Sixteen Months Gone: 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT – Sold?

October 28, 2021 Update – While this “Classifind” expired recently, given the seller’s past history we suspect may not actually be sold yet.  For now, we’re labeling this ride “Sold?” However, we will keep an eye out for an updated listing. In the interim, please reach out either by email or call Rudy directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

September 23, 2021 Update – The private seller of this final-year Pontiac Fiero just posted a fresh listing to replace their expiring previous post. The pictures, description, and asking price all remain the same.

August 19, 2021 Update – The Internet and Guys With Rides never forget.  When we originally featured this final-year-Fiero GT  in April 2020, we assumed the seller’s ad deletion confirmed they had sold the car.  Fast forward to today and the same seller is once again offering their Fiero GT using the pictures from last year.  This time around they lowered their asking price to $11,000.

When it comes to off-the-wall decisions made by car manufacturers, killing off a competent mid-engined coupe right when it got the recipe perfected seems like a perfect fit for Free For All Friday. That’s right – this is the final year 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT with just 54,763 miles and originally listed in April 2020 in Long Island with a revised asking price of $11,000 (down from the original ask of $12,500). Checking the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms this private seller has the price pegged correctly for condition, valued at $12,700 in “Excellent” shape but neglects to deduct $1,000 for the automatic transmission.

When Pontiac first rolled out the Fiero, it was obviously novel for its mid-engined design and aggressive looks. But they chose to introduce it with a powerplant that failed to live up to the racy body, known as the boat anchor-heavy Iron Duke. The history of the Fiero really is a tragedy, a tale of corporate negligence and cost-cutting to the extreme, which resulted in the Fiero receiving parts bin suspension components in addition to a low-revving engine that had a tendency to catch fire. The intentions behind the Fiero were always to build a performance car to take Pontiac out of the oil crisis years, but instead, the Fiero remained merely average until 1988 when dramatic suspension improvements were made, which transformed the car when equipped with the optional V6 introduced a few years earlier. All of these improvements came together just in time for GM to kill it off due to poor sales, partially because of years of negative press.

The Fiero offered here is the desirable final year model that features all of the major updates detailed above. The 88s also benefited from four-wheel disc brakes and staggered wheels and tires to improve handling balance. The V6 punches out a robust 140 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. While certainly a dramatic improvement overall, the V6 and manual transmission combination is the hot ticket. This example presents well with sharp paint and the little details right, such as the seller noting he still has the protective sleeve for the removable sunroof panel. The interior features attractive gray leather that looks to be in sound condition and pairs nicely with the black interior and color-matched wheels. A Fiero is definitely an 80s icon and will make your garage instantly more rad in the process. Good luck with the purchase!

Here’s a MotorWeek comparison test of the 1988 Fiero against the Toyota MR2:

Here’s the seller’s description:

“All original 1988 last year of the Pontiac Fiero. The only other rear-engine platform GM car besides the Corvair.

This is a gorgeous survivor car with 54,000 original miles. A/C, AM/FM cassette radio, leather interior. Factory gloss black. Removable sunroof with the factory Pontiac sunroof window sleeve, 2.8L V6. Four-wheel disk brakes, great running, and driving car. Call 914-five two two-9O15 for more info.“

Do you have a Fiero story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!