Pennock's Fiero Forum
  General Fiero Chat - Archive
  Who really made the First Fiero.....Ford???

T H I S   I S   A N   A R C H I V E D   T O P I C
  

Email This Page to Someone! | Printable Version


Who really made the First Fiero.....Ford??? by Kameo Kid
Started on: 12-29-2002 11:38 AM
Replies: 17
Last post by: Pyrthian on 12-30-2002 02:34 PM
Kameo Kid
Member
Posts: 2343
From: Cortland,Ohio
Registered: Jul 2002


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 132
Rate this member

Report this Post12-29-2002 11:38 AM Click Here to See the Profile for Kameo KidSend a Private Message to Kameo KidDirect Link to This Post
Like the title says..I was watching the Fine Living channel yesterday and I forget the name of the show but it was about Mustangs and they were talking about the T-Birds and the market for them and they "Ford" wanted to make a small sports car for your everyday "Joe". So they showed the Proto-type made in 1962 called the Mustang 1, and it sports a 1.9L four banger Oh did I mention that it was a "Mid-engine design" Just kinda makes ya wonder..

------------------

IP: Logged
PFF
System Bot
DustoneGT
Member
Posts: 1274
From: The U.S. Superstate
Registered: Dec 2002


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 51
Rate this member

Report this Post12-29-2002 01:26 PM Click Here to See the Profile for DustoneGTSend a Private Message to DustoneGTDirect Link to This Post
Lets not forget the Chevrolet Corvair.
It was a mid-engined 4 cylinder also, and was already in production by 1962.

Heres a pic from some web site I found:

IP: Logged
BlkBird
Member
Posts: 409
From: Moscow Mills, MO, USA
Registered: Sep 2002


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post12-29-2002 01:38 PM Click Here to See the Profile for BlkBirdSend a Private Message to BlkBirdDirect Link to This Post
If your using that kinda logic, dont forget the Beetle. I guess Hitler had a part in designing the first Fiero?
IP: Logged
fierce_gt
Member
Posts: 1517
From: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Registered: Oct 2002


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post12-29-2002 01:39 PM Click Here to See the Profile for fierce_gtSend a Private Message to fierce_gtDirect Link to This Post
Didn't Ford produce a prototype to compete with the fiero? I thought I saw a pic of one somewhere.

------------------

IP: Logged
shark93726
Member
Posts: 334
From: Fresno, CA
Registered: Aug 2001


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post12-29-2002 01:39 PM Click Here to See the Profile for shark93726Click Here to visit shark93726's HomePageSend a Private Message to shark93726Direct Link to This Post
Actually, the Corvair was a "rear" engined car, the engine actually hangs out behind the back wheels, just like the Porsche 911.

Unfortunately, GM did a poor job of controlling the Corvair's tendancy to swap ends, and ended its life after Ralph Nader drew attention to it with his book, "Unsafe at any Speed".

That could be one of the reasons why GM ended the Fiero's life so abruptly, they may have expected another "book" about the Fiero's fire problems. However, Ford's Pinto managed to divert attention away from GM's cars for a while.

------------------
Gerald Storvik

http://www.8shark.com

IP: Logged
Soaper
Member
Posts: 1417
From: Nashville, TN
Registered: Jun 2002


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 69
Rate this member

Report this Post12-29-2002 01:49 PM Click Here to See the Profile for SoaperSend a Private Message to SoaperDirect Link to This Post
I found this... I dunno if this is true but okay. I dont got PIP or whatever. So if someone can link thanks What about the VW beetle? http://www.angelfire.com/il2/soap/fords_ripoff_fiero.jpg
IP: Logged
GTDude
Member
Posts: 9056
From: Keysville, Virginia, USA
Registered: Nov 2001


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 287
Rate this member

Report this Post12-29-2002 02:07 PM Click Here to See the Profile for GTDudeDirect Link to This Post
The corvair was a 6 cyl...not a 4cyl.

Phil

------------------
GTDude
OVER 25 years GM experience

IP: Logged
FieroBUZZ
Member
Posts: 3320
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Feb 2001


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 103
Rate this member

Report this Post12-29-2002 02:08 PM Click Here to See the Profile for FieroBUZZDirect Link to This Post
There have always been mid-engine cars around. The Fiero didn't really plow new ground here.

It was common in the early 1900's to mount the engine under the seat and chain drive the rear wheels.

IP: Logged
Formula88
Member
Posts: 53788
From: Raleigh NC
Registered: Jan 2001


Feedback score: (3)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 554
Rate this member

Report this Post12-29-2002 02:16 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Formula88Send a Private Message to Formula88Direct Link to This Post
 
quote
Originally posted by shark93726:

Actually, the Corvair was a "rear" engined car, the engine actually hangs out behind the back wheels, just like the Porsche 911.

Unfortunately, GM did a poor job of controlling the Corvair's tendancy to swap ends, and ended its life after Ralph Nader drew attention to it with his book, "Unsafe at any Speed".

Yup, the Corvair, released in the Fall of '59 as a 1960 model, was a rear engined, air cooled flat six (like the 911 engine). The early models didn't handle well, with the rear engine and swing axle, but later models, and especially the 65-69 models handled much better. Yenko Chevrolet (you remember the Yenko Camaros?) made a special version of the 65+ model called the "Yenko Stinger" for competition in SCCA road racing, and with a 190HP six cylinder and improved handling, they were know to do unspeakable things to Bos 302 Mustangs in the races. The cars may not have been great handlers in 60-61, but that was later corrected.

As for Ralph Nader... well, he's a goober. I don't know if his book killed the 'Vair, but it surely didn't help. And by the time his book hit the stands, any problems he cited had already been corrected.

IP: Logged
bookster
Member
Posts: 124
From: littleton colo usa
Registered: Jun 2002


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 141
User Banned

Report this Post12-29-2002 02:17 PM Click Here to See the Profile for booksterClick Here to visit bookster's HomePageSend a Private Message to booksterDirect Link to This Post
Well, lets talk
ford did have there hand in it. It is a mid engine
meaning the engine sits before the trans
that would be world renowned
Detomasa Pantera
this is and shall always be the most
violent car ever built
in fact it hold so many records I feel
no car shall ever compare
IP: Logged
cadaver
Member
Posts: 1196
From: CA
Registered: Aug 2000


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post12-29-2002 02:29 PM Click Here to See the Profile for cadaverSend a Private Message to cadaverDirect Link to This Post
Yes the panteras. A big block mid in something that handles that well is pretty impressive.

But lets not forget my fav. The GT40's. Also V8 mids. Won 1st 2nd and 3rd in LeMans when they raced.

IP: Logged
PFF
System Bot
jstricker
Member
Posts: 12956
From: Russell, KS USA
Registered: Apr 2002


Feedback score:    (11)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 370
Rate this member

Report this Post12-29-2002 02:30 PM Click Here to See the Profile for jstrickerSend a Private Message to jstrickerDirect Link to This Post
Neither the Beetle or the Corvair were mid-engined, they were rear engined.

John Stricker

 
quote
Originally posted by BlkBird:

If your using that kinda logic, dont forget the Beetle. I guess Hitler had a part in designing the first Fiero?

IP: Logged
Kameo Kid
Member
Posts: 2343
From: Cortland,Ohio
Registered: Jul 2002


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 132
Rate this member

Report this Post12-29-2002 05:35 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Kameo KidSend a Private Message to Kameo KidDirect Link to This Post
you guys missed the point... I know the fiero isn't the first and won't be the last MID-ENGINE. none of the cars you mentioned LOOK like a Fiero or have a MID-engine design, rear engine doesn't pass for a MID-engine...and a pantara engine sits different the mustang 1 could past for a Fiero with it's styling q's,

------------------

IP: Logged
TI_3VOM
Member
Posts: 202
From: Chicago, IL
Registered: Jun 2001


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post12-29-2002 06:03 PM Click Here to See the Profile for TI_3VOMSend a Private Message to TI_3VOMDirect Link to This Post
Who really made the First Fiero???

Pontiac...in 1969, the Firebird-Fiero ("Pontiac Enthusiast", March/April 1995, Volume 1, number 6.)

As for Ford, the Mustang Prototype WAS a 2-seater mid-engined sports car to compete in the Triumph/MG market. http://www.allfordmustangs.com/Detailed/120.shtml

That's not to say that Ford did not try to produce a competitor to the Fiero. http://www3.sympatico.ca/lheureux.savard/lheureux.savard/fordone.htm

...enjoy the links fellas

IP: Logged
Coupe85
Member
Posts: 838
From: Paxton, Il.
Registered: Oct 2002


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback

Rate this member

Report this Post12-29-2002 06:24 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Coupe85Send a Private Message to Coupe85Direct Link to This Post
The M30 was just a concept car right? Just want to be clear on it. In my opinion it kinda looks like the car in the movie "The Wraith". I know that car was a Dodge, but similiar in appearance.

------------------

Check out my website...
www.localline.com/~dlcrim
1985 Sport Coupe
1988 Formula

IP: Logged
Slammed Fiero
Member
Posts: 2810
From:
Registered: Nov 2000


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 206
User Banned

Report this Post12-29-2002 06:34 PM Click Here to See the Profile for Slammed FieroSend a Private Message to Slammed FieroDirect Link to This Post
The car Kameo Kid posted the pic of is available to see at the henry ford meseum. It is MUCH smaller than a Fiero or even a miata. It's about 3/4's the size of an Mg Midget...

Neat little car....

As for the corvair... I have autocrossed a 61 4 door on bias ply's before at a few national conventions. Scary handling? not really. Funny how the corvair was unsafe at any speed and the VW bug with the identical designed suspension as the pre 64 cars was never tackled by nader.

JM

------------------
Jonathan McCreery

If you're goin to hell, dont halfazz it, go all out, and shoot for Satan's right hand man.

IP: Logged
DustoneGT
Member
Posts: 1274
From: The U.S. Superstate
Registered: Dec 2002


Feedback score: N/A
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 51
Rate this member

Report this Post12-29-2002 06:39 PM Click Here to See the Profile for DustoneGTSend a Private Message to DustoneGTDirect Link to This Post
It's a shame that all they could produce was the probe.
IP: Logged
Pyrthian
Member
Posts: 29569
From: Detroit, MI
Registered: Jul 2002


Feedback score: (5)
Leave feedback





Total ratings: 342
Rate this member

Report this Post12-30-2002 02:34 PM Click Here to See the Profile for PyrthianSend a Private Message to PyrthianDirect Link to This Post
and of course the Italian cousin - the Fiat X1/9
at 100 yards almost impossible to tell it from a Fiero (notchback that is)
IP: Logged



All times are ET (US)

T H I S   I S   A N   A R C H I V E D   T O P I C
  

Contact Us | Back To Main Page

Advertizing on PFF | Fiero Parts Vendors
PFF Merchandise | Fiero Gallery
Real-Time Chat | Fiero Related Auctions on eBay



Copyright (c) 1999, C. Pennock