Pontiac is a company renowned for creating cars that provide advanced technology and unique looks together in one package. This is a tradition that began with the Pontiac GTO and was continued by cars such as the Firebird, the Grand Prix, and the Trans Am. But as the company moved into the world of the 1980s, they realized that they needed to transform the idea of what a Pontiac could be to be more consistent with newer visual style preferences and vehicle capabilities. After taking a few runs at the Fiero concept, they finally created the perfect blend of all these criteria: the 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT.

This Fiero was by no means the first to bear the title; Fiero production began a few years earlier in 1984 as the brainchild of company president William Hoglund as part of his expressed desire to shake off the growing connotation of Pontiacs as bland or old-fashioned. This philosophy echoed sentiments by Pontiac Chief designer Pete Estes, who had wanted to take the brand in this bold new direction way back in the 70s, but couldn’t due to General Motors’ (who owned the majority of American car companies) prioritizations of another one of its models: the Chevrolet Corvette.

One of the biggest shakeups incorporated in Pontiac's new vision was the idea to make their latest car mid-engine, an undertaking that had never been attempted in a mass-market American offering before. Chevrolet had experimented with mid-engine designs for the Corvette for some time, but had never truly cracked the code. With this design, the Fiero likened itself to popular European sports cars of the period without compromising Pontiac's legacy of American-made vehicles.

The original 1984 Pontiac Fiero delivered on the mid-engine concept and was a visual step forward for the company, but the fresh design was held back by the use of outdated mechanics that made the performance poor relative to other competitors. However, its initial popularity was such that the car could not keep up with consumer demand, which gave Pontiac the funds to improve the car in subsequent years. 

The 1985-87 models began to deliver on the car’s original promises, gradually incorporating such improvements as a high-power V6 engine (which earned the car its new GT subtitle), a new-and-improved manual transmission, and more efficient wheels and brake discs.

The much-anticipated 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT was the fullest realization of the original concept and was the best received critically and publicly. It boasted advanced vented brake discs, entirely new front and rear suspensions reminiscent of those present in popular Lotus models, and a silky crankshaft with interior balancing. On top of all of this, it boasted the beloved V6 engine and produced 140 bhp, as well as other engine balance and stability tweaks that made it a fan favorite.

While 1988 Fiero GTS already have a lot to love based on specs alone, they have enjoyed a cult following over the years due to a few other factors. For one, it's the rarest Fiero model by far. By the end of the 1988 production year only 6,849 Fiero GTs came off the line, and of that number only 3,799 used manual transmissions. Since each of these few models were to many the truest realization of the overall concept, they were in high demand then and remain in high demand now.

Another reason for the ‘88 GT’s beloved status is that it was the last Fiero ever created. GM kept its streak of under-prioritizing non-Corvette sportscars, and despite the creation of a 1990 Fiero Prototype, the model has never been produced again. For many the end of the Fiero line marked a premature death of a great concept; the General Motors had finally achieved perfection and then threw it all away. For those who already owned Fieros, the end was something of a bittersweet victory, as they were able to definitively state that they owned the best Fiero model of all time.

Many cars have enjoyed much more success than the Pontiac Fiero line ever did. But to have reached an engineering peak so quickly after the line’s creation is an achievement that legions of fans still recognize as important to this day. The phrase “there will never be any other car like it” is tossed around a lot by car enthusiasts, but it usually carries a sad connotation along with it. For those who love this Fiero or have one in their collection, they couldn’t be happier that the same is said about their beloved GT.

References:

Pontiac Fiero - Wikipedia

Pontiac Fiero GT, 1986-1988 | Hemmings