1988 Pontiac Fiero GT WS6
Typical asking prices*: $4,000-$6,000
Collector status: Buy and hold

It is somewhat ironic that a car used as a basis for crappy replicas of other collector cars (Ferrari F40 and Testarossa for example) should be considered a collector car itself. But then the Pontiac Fiero was an irony from the beginning. It was given a reluctant go-ahead by GM brass only because it was proposed as an economical commuter car. The irony is that somehow it ended up with a mid-engine layout and arguably perhaps the most “exotic” looking design to ever come out of Detroit. Initially it was indeed limited by economy car underpinnings like a 92-bhp 4-cylinder and suspension carried over from GM’s X-body cars. This of course caused a great deal of disappointment from both press and enthusiasts who had higher expectations. By its final year of production in 1988 however, the Fiero grew into a respectable “sporty” car with a 140-bhp V6 and suspension more befitting a mid-engine car. The GT version in particular, with its flying buttress roofline, was now more adept at playing the part of a legitimate contender, at least among its peers like the Toyota MR2. With the WS6 suspension package, it was a nicely balanced, spirited performer for its day. Despite being a good seller, GM didn’t see a need for a another two-seat sports car, as that niche was being filled by the Corvette. Some might argue that with its late-blooming sporting characteristics, the Fiero GT may have even posed a threat to the Corvette’s sales. In any case, the Fiero was killed after a successful five-year run. In those five years, nearly 400,000 were produced and they are plentiful in the used car market. Many have been modified, some have been abused, but there are a few that remain unmolested and appreciated for what they are. That, along with relatively low production numbers for the year, make the 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT WS6 an excellent example of how capable the American auto industry can be when they don’t mean to be.