Junkyard Find: 1988 Pontiac Fiero Formula
Ah, the Pontiac Fiero. So much potential, but ultimately a disappointment for The General. I see the occasional Fiero during my wrecking-yard wandering, but it takes a special one to inspire me to shoot photos. This screaming yellow ’86 Fiero GT was one, and today’s final-year-of-production ’88 Fiero Formula is another.
GM saved money on the original Fieros by using a parts-bin suspension (Chevy Citation in the rear, Chevette in the front) and the not-so-sporty Iron Duke four-cylinder pushrod engine, instead of the Fiero-only suspension penned by the engineers and the bespoke aluminum V6 of their dreams. By 1988, though, the Fiero finally got the suspension intended for it… just in time for the end of production.
This car looks to have been picked over by junkyard vultures, but it’s still possible to see that it has all sorts of options. Air conditioning!
Is it possible that we’re looking at a 419,807-mile car here? The off-centeredness of the odometer numerals may indicate mechanical troubles rather than an incredible number of miles.
Murilee Martin is the pen name of Phil Greden, a writer who has lived in Minnesota, California, Georgia and (now) Colorado. He has toiled at copywriting, technical writing, junkmail writing, fiction writing and now automotive writing. He has owned many terrible vehicles and some good ones. He spends a great deal of time in self-service junkyards. These days, he writes for publications including Autoweek, Autoblog, Hagerty, The Truth About Cars and Capital One.
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I saw a pristine MR2 on the highway last weekend. Still see them on the road a bit. The Fiero would have killed its marketability off with quality issues, but the MR2 couldn't have helped. There was just no reason beyond loyalty to a logo to buy a Fiero over a 2 year older MR2.
hi im just wondering although i doubt you'll read this but im collecting the badges/emblems from cars and i was wondering if you could help me out because i see in your posts cars that i would never see in my area