1985-Pontiac-Fiero-Lot-Shot-Front-Passenger-Side

(Image/OnAllCylinders)

Behold, the short-lived Pontiac Fiero—made from 1984 to 1988.

Most Fiero fans will tell you that the car’s brief time in Pontiac showrooms was the result of its unrealized potential.

Why? They’ll probably say GM neutered its performance out of fear that it would cannibalize Corvette sales

We can think of maybe one other car that met with such an ignominious end.

Perhaps what’s most disappointing about the Fiero’s short production run was that the car looked so good on paper.

A lightweight, two-door coupe with a V6 nestled behind the driver—and styling on-par with anything coming out of the Maranello factory.

That’s why we felt obligated to snap some pics when this one rolled into the Summit Racing retail store lot.

We consulted Scott Swisher, OnAllCylinders’ guru of all-things Fiero, on what makes today’s Lot Shots feature so cool.

According to Swisher, this is a 1985 model, because it was the first year for the GT and it was only available as a coupe for one year. In ’86 the GT body style became the SE model and by mid-year Pontiac introduced the fastback body.

The 1985 Fiero GT featured bodywork lifted from the 1984 Indy Pace Car version.

1985-Pontiac-Fiero-Lot-Shot-Luggage-Rack

Swisher also points out that this particular Lot Shots specimen is peculiar, thanks to its rare luggage rack/wing delete option. He says most GTs were sold with the optional wing. (Image/OnAllCylinders)

GT models came standard with the WS6 suspension and a 2.8 V6 that made about 140 horsepower—good, but not great for a car weighing around 2,700 pounds.

Swisher also dispelled the false rumor that Fieros have a Lotus-derived suspension.

What the Fiero did use, he says, was some good, old-fashioned GM parts-bin ingenuity.

It had a modified front Chevette Suspension and modified rear subframe from a Pontiac 6000 sedan.

Both were bolted to a space frame that held it all together. The body is made of the same combination of molded composite and urethane body parts as a Corvette of the similar vintage.

Sadly, GM killed-off the Fiero in 1988—a mere four years after its launch, and just as the mid-engined Pontiac was getting refined into a capable performance car.

Today, it’s tough to look at the Fiero and not wonder “What could’ve been….”

But at the very least,  we can look and say “We’re glad it was.”

1985-Pontiac-Fiero-Lot-Shot-Front-Driver

(Image/OnAllCylinders)

1985-Pontiac-Fiero-Lot-Shot-Rear-Driver-Side

(Image/OnAllCylinders)

1985-Pontiac-Fiero-Lot-Shot-Front

(Image/OnAllCylinders)

1985-Pontiac-Fiero-Lot-Shot-Emblem

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1985-Pontiac-Fiero-Lot-Shot-Interior

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Author: Paul Sakalas

Paul is the editor of OnAllCylinders. When he's not writing, you'll probably find him fixing oil leaks in a Jeep CJ-5 or roof leaks in an old Corvette ragtop. Thanks to a penchant for vintage Honda motorcycles, he spends the rest of his time fiddling with carburetors and cleaning chain lube off his left pant leg.