Since purchasing the Purple Pavement Eater last summer I have learned much of its history thanks to Pennocks forum as well as other sources. In this thread I will share the story as I understand it. Please feel free to contribute to this story if you have any additional details. Please correct me if I am mistaken on any of my facts. I will break it up into several posts. Here goes:

In 1993 former drag racer Rich Warber and his wife Jeanette purchased a one owner black and silver 1986 GT with 16,300 miles on it.





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Purple Pavement Eater
V8, Chop top, coil-overs, 12" brakes

[This message has been edited by newin55 (edited 09-28-2015).]

In 1996 Rich installed a high performance V8 using a Zumalt kit. The engine was a 4 bolt main 350 from a Corvette that had been bored .030" over. The balanced engine had 6 inch Crower rods, a Crower cam, Weisco forged pistons, MSD ignition, Air Flow Reasearch aluminum heads, roller rockers, Tuned Port Injection by Street and Performance, and a Fluidamper balancer. For exhaust it had Sanderson ceramic coated headers, dual catalytic converters and glass pack mufflers. Rich and Jeanette refered to the car as “Rich’s Pocket Rocket”. They began showing the car this year.









To be continued....

[This message has been edited by newin55 (edited 09-28-2015).]

[This message has been edited by infinitewill (edited 01-05-2016).]

I'm watching to see if it was ever given different paint, different wheels, different taillights, and lowered in the rear.

[This message has been edited by Cheever3000 (edited 03-16-2009).]

quote Originally posted by Cheever3000: I'm watching to see if it was ever given different paint, different wheels, different taillights, and lowered in the rear.

The only thing I never really liked about this car was the rear end. It just sat waaaay too high.....not very aesthetically pleasing (to me at least). If any car ever screamed out "please lower me!", it's this one.


Anywho.....sorry for the mini hijack. Continue with the story.....I know most of it, but not everything. I hope you are enjoying it and driving it on a regular basis too.

[This message has been edited by mrfiero (edited 03-16-2009).]

One day in the fall of 1996 Jeanette came home to find that Rich had removed the interior and some body panels from the car and was in the process of chopping the top! He worked on the car with a passion, consuming every spare moment. He had the car ready for the next show season. His car was the first chop top Fiero!

Note: Sometime previous to starting the chop top he had added IRM rocker panels and raised the wing 2 ½ inches.







So yes, Old Lar, the car was a black chop top fastback in 1997 as shown in the picture you posted.

[This message has been edited by newin55 (edited 10-04-2015).]

[This message has been edited by newin55 (edited 03-16-2009).]