Holland Pontiac (in ohio) Convertibles

I have been trying to do some research on a subject that seems to have had very little written on it. That's the Coach-built convertibles of the late Seventies and Eighties. They made convertibles out of a ton of different cars, including: Camaro/Firebird, Ciera, CRX, Lincolns, Cadillacs, Celicas, Mustangs, Preludes, Toronados, Century, Celebrity, TBird, 300ZX and the list goes on. These cars were sent to the coach builder as a new car by a private owner or by a new-car dealership to sell on their lot with full warranty. One car that seemed to have been almost forgotten by the coach builders was the Fiero. Why was the Fiero avoided? Was it because GM planned to build their own version of a convertible Fiero and coach companies didn't want to waste their time and resources on a conversion that would be unsellable once the GM built convertible came on-line?

The only cars that I have seen any reference to were the 75 or so built for Holland Pontiac in Ohio. I was told that they were converted in Pompano Beach, Florida, but the conversion company was unknown. I have found that there was a company in that city that did hundreds of convertible conversions to other cars from about 1977 to 1981. That company was Grandeur Motor Car Corp. I have not seen any reference to that company working as late as '84, though.

I have not seen reference to any other coach-built convertibles that were built for the Fiero when new and in any quantity. Did any others exist? I am not talking about the Automoda kits or other kits that are/were available. I'm talking about turn-key cars that were (or could have been) sold new at dealerships from '84 to '88.

Does anyone have any information on the Holland cars? Any brochures you can scan and share? What company built them?

Please share photos of cars and mention what company converted it or what kit it is.

The Fiero seems an obvious car to convert to a convertible, since no one else was building or selling a 2-seat roadster in the mid eighties (except a few alfa spiders or bertone/pininfarina fiats). It seems so odd that more coach builders weren't converting Fieros, but were converting a lot of other cars mentioned above. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

i have one i believe, but once in a thread here someone said a place in i think michigan converted some too, or had it done. it's the first and last time i've heard of it, but it might be worth looking into if it's true. maybe that company did theirs.

Wow, I'm surprised there hasn't been more of a list of replies to this... I'm curious, too.

I don't really have much information myself to share about the Holland convertibles, since my interest started in 1990 and followed through in 2004 with the Automoda conversion specifically (thank you, Archie, Rob and Kris!), but I've always been curious about convertible Fieros of all types...

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Patrick W. Heinske -- LZeitgeist@aol.com
1988 Red Fiero Formula Convertible
*Desktop Photo Here* (click either link for pics)

PM jaskispyder here on PFF. He used to own one of the Holland Pontiac covertibles at one time, if I recall right, and was pretty knowledgeable about them.

More info on fiero convertibles is available using the SEARCH

There is a guy about 20 min from me that has one. 2.8 5 speed car. 19,000 miles on it. It is for sale. I have pics if you want to see them.

quote Originally posted by slimwhitman: Holland Pontiac (in ohio) Convertibles I have been trying to do some research on a subject that seems to have had very little written on it. That's the Coach-built convertibles of the late Seventies and Eighties. They made convertibles out of a ton of different cars, including: Camaro/Firebird, Ciera, CRX, Lincolns, Cadillacs, Celicas, Mustangs, Preludes, Toronados, Century, Celebrity, TBird, 300ZX and the list goes on. These cars were sent to the coach builder as a new car by a private owner or by a new-car dealership to sell on their lot with full warranty. One car that seemed to have been almost forgotten by the coach builders was the Fiero. Why was the Fiero avoided? Was it because GM planned to build their own version of a convertible Fiero and coach companies didn't want to waste their time and resources on a conversion that would be unsellable once the GM built convertible came on-line? The only cars that I have seen any reference to were the 75 or so built for Holland Pontiac in Ohio. I was told that they were converted in Pompano Beach, Florida, but the conversion company was unknown. I have found that there was a company in that city that did hundreds of convertible conversions to other cars from about 1977 to 1981. That company was Grandeur Motor Car Corp. I have not seen any reference to that company working as late as '84, though. I have not seen reference to any other coach-built convertibles that were built for the Fiero when new and in any quantity. Did any others exist? I am not talking about the Automoda kits or other kits that are/were available. I'm talking about turn-key cars that were (or could have been) sold new at dealerships from '84 to '88. Does anyone have any information on the Holland cars? Any brochures you can scan and share? What company built them? Please share photos of cars and mention what company converted it or what kit it is. The Fiero seems an obvious car to convert to a convertible, since no one else was building or selling a 2-seat roadster in the mid eighties (except a few alfa spiders or bertone/pininfarina fiats). It seems so odd that more coach builders weren't converting Fieros, but were converting a lot of other cars mentioned above. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

O live only a few miles from where Holland was in Massilon Ohio. The dealer is still there but it is owned by someone lese now if I recall.

I remeber being on the lot when the cars were there. They were made in Florida and 75 sounds like a number I have heard before but I am unsure.

Now I am doing this from memory so please stick with me.

They had a hard targa section anda folding back. They looked ok up but a lot better down as most soft tops do. But they did not have a full folding top.

They also had two sub frame supports bolted under the car as I thought this would also stiffen a T Top up with more support but I never pursued it.

I know this convertible was done on some Fieros they sold that had the SE/GT aero nose so they had to be around as late as 86. The cars I see here are mostly aero nose cars as a few are still around.

Holland also soild Zimmer Quicksilvers. They kept one for years after and I am not sure what happened to it.

Holland also has a large group of V6 SE's from 87 that they kept in stock till the mid 90's that were new. They all still had the window stickers on and if I recall they l silver. Most were sold and sent to Europe by an exporter in Jersey to buyer in England and Germany that wanted new Fiero's

Sorry I have no printed info on the cars from Holland. When they were here it was not a big deal and if I recall they were about $10,000 over sticker. I know there were several converters over the years with some being better than others. Some were in Florida and many were in California. I know several advertised in Hig Performanc Pontiac and the FOCOA magazine in the 80's.

Hey, welcome to the Forum slim.

Yup, I owned one.
about 68 of them were made, 87 coupe and 87 SEs. Most were coupes and they stickered about $6K over the price of "base" coupe.

The company was Conversion Concepts out of Florida. The quality of the coversion was "ok". No were near what could have been. But worked!.

There were two top designs, one was a full convertible and there was also a t-top/targa design. The center two panels were removed and the rear folded down.

The frame was added two by two pieced of metal tubes bent/bolted/welded to the floor. The inside corners were also welded (inside the car).

The rear fenders were cut off and caps were placed on top (sort of silly, but worked). The original boot did not cover the caps, but only the top when it was down. I changed my boot, so as it covered the caps. Looked much better. The original weatherstripping was used, cut and sealed with a glue. The header was was held to the car with corvette style screw latches. I don't believe they were from a corvette, but the design was similar.

Thanks
J.

I also have one of these cars and can confirm what Jaskispider wrote. Looking through the FOCOA newsletters from the early days, Conversion Concepts was just one of several companies which advertised conversions to the Fiero community and there were many options. My car has the full convertible top option and is a 4 cyl car. The interior panels were customized to allow the top to drop into the well between the interior panel and the metal framing behind the door. The gas door latch release was relocated to the firewall behind the drivers seat and functions as normal. I also have a tonneau cover which was made at the same time the car was converted. It covers the interior and attaches to the fiberglass caps on the rear fenders. I cannot verify if this came with the conversion or was added by the owner. All in all the cars are well built but they do have a bit more cowl shake than I would like. I have had the car for about 4 years now and rarely put the top up!

If you want to talk some more PM me. I have done some research on this and think an article in one of the enthusiast magazines is probably doable.

Rolland

Tonneau cover did not come with the car, but I too added one to mine. I bought my car from the original owner.

J.

Hello, I have a Brisa converted car just up the road from you in southern Iowa. I have some of the original literature from the company that did the conversions. PM me if you would like any further info. It's the white car in my sig.

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I just wanted to see if there is any further discussion on this topic?

I was under the impression that all of the Holland convertibles were blue 87s. Perhaps not.
There's a guy in our club that had one (a blue 4 cylinder 87 "base" car) for a while.
It's been traded around a couple of times.
I think it's in Montgomery now, but I'm not sure.



There was one on eBay a couple of years ago.
It was a blue 87 SE V6 5-speed, with the Holland conversion.
Seems like it went for a fortune.

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Raydar
88 4.9 Formula IMSA Fasback..........................88 3.4 coupe -soon to be something other than red

Read Nealz Nuze! Praise the Lowered!

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 03-04-2008).]

I am the owner of one of the Holland convertibles, actually the owner of Jasons', (jaskispyder) Fiero. This "Pristine" car, (thanks to Jason), came to me as a 4 cylinder about 5 years ago. Since then, I have added a 2001 3.8 S.C. engine, upgraded brakes, rims & tires, and a few other items. I have been to several Fiero shows in the U.S. and Canada over the years and have been lucky enough to take some awards home with me. I am planning on attending the 25th Anniversary show this summer with friends and club members. Hope to meet some more Fiero covertible owners there......Lothar

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1988 Fiero GT (Stock)
1987 Fiero Coup Convertible 3.8 S.C.

Loth,

Is that your beautiful red one you had at Auburn a couple of years ago?

Yes, that was me.....and thanks for the nice compliment!!!

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1988 Fiero GT (Stock)
1987 Fiero Coup Convertible 3.8 S.C.

A convertible reunion sounds like it would be fun and interesting. I hope to be able to make it to the event but don't know yet. Has anyone tried to start a registry to find out how many are left? I know I have the only one in Az, and it gets lots of attention where ever I take it.

Rolland

You can meet in Hollland Pontiacs lot as I am sad ro say they are gone and it has plenty of room now.

I think they got bought out by another dealer a while ago.

Hope this helps!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymot...em&item=170203573421

I'd like to jump in here also



I drove the car up on the lift when I got home to see how the support structure was underneath





The supports are not to bad, especially who old the conversion is. Can use a little paint or a better X-Frame

And the Converstion Concepts label




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87 GT
3800 s/c - lowered with Held Motorsports suspension - Lambo Doors by Archie
Custom Paint
Fun To Drive Daily Driver

87 Convertible
Sunshine Car

[This message has been edited by Dragon (edited 04-04-2009).]

Is this the car that was for sale last week in north Florida? I had contacted the owner about that car, but he said it was going to a member of the Fiero Club.

quote Originally posted by slimwhitman: Is this the car that was for sale last week in north Florida? I had contacted the owner about that car, but he said it was going to a member of the Fiero Club.

Not sure I bought in Daytona at the show

Frank