Investment Grade 328 Actual Mile Fiero GT 2.8L Survivor

It was tough being a General Motors fan in the 80s. The company had relegated most of its models to bland copycats of compromised committee-driven designs which, for the most part, suffered terrible quality problems. But every once in a while, the true car guys broke free of the massive corporate bureaucracy and belted one straight out of the park! Featuring a mid-engine sports car layout which is capped with a lightweight composite body, and known for its excellent driving dynamics, the 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT is one such homerun. And with their continued rise in collectability, the search is on to find the best of the best Fiero collector cars which set the standard for the classic car market. With just 330 miles on its odometer and a folder full of original documentation, this showroom fresh 1988 GT might just be the nicest original Fiero on the planet.

The cars original window sticker, which is still attached to its driver's side window, lists the following standard features and options:

1988 PONTIAC FIERO GT COUPE: $13,999

STANDARD FEATURES:

• L44 2.8 liter V6 engine with multi-port fuel injection
• 5-speed manual transmission
• Power four wheel disc brakes
• P205/60/15 front black side wall tires
• P215/60/15 rear black side wall tires
• Monotone aero package
• Diamond spoke 15 inch wheels
• Tinted glass
• Body side moldings
• Left hand remote and right hand manual convex mirrors
• “Metrix” cloth trim
• Reclining bucket seats
• Lamp group
• Delco AM/FM stereo with seek/scan, auto reverse cassette and clock
• Tilt steering wheel
• Continuous cycle wipers
• Instrument panel gauges with tachometer
• Leather wrapped three spoke steering wheel
• Power windows
• Deck lid release
• Locking remote release fuel filler door
• Dual map lights

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:

77U - Medium Ruby Red Metallic paint: $00
B34 - Carpeted front floor mats: $24
CJB - T-tops: $00
C49 - Electric rear window defogger: $145
D80 - Rear end panel extension – spoiler: $269
L44 - 2.8 liter High Output V6 engine: $00
MX1 - 3-speed automatic transmission: $490
UX1 - ETR AM/FM stereo with clock, cassette, auto reverse, search, replay, seek and scan, and equalizer: $160
YK3 - Front license plate bracket: $00
USA Option package: $1,081
• C60 air conditioning ($775)
• D34 visor vanity mirror ($7)
• K34 electronic cruise control ($175)
• AU3 power door locks ($145)
• DG7 outside electric mirrors ($79)
• Option group discount: $100
DESTINATION CHARGE: $320
TOTAL VEHICLE MSRP: $16,488

As the first and only American mid-engine volume car ever released, the Fiero started out as a mix of GM parts with a unique body and design. Sales took off in 1984 and, although it was originally billed as an economy commuter car, by the time this '88 GT rolled out of the factory the Fiero had become a serious performance machine. Ordered by Derek Pritchard of Hawesville, Kentucky this all original survivor Fiero was assembled in Pontiac, Michigan and delivered to Berrang Pontiac in Waynesboro, Virginia. Everything from its all original factory glass to its chip-free fiberglass running boards is about as close to perfect as a 23 year old car can get. And all of its exterior panels are free of paint aberrations and still display a fantastic shine.

Many people believe in the theory that GM kills a model just as soon as they perfect it, and judging by the looks of this slick final year Fiero GT, I'd have to agree. At the front of the car, a clean and chip free plastic nose, which has never seen substantial road time, holds clear square turn signals at the sides of an aerodynamic grille opening and a pristine Fiero emblem. Behind that nose, a straight and glossy angled hood is bordered by two perfectly functioning flip up headlights, and flat black windshield wipers clear showroom fresh glass. At the top of the car, 1988-exclusive T-tops attach to a new for 1986 fastback roofline which flows past a vertical rear window to a ventilated rear hood and optional decklid spoiler. At the sides of the car, pristine black beltline trim displays thin marker lights just above the front tires, incorporates flip up door handles just behind weather-free black mirrors and complements aggressive looking fender louvers just below pristine “GT” branded rear quarter windows. At the back of the car, a clear, body-width rear valence features a showroom fresh, fade-free shine, and a subtle “GT” emblem hangs above a sculpted rear bumper which wraps around traditional Pontiac quad outlet exhaust tips.

Cars like the Fiero were never about brute power. GM wanted to produce a balanced, economical platform which was inexpensive and provided an excellent driving experience. Accordingly, all Fieros were originally equipped with Pontiacs economical 2.5 liter 'Iron Duke' four cylinder. However, the number one complaint of early adopters was the cars lack of power. So in 1985, when the GT model was introduced, a more powerful 2.8 liter V6 was sourced from Chevrolet and tuned by Pontiac to create a healthy 140 horsepower and 170 lb./ft. of torque. The 2.8 liter was one of the first transversely mounted V6s to utilize multi-port fuel injection and was a high output engine option for not only the Fiero, but also high performance GM A-bodies and X-bodies. This new engine perfectly suited the Fiero and, unlike most exotic sports cars, provided drivers with an exciting level of performance that wasn't overbearing or dangerous. All the hard parts in this car's 2.8 liter engine bay, from the red “Fiero” branded intake and red valve covers to the Holley throttle body and red Packard plug wires are factory original; and as expected, tags, markings and stamps are just where they should be.

The 1988 Fiero GT featured a redesigned WS6 suspension that was thought by many to bear a striking resemblance to undercarriages designed by Lotus. (Which at the time, was about to be acquired by General Motors) In reality, the suspension was the same one Pontiac engineers had designed at the beginning of the cars life, it had just undergone slight modifications which could be directly attributed to Pontiacs racing program. Up front, the car received better control arms and new knuckles which both reduced steering effort and improved scrub radius. Out back, a revised engine cradle saw a host of changes which included unique, stronger knuckles, specific struts, forward trailing links, solid mounts and a rear sway bar. At the corners, the cars wimpy Chevette brakes and calipers were finally replaced with larger vented units, and although there were whispers of optional power steering, the tried and true manual rack was retained. In addition to stiffening the drivetrain and making shifts from this Fieros solid Hydra-matic 3-speed automatic much more crisp, the WS6 suspension also comes with staggered wheel sizes. 15x6-inch front and 15x7 rear diamond spoke wheels wear sticky 205/60 front and 215/60 rear Goodyear Eagle GT radials which provide much improved handling. Naturally, the bottom of this time capsule Pontiac, like its engine bay, is in untouched, showroom fresh condition.

This low-slung Fiero's sporty interior features standard cloth-covered reclining bucket seats inside of a wraparound cockpit design which makes the driver feel buttoned down and secure. As with any older cloth surfaces, wear and seam tears would normally be a major concern but the rarely used soft gray seats in this Fiero are clean and display no splits or thin spots. Below those seats, like-new gray and white carpet is protected by tough, black rubber floor mats; and above those seats, a spotless mouse fur headliner is stretched tight around the cars well sealing T-tops and sun visors which still wear a factory paper tag. At the sides of the car, crack-free two-tone door panels look great and function well; and at the center of the car, a wide console houses a large storage bin behind a traditional GM automatic shifter, and controls for power windows and power mirrors. That console flows into a plateaued dash which holds an optional radio below a full array of clear factory instrumentation and a Fiero branded passenger side map pocket. In front of the cockpit, you'll find a Spacesaver spare tire among the cars radiator, AC components and master cylinder. And at the back of the cockpit, a small storage space stows the cars T-tops and provides enough room for a load of groceries.

Documentation for the sale of this final year Fiero includes the cars original dealership order sheet, it's original window sticker, factory paperwork (which consists of the original owner's manual, original warranty booklets, original accessory booklets and a maintenance schedule), a small tube of touch up paint and a cool 1987 issue of Motor Trend which features a write up about the 1988 Fiero.

Today, 1988 Fiero GTs are almost universally regarded as future collector cars. Only 6800 GT's were made in '88, making fully documented, showroom fresh cars as rare as they are cool. If you're a Fiero collector or just a smart investor looking for a good bet for solid future appreciation, this 330 mile, all-original Fiero is the car you want!