corvette. at 1/2 the price.

[@marcusdamberger]

Of course GM couldn't have a small mid engine in their own line up be competitive to their flag bearer. GM corporate in their bonkers thinking somehow totally misses that the kind of buyer for the Fiero would somehow be able to afford or even be in the same bracket of buyer who could afford the Corvette; that you're going to instead upsell them the Corvette from the Fiero.. instead of saying, "Hey we have this smaller 2 seater that's a lot of fun to drive if you can't afford the big V8 powered Corvette." Or how about saying "We have a domestic that's cheaper than the Toyota MR2, or Nissan Pulsar, and goes like a rocket with the turbo engine we just announce ".. nope couldn't think outside the box like that. As Steve said, just as it got good and competitive they canceled it. I mean what potential 2-door Chevrolet Cavalier buyer is going to upgrade to the Cadillac Coupe Deville? If anything they will upgrade to Buick if their income allows it. Nope, we can't have anything fun to drive for the more moderate buyers available, its gonna eat into the Corvette sales!

[@johna.4334]

@@marcusdamberger "GM corporate and their bonkers thinking..." Made up of a bunch of tired old men from a previous generation that should have retired a long, long time ago. We, the American consumer are now suffering because of their arrogance.

[@jeffpolakiewicz2277]

@@marcusdamberger Don't forget the Ferrari kits.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Yes, a powerful Fiero would smoke Corvettes like a C8 smokes a C1 - C7 Vette...

[@86twin]

@@marcusdambergerand Pontiac was supposed to be their performance line. So much for building driving excitement

[@ChuckPackwood]

I had one with the Iron Duke. I used it to commute to work 60 miles each way. I ended up putting 255,000 miles on mine before I sold it. Fun Little Car

[@ricardobennett3300]

Get well Steve!

[@frankjones4094]

GM developed a perimeter cage style frame on the Fiero. Similar to a Saturn.You could feasibly drive them without any body panels. Fairly advanced design. I remember two guys showed up at Maple Grove Dragway with Fiero GTs with 3800 Supercharged V6's out of Bonnevilles swaped in. They ran consistent mid 12's.

[@jeffpolakiewicz2277]

There's a whole world of supercharged Fieros on KZbin.

[@michaelharrington2049]

I recall hearing of Cadillac Northstar v-8 swaps.... not the best v8 but a small package that fit ok.

[@jeffreycarleton1535]

That’s cool as hell right there!

[@earthwindflier]

Had an '85 that looked nearly identical to this one. It was about as fast also. The iron duke and auto were a lethargic combo.

[@Vicus_of_Utrecht]

The Iron Duke was such trash. Almost killed the Cherokee off from the beginning.

[@jamesmisener3006]

The first year Fiero was untowable by a regular tow truck. It had to be flatbedded of which there was few of them around. I ran 2 tow trucks then and was glad it was someone else in the company that folded one up till the doors popped open while traveling. This case was in court for years and GM finally gave in and payed the insurance company a portion. We never towed a Fiero without a flatbed after the first one. In fact the Fiero is why the boss bought a flatbed finally. We were still towing expensive cars like Roll Royce, Jags etc with Vulcan overhead sling trucks of which one was mine. 2 years of that and I went back to construction. Cheers 🇨🇦

[@joeparson9967]

My brother had a Fiero back in the late 80’s early 90’s, he had to work on it more than drive it. I remember Hot Rod (I think) featured a V-8 conversion kit for these back then.

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

This chic I was seeing in 1988 had a new red GT & I loved that little car as it was quick & nimble ✌💖☮

[@howardscott7521]

Typical GM. Finally get the car perfected and then stop production...

[@Henry_Jones]

Or give it no marketing and then axe it when it doesnt sell, Buick Regal TourX is a new example.

[@earthwindflier]

I always thought it was more like part bins the heck out of it and rush to production, and THEN "perfect" it. A Chevette front end? lol. They killed it with the first engine fire sadly.

[@Richard4point6]

GM has, almost always, built world class JUNK!

[@autophile-cv621]

The cars actually handled really great. There were 2 reasons GM ended production. 1, drop in sales due to poor performance. 2 when Pontiac built a prototype 1989 with a 2.7L turbo V-6 it out ran the 1989 Corvette & GM wouldn't approve it.

[@DidntSay]

Typical GM is ‘we wasted a bunch of money on R&D for a vehicle that is just ok, now bail us out’

[@raymonddube6028]

I had a 1988 4 banger. Looked just like this one. Same colour but had a removable glass top and a 5 speed Getrag. That front clip looks wrong forr that year, looks like an 88.. Very fun car to drive, much better handling than earlier years. Great show! Never miss. Great job!

[@gillgetter3004]

Couple operating engineers at my workplace in Detroit loved these cars!! They would work on these things constantly changing engines etc. I drove one of them once it was fun to drive and handled very well👍

[@Vampirebear13]

I have a few Fiero stories... but Pontiac DID make a Turbo Fiero. They're mythically rare, I've been told possibly as few as 8 & as many as 12. But I drove 1 in 1988 in Knoxville. It was beautiful. An all black GT. The only way to tell it was a turbo was the word turbo would light up under the right side tail light when the lights were turned on.

[@ktm42080]

A friend of mine had one, don't know what year. It was his "my kids are older -midlife crisis car" but it was in great shape and he really enjoyed it.

[@shawnhurley3815]

Steve. C4 Vette's were also SMC. 1982 was the last year for actual fiberglass bodied Corvettes. I learned this through car magazines one which will remain nameless. But also through selling the only GM approved aftermarket adhesive to Callaway in Old Lyme CT back in the late 80's. The company I worked for in CT. back then was the only place in New England to carry it.

[@rodneybrand8521]

Also came with a fire extinguisher..lol..🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@jeffclark2725]

Good morning, oh,yes,u remember GM came out with these and were marketing them as an up coming little hot rod to be,then the plug got pulled before it could get going, the little car did have potential

[@brianbloom1799]

I have seen 2 of these Pontiac Fiero with LS motors, Corvette rear Suspension, Scary fast

[@michaelbraden8988]

I remember growing up in the 1980's nothing spectacular about these cars, except that they would catch fire

[@tomthumb4767]

My uncle had over a 100 of these in the 90s when he had a used car lot . He still owns a GT and a red Indy Pace car model

[@stoneylonesome4062]

The iron duke was mainly hated for being extremely loud and unstable, given that it was an I4 over 2.0L. It was a good engine for compact & subcompact economy cars, but had no business being in a performance car. The rear-mid-engine, RWD layout of Fiero and MR2 were largely rendered gimmicks, given the running gear, and they were ultimately turned by bean-counters into economy commuter cars, rather than sports roadsters. They had far more in common with a Honda CR-X del Sol or Mercury Lynx LN-7, than they did with genuine, rear-mid-engine, RWD, sub-exotic Supercars, like the Honda NSX or Porsche Cayman.

[@alanmize5627]

I hated working on those cars the cyl head on the 2.5 had one headbolt move slightly so they dont interchange and they crack bbecause of the cooling system, and brother that damn 2.8.

[@marklarson9436]

My cousin had a two toned black and gold unit. It was awesome. That was 35ish years ago, but I wanna say it even had T-tops!?!

[@VortexGarage]

A clean 1988 GT (I have wanted a later GT bodied version since a kid) is definitely on my short list to purchase soon. I know the 88 Formula V6 is often seen as the best performer with the updated suspension and lighter Formula body but the I always liked the look of the GTs.

[@truthboomertruthbomber5125]

My wife had an 84 and later an 88 Formula. Both handled great no matter what people say about them nowadays. The 88 of course finally had a decent torquey motor and even bigger tires so handled fantastic. The later cars were quite successful in SCCA auto cross competition being competitive at a national level.

[@garyszewc3339]

Great compared to what? Maybe compared to a Pinto. They handled terrible compared to other vehicles that had the same style. Fieros would spin out if somebody spit on the concrete, while the X1/9, out handled the Corvette of the same yesr.

[@corey6393]

In the late 80's and early 90's there was a guy in Lisbon, North Dakota who became THE guy for Olds Quad 4 swaps into the Fiero.

[@johnwalsh7256]

Great little fun car. Drove one for 2 years, miss that white gocart.

[@MrGGBHTD]

3:52 "whipped it back together" not sure why that's making me laugh so hard - but thank you

[@stephengreen3566]

I remember that a couple of companies mad a kit to fit the Chevrolet 350 V8 in these cars. If you were over six foot tall you had a hard time getting comfortable in the small cabin and your foot would hit the exposed U-Joint for the steering column.

[@Wooley689]

Another great review. Get well soon Steve, we all miss you.

[@coarsegrind]

A rumour I heard was GM was pressured by the Corvette division to pull the plug on the Fiero. After the 88 upgrades the handling performance had surpassed the Corvettes.

[@noreenbedford7106]

I also heard they put a 350 in one and it was faster than the corvette

[@kellykey7198]

Hey Steve, don't forget about t-top Fieros. That's not a fixed roof. Love your videos!

[@TylerDurdenOfPaperStreet]

We really enjoyed all three of your Fiero videos, the last two in a row were a real treat, nice work Steve!

[@peterantonopoulos2572]

Morning Steve......

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you soon

[@fishgeralding9224]

Sheet molded compound (SMC) caused some problems when it first arrived on the scene. Most Semi truck cabs are made of SMC today. When they transitioned from fiberglass they didn't get the word out. Many body repairs failed because technicians weren't aware and treated it like fiberglass. SMC uses epoxy resin based materials for repairs and fiberglass is polyester based resin, completely incompatible materials. Although the polyester would initially stick to the SMC, it would fail in short order and fall off. I was working at a truck frame and body shop at the time and tried warning the body techs. I got the old, "I've been doing this for 30+ years, don't tell me how to do my job kid"! Lol A lot of old guy's with egg on their faces when the repairs failed, but did gain their respect in the end. Lol But, I had a slew of "redos" in the paint department due to the re-repairs. Eventually 3m, and others did mini classes at the shops, teaching repair procedures and materials to be used. SMC has a 30 day shelf life and has to be used within that time frame during the manufacturing process, otherwise it has to be returned and recycled. It's heated to a specific temperature, to where it becomes almost taffy like. It's then placed over a mold with little holes that pull vacuum through them. The SMC sheet is pulled down onto the mold, and cooled by the vacuum. It cures almost instantly and voila, an instant body is formed.

[@jeffshadow2407]

The build structure on my 1976 GMC Motorhome!

[@sadie1095]

Steve found one that didn't catch fire😂. Great video👌👍

[@christopherprince3250]

A friend of mine has a 1988 Fastback with a 3800 Buick Supercharged V-6. Now it's a fun car and one that I would own.

[@brucebrayton8322]

I was waiting at a light to make a left turn and got rear ended by a car just like this one. My C 20 with step bumper was okay. The Fiero was junk. Driver apparently dropped his joint and was looking for it when the sudden stop occured.

[@savedin87ify]

We had a 87 with a 4speed with overdrive. Still have it. But it's sitting in one of our farm fields. Red sunroof. Has quit running with 225,000 on it

[@chfpontiac5849]

225,000 on any GM is a good run, let alone a Fiero! 👍

[@joshdobson2737]

The GT was my dream car......when I was 11 years old, even though I had a couple Lamborghini posters in my room! lolololol

[@jondickson75]

My first car was almost a Fiero. My uncle worked at the Pontiac dealership in Nashville during the 80’s & 90’s. He claimed he had the last one made. Never confirmed that myself. He was gonna sell me the car, but mom said no I’d get hurt. So my first car ended up being a 71 Duster. Which turned me into a Mopar man my whole life. They say your life can change just by missing the bus. I’d like to know how much I’d be different if I’d bought that car. But I love being a Mopar guy. Thanks Steve.

[@deaconblue949]

I had read somewhere that they dropped the vehicle after a large settlement was awarded to the family of a woman who died in one that caught fire. Ron Finger on KZbin rebuilt one completely and it turned out really well.

[@daveridgeway2639]

Hi Steve, good video! If I am incorrect, I will eat my words. The four cylinder engine was popular to keep insurance rates down (on a two seater car). The Fiero fastback was called the Fiero GT. The original parts bin was the Chevrolet Celebrity, including the subframe or "engine cradle you might say" moved to the rear. As far as I know, the Fiero was first to use electric power steering, no pump, no hoses. 1988 was the last year for the Fiero, taking advantage of brand new chassis. In the mean time, insurance rates went sky-high on the new chassis "same as the Chevrolet Corvette" and that is what killed the Pontiac Fiero. Please reply. Dave...

[@scottmalone2332]

I bought an 84 Fiero new. Black with a standard. Sunroof and the Iron Duke. I really liked that car. It listed for $10,700. I paid under $10,000.

[@Rttuning]

I think the GTs are still good looking today

[@RonnN-gf8tm]

How about that grey Ford back there..? That was an Awesome video ystrday on the Fox Ltd.. Awesome stuff Steve!! Love this channel!!

[@davidp2888]

I always loved the way these looked.

[@user-ThomReec8587]

Many a Fiero (15) got 327 or 350 transplanet while in my possition

[@FastSS02]

I had an 88 Fiero Formula, 2.8 V6 auto. The auto killed it, but it did handle very well. The guy I purchased it from had put seats from an 84 Indy Pace car in it, so it was a mix of first and last year stuff. I got divorced and sold it to buy a house. Unfortunately the guy that bought it was going to chop it up to do a Ferrari kit on it. It only had 89K on it at the time.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I've always wanted one of these

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Aaaaaaa, the good ol' Fiero, sure don't see those around anymore.

[@bertgrau3934]

A friend and I got involved with those back in the early 90s. We could buy them cheap, because a lot of them weren't taken care of, and didn't run. We bought an 88 GT with cheap V6. Auto. We picked up an engine at a salvage yard from a front wheel drive car, replaced it, it ran great. So my friend decided to keep it. The 4 cylinder 5 speed was a lot of fun though. We got so good at swapping engines that we could get an engine/ transmission out in 3 and a half hours. The first time took much longer because we did it the way a repair manual told 😮us. We found instead of removing all the engine wiring, remove the computer and set it on top of the engine. The engine/transmission came out through the bottom. After getting the engine out, the wiring only took about 5 minutes to remove. Went back together in about 4 hours. We could change an engine in one day. Some of the 88s had T tops. Don't know if they were factory, or maybe dealer installed

[@puy389]

Sorry Steve, 4:15 but my 84 had a huge square factory sunroof in it that could be popped out with a factory wind deflector.

[@johna.4334]

These cars are kick-@ss when a SC 3800 V6 is installed.

[@henryknox4511]

It don't even need to be an SC.

[@johna.4334]

@@henryknox4511 No doubt

[@nitromyke]

The 3800SC was the engine that GM should've installed in the GT !!

[@johneckert1365]

100%

[@donwest259]

had an 85 GT for many years . car was a blast to drive , felt like a street legal go cart

[@ThisPartIsAndrew]

My Uncle Dave Dutton helped run Rocky Mountain SCCA for 3 decades and he also had an Italian car shop. The V6 mod fieros always reminded me of a Lancia with Abarth exhaust.

[@kevbev1524]

Did some have T tops? I thought I remember t tops, A friend had one of these and another had an EXP, then he got a GTU. Lots of funky experimental stuff in the 80s

[@autophile-cv621]

There were T-tops by aftermarket but the factory came out wit them in 1988. although they were also aftermarket, they were factory approved and installed at the Fiero plant.

[@FastSS02]

Cars and Concepts did "second sticker" T top options. Cars were shipped to them from the factory and T tops were added then sent to dealers for sale in 87 and 88. There was another company that did aftermarket T top conversions. There were a couple companies that also did convertible conversions.

[@toddfraser2076]

Steve! Love the show There was the rare option of fieros with the tops. Was a dealer option I believe Todd #youjunkitidumpit

[@georgesimpson3113]

They did scoot... Like a go cart. Some DID come with turbos. I worked with a girl that had the I4 then traded that for the turbo a year or so later. Some guys (backyard) did put turbos in the ones that didn't come with them and some even shoved in V8's.

[@ExUSSailor]

My brother had two. A 4 cylinder, automatic, and, an '87 2.8 5 speed. The 2.8 was a fun little car. They also make a cozy home for a Supercharged 3.8 out of a later Riviera. Turns it into a poor man's Ferrari.

[@Barry101er]

Never saw a fastback. As I remember, these were kinda looked down upon. But of course now-I would love one now-obviously ahead of its time

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

I had red 1986 5 speed Fiero for a few years. It was fun to drive and it got over 30 mpg's.

[@ziggassedup]

Love your work sir.

[@Jerrydudebad]

The name of the owner sounds distinctly Finnish American, wonder if they're know their old car has been rotting in a junkyard. Nifty video as always Steve.

[@xfactorautomotive1496]

I owned 2 of them as used cars in the early 90's. One 4 cylinder and one v-6. The 4cyl was fun, but not exciting. The V-6 car had a stick and it had enough power to be fun and kinda exciting. It wasn't fast by any means, but being that small and that close to the ground...it felt fast. I installed a GT front facia and it looked pretty cool too. I'd take another V-6 car if one came my way....if I could get in it anymore, that is. 🙄

[@michaelnazaruk4100]

I know what you mean, with it being hard to get into the Fiero. My friend had one, and it was extremely difficult to get my 6' 5" 250lb frame into that car. Plus, it was very uncomfortable being that close to the ground riding along.

[@fscottgray9784]

The V6 had to lift the engine to change spark plugs on the front engine by the firewall. The trick was to go through the passenger compartment to get at them.

[@rogergoodman8665]

Don't tell me you actually cut a hole in the rear firewall just to change spark plugs!!! I've owned an 87 GT for 14 years and the front bank of plugs are easily changed without lifting/ tilting the engine or cutting holes.

[@DrFiero]

Boy are you doing it wrong then! I've changed literally 100's of them over the years. Can do a whole set in about 15 minutes at a leisurely pace.

[@jimrky6062]

'Fun-cono' indeed! IF - big if- you could keep the rear CV's in them (do not, under any circumstances 'tap' a curb!). I had an '87 and the Iron Duke (I got a "0" bore and "0" under shaft "Remanufactured" short block for it when Pontiac let the parts store go in 97-98 - for $300!) would reliably push it up over 90 with the single jet throttle body injection. I jacked the body up over the engine carrier on a 4x4 for the engine swap. Easy! The rear calipers had the same type of mechanism as the vettes, and I was able to get it back together without having to replace seals when it popped on disassembly. Fun, fun car it easily outhandled the MGB-GT I had in college. For my 87 the 'death knell' was that I couldn't get a steering box, or parts for it, to stop the 'wag' in steering that entered (not the rest of the suspension - it was fine). Then on to my next Fun-cono car - a Toyota Paseo.

[@thebrain7065]

Looks like Shawna's Fire O aka (Jeannie). Use to see these things on the side of the road...in flames.

[@Bbbuddy]

My first car was an 1974 X1/9. Fiat comically addressed the federal bumper mandate with giant external rubber blocks (and comical ride height). I remember the front wheel bearings being nuclear submarine-sized sealed roller bearings retained by the largest threaded ring I’d ever seen - and the front end of that car couldn’t have weighed more than 400 lbs.

[@Barry101er]

Cool car!

[@Slowgroovin]

Thanks for doing the video on this car. I've owned several over the years. Yes, they are unique to work on but I love em.

[@eugenepolan1750]

The Pontiac Fiero and the Toyota Mr. Two were both selling in roughly the same timeframe. After a couple years, the market for used 2-seaters was satisfied. The resale value went down, followed by the demand for new two-seaters and it was the beginning of the end for these two cars. It's not unlike the availability of modestly-priced used Ford Model T's bringing down the demand for new Model T's.

[@Monza62000]

my boy has a 84 indy i have an 84 se an the youngest boy has an 87 2.8 5 spd ...fun cars

[@timcvetic5054]

Horn bars from an 86’ fiero live on in my Pontiac sunbird. Parts bin engineering at its best 🙂

[@Eric-Franks]

Great video I've owned several fieros I've never seen speakers in the center console the rear speakers are on the other side on the pillars near the fuel door release where you pointed is just a vent on the other side of it is the ECU

[@catshotfourone7951]

I'm surprised Steve didn't mention especially reporting from the land of rust about the radiator coolant tubes integrated into the unibody running on both sides front to back that rusted end to end and failed.

[@danielstrachan8988]

I’ve always liked these cars,it’s one of those if I only had the money things. 😁😁👍👍

[@vettekid3326]

My daughter's first car in high school was 1985 Fiero with the V6. It gave good performance and was fun to drive but the worst problem I ever had was trying to burp all the air out of the cooling system. If you didn't get it right an air bubble would form in the engine and it would over heat.

[@ricksaint2000]

Thank you Steve

[@edwardpakula7084]

Hello Steve! Great clips as always! At 3:04, the plate in your left hand looks pitted, whereas the one in your right hand looks unused. It is quite possible that these were dealer plates, as most states in the U.S. and provinces in Canada have the "D" as the first letter, which denotes dealer plates. Those plates were possibly used by sales personnel going with clients on test drives, as there are no bolt marks around the mounting holes. Another thing, those plates were possibly issued for trucks, hence the painted "T" in the bottom right corner. I have a 2011 Silverado LS, and here in MB, the "T" is an adhesive sticker on the top left corner. I always look forward to new clips; something new to learn every time - keep on keepin' on brother!!

[@jasonz7788]

Awesome thanks 👍

[@andrefiset3569]

Pontiac dealers offered the Pontiac Mera body kit to transform your Fiero into a Ferrari 308 but only 247 Meras were sold before lawsuits followed.

[@FastSS02]

It wasn't a body kit from dealers, it was a conversion company that took new Fieros and did the conversion and then sold them through Pontiac dealers.

[@andrefiset3569]

@@FastSS02 Still sold by GM dealers. I saw one of these poor man's Ferrari years ago who got a poor man's paint job, the brush strokes can be seen miles away.😅

[@talfacprez]

The Oklahoma City GM plant had made a Fiero convertible prototype, but it was too late. GM canceled the Fiero before the convertible was even shown at car shows.

[@buckster2575]

Seen a red one in a junkyard a few years back.

[@lawrencetate5026]

Thanks Steve! Great job as always!

[@birminghamreefer2733]

My neighbor had a Fiero with a removable split roof top..

[@theone861]

They did make a few with T-tops.

[@johnde2754]

Hey Steve-O, the same exact scenario occured with the Pontiac SOLSTICE many years later. As this vehicle improved in performance once again good ol' GM discontinued the model.

[@bobbyz1964]

My introduction to those was disappointing. Hot Rod or some magazine had one on the cover with wider fenders. It looked cool! Thought that was the product model, then I got to the article and saw the actual production model, which was very disappointing. In today's terms, it's the equivalent to an online date when you realize the pictures weren't an accurate representation. Anyway, it was a car I just didn't like much, call me shallow.

[@ronruba9147]

The removeable glass was not a targa panel... But it was a big piece of glass, pillar to pillar... I've owned several over the years. Great car once you get the suspension dialed in and drop in a newer engine. All you had to do was drop the rear cradle, weld in mounts and pop it right back in. I've seen them with 3.4's, 3.8 series 2's, 350's, Northstars... No limits and was just fun to drive

[@exc911ence_channel]

A t-roof option did appear late in the Fiero's life, but you're right that a full targa was never available. There were some convertibles converted by the aftermarket too, something that Pontiac was playing with itself during the car's development.

[@spaxspore]

I own one of the 2000 1 per dealer 1984 Pace Car Replicas (it had the iron duke instead of the Super Duty 4 thus is why its considered a replica). Great car and nothing on the road like it.

[@seed_drill7135]

Was a mint condition 87 w/ six cylinder and only 30,000 miles for sale here in town a few months ago.

[@jeremya3120]

Hey Steve don’t forget to mention the dealer option mera kit for the fiero its pretty rare I’ve never seen one only pictures

[@gregkellow4723]

They were prone to fires if you didn't keep up with oil leaks. They got a bad reputation for that. Nowadays they make a cool platform for Northstar and LS 4 conversions.

[@spaxspore]

1984s were yes, because they had a shallower oil pan, run it out of oil would cause the engine to grenade and dump oil over the exhaust thus the fire. GM recalled them and increased the pan size.

[@michaelnazaruk4100]

A friend of mine bought a real nice looking '85 Fiero in the early 90's off a private individual. Big mistake. Almost within a week of purchase, he started having major electrical problems with it. Became a real headache. Then, luckily for him, he and his wife were coming out of a shopping mall, and saw the fire dept putting out the flames coming from the Fiero! He bought a new Trans Am with the insurance money.