Buying a classic car is generally not a matter of reason, but every now and then it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT with manual transmission is a largely untouched sports car from the final production year, with just 21’000 original kilometres, original paint, its first interior and a history with its first enthusiast owner.
The first and last owner of this rare vehicle was based in Canada and Switzerland. He bought the Fiero GT new in Canada, imported it directly to Switzerland and registered it here. Since then, the car has been driven little but regularly and stored exceptionally well. Now the time has come for a new chapter in the life of this well-kept Fiero.
The white body looks clean, compact and not particularly American for the late Eighties. It appears rather exotic – like a mix of a Toyota MR2 and a Lotus Esprit. It is no wonder, then, that the Fiero proved to be an excellent basis for various Ferrari conversions.
The exceptionally well-preserved beige interior creates an elegant, pleasantly warm contrast with the white body. Inside and out, the Fiero is in exceptional and thoroughly well-kept condition. Precisely because everything has remained original, this vehicle has a presence that cannot be recreated through restoration: authentic, credible and full of period details.
The only known cosmetic flaws concern the headliner, whose fabric has begun to come loose in places, and a few scratches on the rear right side of the bumper. We deliberately mention this openly, because with such a good original vehicle, an honest note is just as much part of the overall picture as its exceptional strengths.
With its 2.8-litre V6 mid-engine, low seating position and distinctive GT fastback silhouette, the Fiero embodies a uniquely American interpretation of the compact sports car. The special feeling begins as soon as you get in: little car surrounding the driver, plenty of Eighties atmosphere and the certainty that original examples like this are becoming almost impossible to find.
You can find more data and pictures at:
www.lunicars.com
You can find a 4K video including sound of the vehicle at the following YouTube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnSj38IeCfQ
Details:
21'000 km
First registered 03.06.1988
Veteran MFK 06.12.2024
2'835 cc V6 engine
137 hp
Type approval X
Vehicle identification number 102.922.104
Chassis 1G2 PG1 197 JP21 4963
Kerb weight 1’300 kg
Payload 175 kg
Model history:
The Pontiac Fiero is one of the most unusual American production cars of the Eighties. It was produced from the 1984 to 1988 model years at the Pontiac plant in Michigan. A total of 370’168 examples were built over the five model years. The Fiero was conceived as a compact two-seater with a transversely mounted mid-engine and rear-wheel drive.
Even its basic construction was remarkable for an American mass-produced vehicle. Beneath the visible bodywork was a load-bearing steel spaceframe. The outer plastic or composite panels were non-structural and could be mounted independently of the underlying structure. This allowed the Fiero to combine a distinctive manufacturing process with a body that could be designed with considerable freedom.
The project was developed with the decisive involvement of Hulki Aldikacti and George Milidrag. The team originally pursued the idea of a small two-seat sports car. However, the concept initially had to be positioned internally as an economical commuter vehicle, as General Motors did not want to create a direct competitor to the Chevrolet Corvette. This initial situation explains the Fiero’s unusual character: formally, it was an affordable compact car, but it had the proportions and layout of a genuine mid-engine sports car.
The first models were still heavily focused on economy. Over the short production period, however, Pontiac consistently developed the vehicle further. In addition to the original four-cylinder engine, a 2.8-litre V6 was added to the range, and the GT version gave the Fiero a distinctly sportier identity. The GT body with its fastback rear, pronounced C-pillars, aerodynamic front end and pop-up headlights gave it an appearance that differed greatly from the usual American coupés of the era.
The 1988 model year occupies a special position in the Fiero’s history. It was not only the final year of production, but also brought extensive technical revisions. In 1988, the Fiero received newly designed suspension and revised disc brakes all round. As a result, the chassis reached its most mature stage of development precisely in the final model year.
In 1988, the Fiero GT was offered with a 2.8-litre V6 that delivered 137 hp at the wheels. Depending on the version, the transmission choices were a three-speed automatic or a five-speed manual gearbox.
Only 26’401 Fieros were built for the 1988 model year before production ended on 16 August 1988. A 1988 GT is therefore not simply a late Fiero, but the final and technically most mature interpretation of the entire model range.
Today, its appeal lies in a combination offered by very few vehicles: mid-engine architecture, unmistakable Eighties styling, compact dimensions and a highly distinctive origin story. With an example featuring just 21’000 original kilometres, original paint and its first interior, another quality is added: it shows not merely how a Fiero could be restored, but how an exceptionally well-preserved Fiero has actually aged. That is precisely where its special appeal to collectors lies.
This description has been automatically translated. Original language: German.
