The Fiero Factory News (Page 3/5)
82-T/A [At Work] AUG 13, 07:49 PM

quote
Originally posted by mrfiero:

Bottom line is, I appreciate anyone's willingness to help, but it might be time to quit doing CPR because the patient is dead.

It's not all doom and gloom. I still love the Fiero and will continue tinkering with them and going to as many shows and gatherings as I can. As some therapy, I took a $500 parts car (88 Formula with 230K miles) and just got it up and running after a 10+ year slumber. That sort of thing still brings me joy.....the parts business hasn't completely taken that away. It still looks like a $500 parts car, but it runs and drives like a $1000 car.



Hi Mike, I'd still like to help if I can. If you decide you want to rent a truck and load it up, please call me and I'll come up there and spend a week helping you load it up... free of charge. I'll even buy us a pizza and beer. Let me know...

Also, my daughter wants me to buy one of those cars there too... and has buy-in from the wife. So if you haven't crushed the one she wants yet... I'm interested. Haha...


Thanks... also... have you thought of maybe reaching out to The Fiero Farm, or Villain here in Florida? They might be interested in buying a ton of stuff from you.
mrfiero SEP 10, 03:00 PM

quote
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:


Hi Mike, I'd still like to help if I can. If you decide you want to rent a truck and load it up, please call me and I'll come up there and spend a week helping you load it up... free of charge. I'll even buy us a pizza and beer. Let me know...

Also, my daughter wants me to buy one of those cars there too... and has buy-in from the wife. So if you haven't crushed the one she wants yet... I'm interested. Haha...


Thanks... also... have you thought of maybe reaching out to The Fiero Farm, or Villain here in Florida? They might be interested in buying a ton of stuff from you.




LMK which car she wants. I have already crushed 15 or so cars, but they were mostly rust buckets and cars that were already stripped naked. I'll give you the car in partial exchange for helping clean up the place!

I may just have you come help me in October....when it cools off and (hopefully) isn't so rainy. It's too complicated a story to relay here, right now, but about an acre of the land has been sold. That land includes the warehouse with all the parts. I need to go through it and cherry pick the "good" stuff before everything else gets tossed. I have until March 1st to do this....after that date everything left will be thrown out. I'll be in touch.

BTW....feel free to publish/release the video you took last year. I meant to tell you that a long time ago.
mrfiero SEP 10, 03:03 PM

quote
Originally posted by rbell2915:

Mike hooked me up with a performance sound box for a killer price. Can't wait to get it.


I hope it worked out! I have quite a few of the speaker boxes, but almost all of them have cracks around the screw holes. It took some digging to find you one that wasn't messed up!
mrfiero SEP 10, 03:05 PM

quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:


I guess what you are saying is Jeremy Biggs sold Mike Valentine an albatross. Could be.




While it certainly became an albatross around my neck after the fact, I bought the place with my eyes wide open. Jeremy didn't do anything nefarious.....in fact, we are good friends.
mrfiero SEP 10, 03:13 PM

quote
Originally posted by FIERO JOHN-WI:
I have known Mike for a very long time, we met at a F.O.C.O.A. National event, we hit it off with our passion for Fiero T-top cars.




We go back to the olden days of the 1990's!

I agree with your assessment of the buyers out there and that a stand alone used parts business cannot survive as a sole source of income for the owner. I am living proof of that. Others do well because they also service cars, do engine swaps, fabricate new parts, etc. in addition to selling used parts.

I am under a time crunch to do anything with the stuff in Alabama. Some will be saved, but the majority of the stuff will be scrapped. I have been running on fumes (financially & otherwise) for a couple of years now. I'll still continue selling stuff, but it will be as a part-time gig through eBay, FB Marketplace and/or the PFF Mall. If I can find someone to build an e-commerce stye website I'll continue selling tnings as The Fiero Factory too.
cam-a-lot SEP 10, 10:03 PM
Sad story. I love my Fiero

But anyone that thinks that they can make a living selling stuff to Fiero owners has been sniffing too much glue

It is a niche market. I went to Fierorama this week in Illinois.... and at 52 years old (no spring chicken) I felt young being there, This should be a huge warning sign for anyone doing this

If you are going to supply parts, services, etc for Fieros, I love you and appreciate you.

But if you think you can make a living at it, then I am sorry...... but you need to stop smoking the cheap stuff...

I met Brian Sanburn BTW. Great guy, highly recommended. There are some good vendors out there. I am just saying that something that we do out of emotion and love does not necessarily make business sense

[This message has been edited by cam-a-lot (edited 09-10-2025).]

hyperv6 SEP 11, 06:54 AM
The trouble with the Fiero is demand is not large. Even some muscle cars suffer the lack of demand but they also sell several models like Ames Pontiac parts.

Then if you do sell most Fiero people don’t want to pay the price for some parts. Just look at the debate on the T top seals. They can be made but few will pay the price.

Salvage yards are vanishing so the used supply is in great decline. Places like the Fiero store are loved and hated but needed.

The future is this, You buy a good complete car or you have one or two doaners that you use up.

I preach now to buy the best low mile car you can. There are many out there, Often they cost less than if you rebuild and repaint a high mile car.

To sell Fiero parts you can really only strip one or two cars and sell on E bay the most needed part to any much money and keep the overhead down. Other wise it is a job of love.
cliffw SEP 11, 11:57 AM

quote
Originally posted by mrfiero:
I agree with your assessment of the buyers out there and that a stand alone used parts business cannot survive as a sole source of income for the owner. I am living proof of that. Others do well because they also service cars, do engine swaps, fabricate new parts, etc. in addition to selling used parts.



I have never fit a general assessment. 66 years old, smart enough to know parts are becoming extinct. I will buy parts, not expecting perfect, and pay a premium price, if it is a good enough condition.


quote
Originally posted by mrfiero:
I am under a time crunch to do anything with the stuff in Alabama. Some will be saved, but the majority of the stuff will be scrapped. I have been running on fumes (financially & otherwise) for a couple of years now. I'll still continue selling stuff, but it will be as a part-time gig through eBay, FB Marketplace and/or the PFF Mall. If I can find someone to build an e-commerce stye website I'll continue selling tnings as The Fiero Factory too.



Mike, throwing a thought out for you and the forum. Have you ever thought about taking on partners in the business ? Fiero parts, as mentioned, is not a stand alone job/vocation.
82-T/A [At Work] SEP 12, 07:58 AM

quote
Originally posted by mrfiero:

LMK which car she wants. I have already crushed 15 or so cars, but they were mostly rust buckets and cars that were already stripped naked. I'll give you the car in partial exchange for helping clean up the place!

I may just have you come help me in October....when it cools off and (hopefully) isn't so rainy. It's too complicated a story to relay here, right now, but about an acre of the land has been sold. That land includes the warehouse with all the parts. I need to go through it and cherry pick the "good" stuff before everything else gets tossed. I have until March 1st to do this....after that date everything left will be thrown out. I'll be in touch.

BTW....feel free to publish/release the video you took last year. I meant to tell you that a long time ago.




Hi Mike... hands down, I will come out there at my own expense, and even buy dinner for everyone. If you can give me some dates, I'll plan ahead so my work knows I'll be out a week. Just let me know as soon as you think is viable, and I'll make plans. I owe it to you and the Fiero Factory... the shop was there for me several times in the past 25+ years, and I want to help. I expect nothing in return for it (I mean that).

For the Fiero, I'll send you a picture in e-mail... let me know... I won't haggle.
Raydar SEP 12, 09:44 AM
I might be able to come and help some, too. Depending upon the timing. (I think SWMBO has some events planned for October. I'll have to work around her schedule.)
Also heard from another person, who also indicated that he may be able to come and help. If it's on a weekend.

I also pretty much have all the spare parts I need, so it's all good. (Subliminal message. Will work for free. )

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 09-12-2025).]