1987 Pontiac Fiero GT: Missed Opportunity

When you look back at the ways oil crises have shaped the American automotive landscape, it’s rather amazing how often manufacturers squashed cars with endless potential in the interest of a knee-jerk reaction to selling fuel efficient vehicles. Or, the tendency to shove ill-conceived engines into a decent platform for the same goal – either way, the outcome is similar: good cars saddled by engineering shortcomings that tarnish their reputation for life. Enter the Pontiac Fiero, a mid-engined coupe that should have been a home run if not for its economy car roots. This 1987 Fiero GT here on craigslist in Pennsylvania is a great example of what might have been for $4,950.

The Fiero came about when GM realized buyers were not exactly anxious to own a V8-powered Corvette in the fuel-conscious ‘80s. At the same time, introducing a sporty platform that could siphon sales away from the Corvette was an outcome they intended to avoid at all costs, so much like the creation of the Ford EXP and Mercury LN7, a plan was hatched to build a car that looked like a high-performance model but with the efficiency of a Chevette. While I applaud them for at least making fuel economy look good, the engineering team went a little too far and gave the Fiero underpinnings from hell: quite literally, suspension components from the Chevette and Citation.

You can imagine, then, the disappointment of buying into GM’s marketing of the Fiero as a sexy coupe with Ferrari-esque  profile and then actually driving the thing. Buyers complained that the experience behind the wheel fell far short of what was promised by the design, a complaint you can’t really blame on anyone but the consumer, yet one that I can empathize with completely. Although it’s a bit like comparing apples and oranges, the reaction to the Subaru BRZ / Scion FRS was much the same, as the car’s handling capabilities and design seemed to belie greater performance potential than it actually delivered. In the case of the Fiero, GM eventually gave it some performance chops, adding V6 power in 1985 and a revised suspension near the end of its production run.

This example appears stock and in clean condition. The mesh wheels were one of my favorite tweaks to the later body styles, and they fit the car perfectly – with just enough “poke” to support its aggressive profile. The blacked out tail lights were factory, and though totally ‘80s, also fit the look well. Should you need replacement parts or performance upgrades, The Fiero Store will be your new best friend (and bank account’s worst enemy.) I have this car on my list of vehicles that will soon be a bit harder to find for under $5K, especially for desirable models like the GT. Would any of you jump on the General’s mid-engined answer to the oil crisis? Let us know in the comments below.