Description
What a cool little car. With just 64, 550 miles recorded, this exceptionally rare mid-engined sports car is amazingly original and comes with extensive history from new. Everything about it screams 1980`s retro from it`s factory-fitted AM radio/ cassette to the wind-up windows and plethora of ashtrays! And nothing has been changed, upgraded or modified. It is genuinely a time-warp on wheels and drives as good as it looks with pin-sharp steering and plenty of performance from the 2. 5 litre Iron Duke engine. Possibly a unique opportunity to acquire such a distinctive all-American classic that could easily be used and enjoyed daily. Great value too.
Conceived as a small, 2-seater sports car ideally suited to commuting, the mid-engined Fiero (meaning wild or fierce in Italian) was launched in August 1983 and was available initially with just one engine option, a 4-cylinder 2. 5 litre from the GM motor pool. Other parts including suspension were shared with other GM cars, whilst composite body panels contributed to the car`s light-weight, performance and fuel efficiency. Available initially in just 2 colours, Red or White, early cars had the choice of either 4-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission with effectively three trim levels offered, the Coupe, Sport Coupe and SE. Two further colours, Black and Light Grey Metallic, soon followed and by January 1985, a second engine option appeared, a 2. 8 litre V6 producing 140BHP and helping to satisfy the critics seeking more performance over the original base model. The following year saw a slight restyle and further colour choices with the original 2. 5 litre engine upgraded to produce 98BHP just a few months later. By 1988 and the final year of production, the Fiero had evolved into a properly sorted sports coupe with not only a choice of engine, transmissions and trim, but revised suspension and braking systems. Notably it had also become one of the safest cars manufactured, second only to the Volvo 740DL Estate, with a five-star frontal crash test rating.
Our car was supplied new by JM Pontiac in October 1988 to a couple living in Hollywood, Florida and thus makes it one of the very last examples built. They retained the Fiero for 2 years selling to a lady in Fort Lauderdale with a recorded 15079 miles as shown on the Title at that time. In June 1991, the car was purchased and privately imported by a gentleman living in Sutton Coldfield whereupon it was inspected, first MoT`d and properly UK-registered. By early 1992, the Fiero had moved on to it`s next UK keeper, a lady and American car enthusiast in Stoke-on-Trent who, based upon the amount of Club literature in the file, played an active role in the newly formed GB Chapter. Throughout the 1990`s, the car was regularly used, serviced and MoT`d covering almost 40, 000 miles in 7 years before being laid -up for around 6 years re-emerging in Worcestershire in July 2005. Evidently in need of some recommissioning, bills and receipts from this period confirm an extensive list of parts from US-based The Fiero Store to include a full carpet set, headlight switch, pedal rubbers, side air scoops, bulbs and decals as well as invoices for a full brake overhaul and new battery. Now showing 63, 500 miles, the Fiero was subsequently used sparingly for shows and days out and over following 10 years, seems to have changed hands perhaps 3 or 4 times albeit remaining within the general West Midlands area. Around 4 years ago, it was acquired by a property developer in Stourbridge who once again seems to have invested heavily in the car with all new brake cables, oil pressure sender, all new filters and a full service kit including plugs being sourced from US Automotive of Bedford. In Spring 2023, he subsequently sold the car on to a gentleman in South London from whom we acquired it.
The car today presents just as seen in the photographs. It is all about originality. Whilst the composite body panels are in excellent shape, there are some areas of paint fade as well as some stone chips on the bonnet and some light scratches to the roof. However, I feel to re-paint the car would take away from some of the story. It is in utterly time-warp condition with, it would seem, the original glass, alloy wheels and trim. The inside is just the same. Other than the previously documented replacement carpets, everything would seem straight from the factory. And it is all so retro! You sit in the narrowest of bucket seats facing a boxy binnacle full of dials that could have come from some fighter jet, the over-wide transmission tunnel features nothing but ashtrays and the switchgear is typically clunky with push-button controls for the original AM stereo radio/ cassette and air-conditioning system. Everything is so refreshingly simple and it all works. The cabin itself is in great shape indicative of a low mileage car that has evidently been cherished over time.
Turn the key, select Drive and the Fiero pulls away smartly with eager acceleration and poised handling. Despite being the smaller-engined 4-cylinder model, the car performs superbly both in town and on the open road, happy to cruise at highway speeds without effort. I took it to a local show last evening and it was very well-received. Most people, even American car enthusiasts, have never seen or sat in one in the flesh and many were intrigued by it`s mid-engined layout and overall diminutive proportions. For an American classic it is small but that translates as also easy to drive, park-up and enjoy on a regular basis. It is the ideal first American and has started to gain somewhat of a cult following here in the UK since a silver example was used on the most recent Fast & Furious film.
Our car comes with copies of the original US titles before importation, importation paperwork, a considerable amount of Fiero Owners Club Newsletters from 1992-94, a number of UK MoT Certificates from 1992-2000 and 2006 onwards, manufacturers literature, bills and receipts documenting work from 2006-2023 and a current V5C. It benefits from a current MoT until the end of February 2024.
A totally original American classic with low mileage and nice provenance. Super rare too.
Shore Classics is based on the West Dorset coast within easy proximity of both Weymouth and the County town of Dorchester. As classic and vintage dealers, we offer full brokerage facilities. So if you require some help and guidance with selling your classic car or motorcycle, just give us a call today.
