Built The Way It Should Have Been: 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT

The Pontiac Fiero was the runt of the litter in the sports car world when it was new, and was the brunt of many jokes in the decades after...but...if you are going to buy a Fiero, don't fall for the V8 swapped monster or the '84 iron duke powered original and instead get yourself a nice 88 GT that has been restored by a Fiero expert and upgraded with a 3.4 liter Camaro V6. Handling wasn't by Lotus (that was a common, but unfounded, rumor), but the final year of Fiero did have upgraded suspension and is best of the breed. Find this 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT offered for $7950 near Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Battle of the Rollers: 2007 Saturn Sky vs 1970 Jensen Interceptor

Picture this; you are stuck at home under stay-at-home orders and you need something to occupy your time since your internet connection is dead.  What you need is an engine and a vehicle that needs an engine.  Then you just need a few wrenches, some zip ties, a welder, and some fresh 5w30 oil.  The only question is -- which do you get, do you get a 2007 Saturn Sky setup for LS1 swap offered for $2500 or do you get an powertrain-less 1970 Jensen Interceptor offered for $3995, both are offered on Los Angeles craigslist.

Blue Boat: 1977 Pontiac LeMans Safari

Here are two words that don't go together. LeMans and Safari. LeMans is a city in France that hosts a prestigious 24 hour race for sports racing cars and a Safari is fun filled vacation for wealthy people where they stalk rare wildlife and get sand in their cargo pants.  Here is one more word that doesn't go with EITHER of those two -- Pontiac.  Pontiac is the late GM performance brand that had nothing to do with GT racing or hunting in the mid 1970s, but that didn't stop them from building something called the Pontiac LeMans Safari...because marketing.  Find this 1977 Pontiac LeMans Safari here on eBay bidding for $6200 with a few hours to go.

Kit Carmageddon: 1984 Fieroghini Diabloat

Most Fiero based kit cars are miserable abominations...well...truth be told, they are all completely wretched.  Most can hardly hide the Fiero underpinnings and only use basic rubbing compound the polish the turd that lurks beneath the surface.  However, this next turd has been sanded, masked, honed, polished (multi-stage) and buffed to a shockingly good representation of a supercar...and while nobody is gonna be fooled, people might be intrigued and amused. Find this 1984 Fieroghini Diabloat offered for $16,995 in Hayward, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Sports Addition: 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix

This next car comes as a tip from Jeff who writes: By the pictures, it looks like the owners are doing quite well so it makes you wonder how "Sports Addition" made the cut. That being said, this looks to be a great cash car for daily or first car for a teen.  Find this 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix offered for $3650 in Houston, TX via craigslist.

3800SC V6 Swap: 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT

You might not think that there is a correct or incorrect engine to swap into a classic Pontiac Fiero...but lemme set you straight.  There are many incorrect engines to swap into a Fiero...such as anything rotary from Mazda, something with a carburetor, and anything aircooled...and this might surprise you, but there is only one engine you should ever swap into a Fiero...and here it is. Find this 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT with 3800 V6 power offered for $6000 in Brunswick, GA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

GM Performance Package: 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP

The Skystice (Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky) was Detroit's answer to light weight sports cars like the million models sold Mazda MX-5 Miata.  Typical GM feature bloat meant the Solstice/Sky wasn't as lean a fighting machine as the MX-5, but the podium in SCCA club racing in T2 class for 2007, 2008, & 2009 gives it a certain degree of street cred.  If you want to buy a new Solstice today, you are outta luck because GM stopped production in 2010 when GM axed down both the Pontiac and Saturn brands...but used examples are cheap and handle just as well as they did when new....probably.  Find this 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP GM Perf Package offered for $6950 in Santa Clara, CA via craigslist.

Mid Engine Mayhem: 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT

The Fiero was first launched in 1984, but GM finally fitted the mid engine Fiero with a proper suspension for the 1988 model year and then promptly discontinued the car.  The 1988 cars are the rarest and most desirable Fiero's to own.  These cars are definitely on the DT list of most commonly featured engine swaps.  Today's car prompts a tough question to answer: is it wiser a to leave a stock 1988 car alone or throw caution to the wind and pick a favorite GM fwd engine to swap in??  Will a nice 1988 Fiero GT ever appreciate in the future?  I think I'll stick to this stock example. Find this 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT offered for $5200 in Paradise Hills, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Happy Halloween: 1966 Chevrolet Corvair V8 versus 1984 Pontiac Fiero V8

Happy Halloween!! On today's episode of What'll Kill You Quicker, we've got a'66 Corvair that's been de-clawed of its oversteer prone swing-axle suspension, but it is now sporting a front mounted V8 and enough custom shenanigans to keep you guessing the next failure mode for years...versus an '84 Fiero that has 20 year newer safety technology...but is still a plastic bodied piece of mid engined junk that now has a giant V8 shoved right behind your soft and squishy mammalian cortex.  What'll Kill You Quickest?

Horrorods: Fiero vs Jeep vs Civic

In preparation for Halloween, I present this next Horrorod feature with words and tips from Matt C. What could be scarier than a sub-$1000 V12 Jaguar? How about taking over a project where somebody else threw a random pile of parts together and didn't quite get it finished? Here's a trio of sketchy Frankenstein builds!

You Raise Me Up: 1984 Pontiac Fiero 4X4 Monster Ferrari

When people say, aim high...this what they are talking about.  This is the stuff of dreams, forget the James Webb Space Telescope, or the latest Trailer Swift album..this is your nirvana, the apple of your eye, the pea in the pod...it buts the eef in beef and the ding in pudding. When I am down, and, oh, my soul, so weary, when troubles come, and my heart burdened be, then, I am still and wait here in the silence, until you come and sit awhile with me, you raise me up, so I can stand on mountains, you raise me up to walk on stormy seas, I am strong when I am on your shoulders, you raise me up to more than I can be. Find this 1984 Pontiac Fiero 4X4 Monster Ferrari here on eBay offered for $8900 buy-it-now or make-offer in Richmond, VA. Tip from Matt C.

Notta 2005 Porsche: 1988 Pontiac Fiero

This next car is...well...something special.  It isn't an ugly duckling, because the ugly duckling grew up to be a goose and this is...uhhhh...the ultimate example of a kit car trying to be a car that nobody wants to own. It is like the ain't kit car -- like somebody put a Fiero body on a Ferrari..seriously 996 911s and 986 Boxsters are some of the cheapest cars around and the Fiero GT is just starting to get into its stride.  Find this 1988 Pontiac Fiero offered for $7975 in Walpole, ME via craigslist. Tip from Carter & Aktifspeed.

Looks Fast Standing Still: 1985 Pontiac Fiero GT

This next car comes from tipper SecondMouse who writes: For less than the price of shipping it, you could own a non-running 1985 Fiero V6 with manual transmission. Stored indoors under a protective coating of dust since 2010, it looks to be in good overall condition.  Find this 1985 Pontiac Fiero GT offered for $500 in Magnolia, TX via craigslist.

One Year Rear: 1973 Pontiac Grand Am Coupe

This next car comes from tipper Watch Carefully who writes: Today I discovered this: It's a bit of a resto-mod, but true to the original 454 model with NACA ducts, etc. My dad had the 4-door from 1973, bought new when I was a kid, and I always thought it was among the best looking muscle cars of the 1970s. sadly they ruined the rear end design with the revision for 1974, so this is a 1-year-only, improved version of the original Grand Am (don't get me started on what they became in the final iterations). GM saw it as competition for sports sedans from BMW & Mercedes (...that's a good one). Nonetheless, it is what it is...very cool and decidedly uncommon.  Had I the money, garage space, and brownie points with the wife, I would probably bid on this (and swap it for a manual). Hopefully, someone in DTland is into it.  Find this 1973 Pontiac Grand Am Coupe here on eBay bidding for $5925 reserve-not-met with 5 days to go located in Winter Haven, FL.

Like A Nova: 1973 Oldsmobile Omega

The original Oldsmobile Omega was a badge engineered version of the X-platform Chevrolet Nova and was sold in two generations 1973-1974 and 1975-1979.  The Omega was more luxurious than the Nova it was based on, but it still rode on the same basic chassis and is just as wonderful or horrible depending on who you talk to about it.  Novas in good shape demand some coin, but the equivalent Oldsmobile Omega (or Buick Apollo or Pontiac Ventura) are offered for cheap. Find this 1973 Oldsmobile Omega offered for $6,500 in Spokane, WA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Sheep In A Wolf's Hoodie: 1966 Land Rover Defender on Pontiac Grand Prix Chassis

If you've ever spent time under a car, you know what you can get with a little hard work and a pair of donor cars.  All manner of crazy beasts start with a simple thought from some a mad scientist...but this next car is so perplexing that I'm going to have to give it the official Bearded Spock award and just hope it gets swallowed up in the next black hole to dimension Z.  Find this 1966 Land Rover Defender on a Pontiac Grand Prix Chassis offered for $2,500 in Taunton, MA via craigslist. Tip from Gregg. 

Double Trouble: 1986 vs 1988 Ferrari 308 Mera Fiero Clones

Wow.  What are the chances?  We got a hot tip on a Fauxrarri 308 clone (that uses a Pontiac Fiero chassis and some Ferrarieqse body work) powered by a Caddy V8 and then another tip came through...and I thought...wow, must be the same car.  Nope.  TWO DIFFERENT CADDY POWERED FIERRARIS AT THE SAME TIME.  First up is this 1988 Ferrari 308 Clone offered for $15,450 in Virginia Beach, VA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!