Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Brand new 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT on sale, just $35k!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/brand-new-1988-pontiac-fiero-gt-on-sale-just-35k/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/brand-new-1988-pontiac-fiero-gt-on-sale-just-35k/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/brand-new-1988-pontiac-fiero-gt-on-sale-just-35k/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a gallery of the 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT that time forgot

So you're a Pontiac diehard, but you don't need the space of the G8 GT GXP and the Solstice GXP is just a bit too "me too." So what's a Big Chief enthusiast to do? Well, if you've got $35,000 kicking around in your automotive slush fund, how about a brand-new, never-titled 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT? The mid-engined, V6 Fiero that General Motors should have been building the whole time, but only got around to developing just before they sent they took the plastic-bodied model out back? Yes, that GT.

Evidently thinking ahead, some enterprising chap found a fire-engine red example and promptly mothballed it. Quite likely the only "brand new" Fiero on the planet (GT or otherwise), this time warp rear-driver has just 221 miles on it, and is still on MSO. Heck, we're willing to bet that the cassette player has never even seen a copy of White Snake's Greatest Hits!

If you're interested, the optimistically-priced but irreplacable Fiero can be found at Hinton Chevrolet-Buick in Lynden, Washington. Thanks for the tip, Farris!

Gallery: Timewarp 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT


[Source: Autotrader]

Brand new 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT on sale, just $35k! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FieroGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsGMLyndenmid-enginemid-enginedPontiacV-6V6White SnakeWhiteSnakeMon, 05 Jan 2009 16:28:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: Fiero Car Boat, what can't you turn this car into?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/ebay-find-of-the-day-fiero-car-boat-what-cant-you-turn-this-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/ebay-find-of-the-day-fiero-car-boat-what-cant-you-turn-this-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/ebay-find-of-the-day-fiero-car-boat-what-cant-you-turn-this-c/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click on the image for more pictures of the Fiero Car Boat

Is there anything that the lowly Pontiac Fiero can't be turned into? We've seen Fiero off-roaders, Fiero Ferrari's and some Fiero conversions that completely defy classification. This latest find is not a driver, but a floater. Proving the phrase, "Where there's a will, there's a way," is the Fiero Car Boat. Judging from the pictures, somebody with some not-so-mad-fiberglassing skills has managed to make a Fiero watertight (at least we hope so!) and hang an outboard motor on the rear-end stern. The seller refers to his Fiero Car Boat as "The Best Advertisement Money Can Buy." Perhaps this is true... just so long as the amount of money being spent is very, very low. Some good news: it does come with a nice trailer. Thanks for the tip, Josh!

Gallery: eBay Fiero Boat


[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: Fiero Car Boat, what can't you turn this car into? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fierofiero car boatfiero conversionfiero-car-boatfiero-conversionFieroCarBoatFieroConversionpontiac fieropontiac fiero conversionpontiac-fieropontiac-fiero-conversionPontiacFieroPontiacFieroConversionMon, 21 Apr 2008 19:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Counterfeit Ferrari ring busted in Rome]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/29/counterfeit-ferrari-ring-busted-in-rome/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/29/counterfeit-ferrari-ring-busted-in-rome/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/29/counterfeit-ferrari-ring-busted-in-rome/#commentsFiled under: , ,


More than twenty years ago, Pontiac dealers sold their two-seat Fiero with a special "option" called the MERA. Essentially a complete re-body over the Fiero's then-advanced space frame, brand-new cars rolled out of the showroom looking much like a Ferrari 308. Over the next two years, 247 Fiero MERA models were built before Ferrari dropped a legal hatchet on the operation, and Corporate Concepts was forced to end production of their "kit."

We had put this blasphemy out of our minds until this week, when police in Rome uncovered a counterfeit car operation once again making fake Ferraris. In the Italian case, real customers (the police called them "car fanatics on a budget") were found to be paying upwards of $30,000 for each of these pseudo-Ferraris. The police report mentions that "donor cars" were involved, but they don't name names.

Photos released by the Italian police quickly confirmed our fears. In one image, a dusty red crackle-finish intake manifold proudly bears the Ferrari name. We recognize it as the 2.8-liter, 140-hp V6 that powered the Pontiac Fiero GT in 1988. The interior bares more irreverence as a knock-off Ferrari steering wheel tries to hide 80's-era GM switchgear. It is painfully obvious that the "Polizia" have stumbled upon an illegal reincarnation of the Fiero MERA, but this time on sacred Italian soil and offering more than one model. It is hard to imagine a criminal ring going this far to make a buck, but we are more stupefied by the knuckle-heads who actually paid them for these cars.

Thanks for the tip Mike!

Gallery: Counterfeit Ferraris

[Source: Reuters]

Counterfeit Ferrari ring busted in Rome originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Corporate ConceptsCorporateConceptsCounterfeitFakeFerrariFieroItalyMERAFri, 29 Feb 2008 13:34:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: "Fastlane" Future Car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/07/ebay-find-of-the-day-fastlane-future-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/07/ebay-find-of-the-day-fastlane-future-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/07/ebay-find-of-the-day-fastlane-future-car/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Now here's a Fiero bodykit that's worthwhile. TransFX, a California-based custom car maker responsible for several GM concepts as well as lots and lots of Batman's cars, boats, and planes, built four of these bodies for a Universal Studios project. Designed to be mounted on a stretched Fiero chassis, only a single roadgoing version exists, and the Volo Auto Museum will sell that to you for $65,000. You could spend less than one third that price and pick up this body shell, allowing you to then dream up your own undercarriage. We think it'd be good with a Porsche Boxster plugged in underneath.

What you get for $14,000 is a very cool futuristic bodyshell on casters. The outside might look an awful lot like a car, but climbing underneath tells the whole story. There's nothing to this car, yet. Its just waiting for you to marry your chassis to its bodywork. Then you'll have the task of creating the entire wiring harness, installing all the lights, the interior, and about a quintillion little issues that always crop up with kit cars, which this essentially is. What we want to know is what ever became of the project these props were commissioned for. We also hope that whoever wins the auction at least uses a Fiero GT as a donor. It just wouldn't do to put this car on a 2M4. The Iron Duke is definitely not an engine befitting Batman. Then again, the GT's 2.8 is merely suited to Boy Wonder. Now, a Northstar starts to show promise. Hmm.

Thanks for the tip, Jordan!

Gallery: Fastlane Movie Car

eBay Find of the Day: "Fastlane" Future Car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ebayfastlanefieromoviepropuniversalFri, 07 Dec 2007 10:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog takes on Gratiot: Cars don't have to be old to be cruise-worthy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/20/autoblog-takes-on-gratiot-cars-dont-have-to-be-old-to-be-cruis/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/20/autoblog-takes-on-gratiot-cars-dont-have-to-be-old-to-be-cruis/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/20/autoblog-takes-on-gratiot-cars-dont-have-to-be-old-to-be-cruis/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Click on the image above to view the high-resolution gallery

As big as the muscle car market has become, not everybody wants to spend their weekends working on a vehicle that gets 8 mpg while still reaching 60mph slower than a V6 Accord. For some, their everyday transportation has become their passion. Other vehicles, like the 80's Monte Carlo or Buick Grand National, are collectible because they act as newer versions of the muscle cars of the 60s and 70s, but with smaller price tags.

While Gratiot avenue still reserved most of its space for vehicles that are older than I am, plenty of newer classics had their day in the (hot) sun as well. Our favorite was the Ferrari 328 GTS Fiero dressed up in its best Italian suit, and was on sale for "only" $13,000. There were three or four Prowlers, a few souped-up PT Cruisers, plenty of Corvettes, and a couple of Vipers as well. There was even a Dodge Nitro that someone dropped at least $15,000 on. Take a look at the high-res image gallery of our 80's-and-up shots from the Gratiot Cruise.

Gallery: Gratiot Cruise 80s-Today


All photos Copyright (C)2007 Chris Shunk / Weblogs, Inc.

Autoblog takes on Gratiot: Cars don't have to be old to be cruise-worthy originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChevyCorvetteDodgeFerrari 328 GTSFerrari328GtsFieroPT CruiserPtCruiserViperWed, 20 Jun 2007 14:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Spicy Fiero kit car has off-road aspirations]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/25/spicy-fiero-kit-car-has-off-road-aspirations/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/25/spicy-fiero-kit-car-has-off-road-aspirations/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/25/spicy-fiero-kit-car-has-off-road-aspirations/#commentsFiled under: ,

PISA Jalapeno
Click image for mini-gallery

My sister had a black 1988 Fiero that I was going to buy from her when I turned 16. Of course, she spun out on the freeway NASCAR-style only weeks before the transaction was to take place, and my little two-seater was gone forever. While I still want one that looks like this, I probably won't fit in one very well. However, thanks to a company in Arizona that modifies Fieros into just about anything a person could want, there's hope for me yet.

PISA (Phoenix International Sport Automobiles) has taken a run-of-the-mill Fiero and turned it into the buggy you see above. It's called the Jalapeño and it takes about 200 hours to complete. Mods include a lift kit, 12 inches taken off the front, many new body panels, and a Jeep-like grille on a somewhat forlorn-looking face. We don't know how well the Jalapeño fares off-road, but it certainly looks the part. Who would've thought you can get a Fiero with a commanding view of the road?

[PISA via Winding Road]

Gallery: PISA Jalapeno

Spicy Fiero kit car has off-road aspirations originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Feb 2007 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fierofiero modificationsFieroModificationshttp://news.windingroad.com/aftermarket/look-out-cayenne-its-thejalapenojalepinopontiacSun, 25 Feb 2007 18:13:00 EST<![CDATA[RR of the Day: 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/23/rr-of-the-day-1988-pontiac-fiero-gt/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/23/rr-of-the-day-1988-pontiac-fiero-gt/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/23/rr-of-the-day-1988-pontiac-fiero-gt/#commentsFiled under: , ,



We have seen some Pontiac Fieros that have not been on the receiving end of owner TLC. This car is not one of them. Flickr user eightyeight_gt_v6 acquired his 1988 Fiero GT V6 in 1996 with a paltry 59,000 miles on it. The car served as a daily driver for five years and currently sports 73,000 miles on the odometer. No longer a daily driver, the car is reserved for cruising and occasional driving.

According to eightyeight_gt_v6, the '88 Fieros had a more compliant suspension and a better ride than the others, making them more collectible than their peers from other MYs. His GT is well equipped, featuring all the goodies save for T-Tops, leather, and power mirrors. The car is equipped with a 5-speed manual from Getrag, which is significantly more fun than the 3-speed auto the cars came with as an option.

The car's been lightly modified with upgrades like a freer-flowing exhaust, K&N filter and performance chip. Nothing extreme, though, as eightyeight_gt_v6 is looking to preserve the car's overall collectability. The Fiero GT remains one of the nicer GM designs from the 80s, and the V6 cars we've driven were indeed very fun to spend some time with. We're sure that this one, with the tweaks made to it, brings a smile to its driver's face as well. In his Flickr description, the owner says that the cars are actually good candidates for engine swaps such as the Northstar V8. Now that sounds like a good time.

Thanks for taking such good care of your Fiero GT, eightyeight_gt_v6. And thanks for sharing it with us, too. It's today's Reader Ride of the Day.

We're still on the prowl for more rides of the 80s, so tear yourself away from the John Hughes movie you're watching and submit your photos to our Flickr account by following the directions after the jump. Molly Ringwald will still be there waiting for you when you're done.

Continue reading RR of the Day: 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT

RR of the Day: 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Nov 2006 10:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1988 pontiac fiero gt1988PontiacFieroGt88 fiero gt88FieroGtfierofiero gtFieroGtThu, 23 Nov 2006 10:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Trademark dumpster diving reveals a few gems]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/08/trademark-dumpster-diving-reveals-a-few-gems/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/08/trademark-dumpster-diving-reveals-a-few-gems/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/08/trademark-dumpster-diving-reveals-a-few-gems/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The news that is not 'right' has uncovered some interesting automotive tidbits while scouring through obscure trademark filings.

First, General Motors has patented the term "8 speed" for use with what is presumed to be an eight-speed transmission. Logical, no? That would put their premium brands, Buick and Cadillac, on par with Lexus' newest tranny int their flagship the LS460.

Second up, LLN says that on October 6th, 2006 (whaaa?), GM filed a 'published for opposition' writ through the trademark office for the word 'Firebird.' We have no idea what the designation 'published for opposition' means (is there a patent lawyer in the house?), but LLN contends that it's a necessary step when reregistering a title. This may be what Bob Lutz has been mentioning under the name 'GTO,' but what's more interesting is the 'Fiero' moniker has also been re-applied for. This may be the first step in the General's plan of offering a small, hard-top coupe, but if it's just a Solstice with a fixed lid, our interest is only mildly piqued. Doesn't the name Fiero imply a mid-ship layout? We think so.

Finally, Lexus may not be pursuing the whole perfection thing soon, as they've applied for two new slogans: "The Passionate Pursuit of Potential" and "The Pursuit of Potential." We think it may be best to let our readers do the analysis on those.

Ready, set, speculate!

[Source: LeftLaneNews]

Trademark dumpster diving reveals a few gems originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Sep 2006 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8 speed transmission8SpeedTransmissionfierofirebirdgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmgtolexusmid enginemid shipMidEngineMidShipsloganslogansFri, 08 Sep 2006 08:54:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: 1986 Zimmer Golden Spirit]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/26/ebay-find-of-the-day-1986-zimmer-golden-spirit/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/26/ebay-find-of-the-day-1986-zimmer-golden-spirit/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/26/ebay-find-of-the-day-1986-zimmer-golden-spirit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Be prepared to 'go for baroque,' because we know you've always privately lusted for a bold restyling of Pontiac's Fiero. Always keeping our readership in mind, we couldn't wait to pass along this minty-fresh red Zimmer Quick Silver now at auction. The 1986 model seen here is motivated by the General's 2.8-liter V6, and sports a full red-cow interior, along with plenty of timber paneling. As it has yet to hit its reserve price on eBay, perhaps someone will be able to catch a small bargain.

As the seller notes: "PLEASE NOTE: This is a professional restoration shop quality, factory quality refinish, NOT a Bubba, low cost slam some paint on it respray."

Interested parties are advised to bid now, before West Coast Customs catches wind of this chrome-dipped mid-engined oddity. If the Quick Silver's styling is a bit conservative, might we suggest this Elvis-approved Stutz Blackhawk instead?

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: 1986 Zimmer Golden Spirit originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Mar 2006 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FieroGMPontiacQuickQuick SilverSilverZimmerSun, 26 Mar 2006 16:57:00 EST