Two Tone 1988 GT (Page 3/4)
skywurz MAY 03, 01:25 PM

quote
Originally posted by css9450:


On the '88s, the front wheels were narrower than the rears (the difference is easy to see by comparing the outer lip between the two).

Yours does look like it has the correct narrow '88 wheel in the front, unless I'm just not seeing it correctly due to the camera angle.



Im seeing the same. Looks like the correct narrow in the front. What I also see is the Fiero badge on the center cap. This another non 88 item.
Patrick MAY 03, 02:19 PM

quote
Originally posted by Mythrondir:

Were there no '88 silver staggered honeycomb wheels? I thought I knew a lot about Fieros, but what I don't know could fill the Library of Congress apparently.



The super Fiero braniacs will be able to chime in and determine the year of the wheels by the relative location of the valve stems on them. Seriously!

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 05-03-2021).]

Mythrondir MAY 03, 02:56 PM
That's equal parts impressive, scary, and magic....

I'll yield the floor to the brainiacs, there still is mystery surrounding the '88 Fiero cleverly disguised as an '87.

Thank you Patrick!
Patrick MAY 03, 03:11 PM

I found a very informative thread (with lots of pictures) about Fiero wheels - Is this a wheel off an 88 GT?
Mythrondir MAY 03, 04:55 PM
The rabbit hole just opened up further and I thought I saw some small guys with picks coming toward me. I have three wheels with the logo cap and valve stems in the middle of the spoke and one wheel with the logo cap and valve stem on the point (rear passenger). I have the PH0 code in my RPO's, indicating the staggered honeycomb wheel but no color indicated. I'm going to put new belts on this weekend and will get a closer look at the wheel while I have it off (for signs of it being painted), but for now I still have questions. I feel like I may have the Johnny Cash Cadillac....

By the way, great post you found there and thank you for the direction. I'll let you know when I find out more.
fieroguru MAY 03, 09:05 PM
The mirrors should be black, not body color, so just another data point down the repaint path.

Still a very nice looking car.
skywurz MAY 03, 09:34 PM

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Originally posted by fieroguru:
Still a very nice looking car.



Oh yes. I doubt anyone is saying otherwise.

This is just a really interesting case. Kind of like when we found that one 87 that was a revinned 88... except less nefarious.

The mirrors could have been pulled and painted. Until this was pointed out I was thinking someone may have pulled the trim and the bumpers and had them painted . nearly all of the repainted cars I have had contact with have overspray between the fender and door. There is also the section under the windshield wipers that typically does not get touched in a respray.
Mythrondir MAY 03, 10:37 PM
Guru and Sky, greatly appreciate the kind words about the car. I've never felt that anyone was being uncomplimentary, just helping me figure out her provenance, but thank you again for the boost.

Guru, that is one thing that I did find out, the mirrors WERE black. There is small ding on the passenger one that shows black underneath, so great catch and further background info.

Sky, since the VINs all match, and the RPO says Bright Red, I think you're probably on the money with your hypothesis. While I haven't noticed any overspray, I'll check a bit closer this weekend and confirm if this was a full repaint or just the trim and, now, mirrors. That will be a final solve on the body and maybe someone else will wander in here with a bit more insight into the wheels.

All in all, she has the exact two tone look I wanted with the MY1988 improvements, so a win for me no matter what.

Thank you all again for the great education.
Raydar MAY 04, 12:40 PM

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Originally posted by Mythrondir:
...
So, yes, the fronts are more narrow. If the wheels were not actually painted, and I'm not a painter and don't play one on TV, but they really look factory with the sealer on them and all, what does that mean.




I would say that if they seem to be sealed, they were probably powder coated, instead of painted. That tells me that whoever wanted the change was willing to pay whatever was required to do it right


quote


Were there no '88 silver staggered honeycomb wheels?



None that I have ever seen. Most were black. Some were gold (available as an option on certain GTs.)
I have seen a few painted bright red, but I'm not sure about the back story on those. Maybe a dealer option, or done by the owners.
Never a silver or gray on an 88.

Somebody went to a great deal of trouble to make yours look like it came that way, and appears to have done a nice job of it.

Edit - It also looks to have been lowered a bit. At least in the front. (IMHO, most 88s seem to sit a bit too high in the front, anyway.)


------------------
Raydar
88 Formula IMSA Fastback. 4.9, NVG T550

Praise the Lowered!

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 05-04-2021).]

pmbrunelle MAY 04, 12:53 PM

quote
Originally posted by Mythrondir:
I'll yield the floor to the brainiacs, there still is mystery surrounding the '88 Fiero cleverly disguised as an '87.



It's more of an 86 disguise, not an 87 disguise.

87 Fieros didn't come in that red colour.