GM Proving Grounds Keytag (Page 1/3)
Chantruese MAY 01, 10:51 AM
I just picked up an 86 Fiero out of a junk yard, it's totally complete, so I'm going to work on rebuilding it. However, the thing that's intriguing to me is the tag we found on the keys that fit the ignition/door locks. It's labeled GM Desert Proving Ground, and has a description of the car on the back. Anyone seen something like this?
olejoedad MAY 01, 11:00 AM
Very interesting.
Chief08 MAY 01, 11:18 AM
That's cool, I've never seen that before. Interestingly, the GM proving ground is now in Yuma, and I have seen the C8 Corvette in full camo near there on two separate occasions last year. Good find.
Thunderstruck GT MAY 01, 12:10 PM
See if there is partial VIN's etched into the tops of the rear strut towers and report.

Also, see if the emissions label is completely filled out.

[This message has been edited by Thunderstruck GT (edited 05-01-2020).]

Chantruese MAY 01, 12:50 PM
There is an etching on the rear strut tower (passenger side), but the numbers don't seem to match the VIN in any way.

[This message has been edited by Chantruese (edited 05-01-2020).]

Chantruese MAY 01, 01:58 PM
Looked under decklid and hood, can't see an emissions label. Is it somewhere else?
Thunderstruck GT MAY 01, 02:48 PM

quote
Originally posted by Chantruese:

There is an etching on the rear strut tower (passenger side), but the numbers don't seem to match the VIN in any way.




Can you post a picture?


quote
Originally posted by Chantruese:

Looked under decklid and hood, can't see an emissions label. Is it somewhere else?



By Federal law there must be one on it.

Take a good look at the engine compartment lid. To the right there should be a white label. If not, look for remnants of a sticker. If nothing is present, look for the VIN sticker. If there is no VIN sticker, or there is a sticker where the number does not match the car, then the lid was changed.
Chantruese MAY 01, 05:30 PM
When you said "filled out emissions label", I guess I was looking for something beyond the standard one. Here's the regular emissions label.

Here's the stamp on the shock tower.

We actually got in touch with David Tracy at Jalopnik, to see if he could use his contacts, and he wrote back! Here's what we got from him/GM guys:

"The manager for the Milford proving grounds was the fleet manager for the Fiero 35 years ago. I just spoke with him through a friend.

"At desert proving grounds, they did have vehicles that were specifically butt-haulers," my friend told me he gathered from the fleet manager.

He told me the cars were at the proving grounds and airport, and allowed GM to avoid rental cars. "It is most likely legitimate, but it is not a prototype car" my friend told me."

So likely a run-around vehicle at the proving grounds, which is still pretty cool for a $400 scrap car pulled from a junk yard. Our state has no record of the VIN, so I actually should be able to title it. We're going to try to see if it'll run this weekend. =)
IMSA GT MAY 01, 07:04 PM
I'm curious if there were any mods done to the interior for testing or does the inside look like a stock Fiero?
Thunderstruck GT MAY 01, 10:44 PM

quote
Originally posted by Chantruese:

When you said "filled out emissions label", I guess I was looking for something beyond the standard one. Here's the regular emissions label.

Here's the stamp on the shock tower.

We actually got in touch with David Tracy at Jalopnik, to see if he could use his contacts, and he wrote back! Here's what we got from him/GM guys:

"The manager for the Milford proving grounds was the fleet manager for the Fiero 35 years ago. I just spoke with him through a friend.

"At desert proving grounds, they did have vehicles that were specifically butt-haulers," my friend told me he gathered from the fleet manager.

He told me the cars were at the proving grounds and airport, and allowed GM to avoid rental cars. "It is most likely legitimate, but it is not a prototype car" my friend told me."

So likely a run-around vehicle at the proving grounds, which is still pretty cool for a $400 scrap car pulled from a junk yard. Our state has no record of the VIN, so I actually should be able to title it. We're going to try to see if it'll run this weekend. =)


Nope.

Your label is complete and that number I believe is a part number.

I was looking for things like this......