Which yard in Merrit Island?

It was off Cone Rd and Fern Dr or Cypress Dr.

There's a goldie EXACTLY like that in the junkyard near my house. Paint's better though. It doesn't have wheels too, but its rusty as heck. Got my turn signal off it. Feel sorry for the poor thing...

Yard owner's a nice guy too.

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1988 Metallic Red Pontiac Fiero CJB T-Top Coupe, # 784 of 1252
-Needing a maroon fender and 87/88 coupe nose (also maroon) and passenger round trim front marker.
F@&$ ICE!!!

quote Originally posted by Mike Gonzalez: The R E Agent very abruptly told me that he wasnt interested in selling it and he was going to sell parts off it. This guy was a little cold to me, kinda pissed me off, !!!!!

Oh-O, I've heard that before. When i was in the process of buying my house there was a VW wagon/thing from the PO stashed away in the garage. It was ugly as sin but it looked like it was either restored or parked when new. During the final negotiation of the house I told the selling RE to tell the owners to throw the car in and we had a deal. The RE was like “car, what car”. A couple weeks later I got the house but with no car in the garage. I did a little investigation and found out the selling REs teenage son was driving it as his first car…F’ers. If you want it I'd contact the seller directly ASAP. County/state tax records can be gotten off the internet and they will have the owners name listed.

someone should save it!!!
it deserves to be in a garage...or at least under a car cover. not roasting in the desert sun...

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F.I.E.R.O. - Fantastically Imaginative Engineering Racing Object

For any Paint Work: http://www.kurtcarloni.com/
www.fquick.com/GTXBULLET
Certified Tech/Mechanic (Restorations, Modifications, and Maintenence)
1985 Fiero GT 69k Miles (All Options) - Daily Driver
1988 FIERO Coupe "IRON DUKE" 5-Speed (the show car ;-)
1992 Firebird T-Tops V-8 30k original miles(collectors car)

well thats one way to sand blast a car might take a while though

quote Originally posted by gtxbullet: someone should save it!!! it deserves to be in a garage...or at least under a car cover. not roasting in the desert sun...

I agree, but isn't the dry desert air supposed to be preserving it? Better than sitting in the wet mud in Texas.

Would someone please save that car?

quote Originally posted by jconnor34: Would someone please save that car?

I 2nd this, Please?

If only it weren't a million miles away.

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quote Originally posted by jconnor34: Would someone please save that car?

Alright....I will....if someone who lives there will get me the contact info of the real owner, who has a legitimate title, and will sell it for what it's actually worth. I can take my pickup and a trailer up to Colorado this weekend and grab it. I have the ability, the time, and the cash. The problem on cars like this one is always....one or more of the 5 hurdles.

1. It isn't for sale because we're going to restore it someday.
2. We have no idea who owns it
3. I own it but I lost the title (translation....stolen or abandoned car)....or the title is in someone else's name who never signed it.
4. I own it, have the title, and for $8000, it's all yours. These are rare, you know.
5. It's rusted beyond belief (which this shouldn't be, being a Colorado car). As a side note, us desert dwellers don't do rust. Any rust is unacceptable. Surface rust is unacceptable. We are accustomed to 45 year old muscle cars with no rust. We are incapable of dealing with it emotionally. Rust of any kind is a dealbreaker.

So there you have it. If someone in the neighborhood where the car is located will clear those 5 hurdles for me, I will be up there on Friday with a trailer behind my F250 and a set of wheels to roll it onto said trailer, cash in hand, and will write up a nice fat restoration thread. It looks just like the goldie I bought new in 1986, and I'd love to have it and bring it back to its former glory. I'm 46, no kids, professionally employed, no debts, no bad habits, and have nothing better to spend my money on.

BUT....this is, at best, a $500 car. Being that it's a goldie....and I'm a bit sentimental about them, I could probably be convinced to cough up a little more assuming hurdle #5 is cleared. But convincing the owner of that may be close to impossible.

Then again...if anyone who lived close to it had the ability to clear those 5 hurdles, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

quote Originally posted by Frizlefrak: I'm 46, no kids, professionally employed, no debts, no bad habits, and have nothing better to spend my money on.

Okay I am insanely jealous... Same age, professionally employed, but kid, bad habits, debts leaves me nothing better to spend my money on.

We've been careful over the years, invested well, lived modestly when everyone else was going berserk with credit, and didn't get caught up in the whole "McMansion that you can't really afford" mania. We've been socking it away for 20 years now, living well below our means, and paying cash for everything. Two decades of living modestly have paid off well. And neither of us are particularly materialistic. Our home is nice, but not lavish.....and we don't waste money at bars and that sort of nonsense. We kept our investments well diversified, so we didn't take quite the bath that a lot of folks did the last few years. We saw the meltdown coming 5 years before it happened and planned accordingly.

The result of all of this is that, within reason, we can pretty much have anything we want. We've just reached the age where we don't really want much anymore. Hell, even our TV is 10 years old...... I do, however, want that gold Fiero in Colorado...and if someone will help with the legwork, it shall be mine.

Oh...and it's all getting left to charity. There will be nothing left for the family to fight over.

quote Originally posted by Frizlefrak: Oh...and it's all getting left to charity. There will be nothing left for the family to fight over.

That ruins my plan B...I was going to ask you to adopt me

But I can sell you one of my cars and a can of gold spray paint....almost the same thing.

Frizlefrak, thank you for your efforts in attempting to save this Fiero, as it looks almost just like mine. And I guess just like yours was too.
You can use my Fiero as a basis of what it could look like after a good restoration. (sorry about slight Hijack)

Matt.....I've always admired your Fiero and the care you take of it. It reminds me of my old gold 86 a lot. There's an extremely slim chance that car in Colorado will ever be mine....it's tough to do the legwork regarding who owns it etc from 400 miles away. Can be very time consuming....and may prove fruitless.

I am seriously considering reshooting my 86 GT in the code 56 Gold though......it already has the beige interior so it will work. I know a lot of people don't like the gold, but I find it quite striking. All the more reason it's painful to see one like the one in Colorado rotting away. Like I said in my post last year in th is thread....at one time, that was someone's dream car. Shame it wound up like this. And it would be fun to see it come back to life.

quote Originally posted by Frizlefrak: Matt.....I've always admired your Fiero and the care you take of it. It reminds me of my old gold 86 a lot. There's an extremely slim chance that car in Colorado will ever be mine....it's tough to do the legwork regarding who owns it etc from 400 miles away. Can be very time consuming....and may prove fruitless. I am seriously considering reshooting my 86 GT in the code 56 Gold though......it already has the beige interior so it will work. I know a lot of people don't like the gold, but I find it quite striking. All the more reason it's painful to see one like the one in Colorado rotting away. Like I said in my post last year in th is thread....at one time, that was someone's dream car. Shame it wound up like this. And it would be fun to see it come back to life.

Thanks for your comments. As you may or may not know, Im building a 0 mile 3.4/4T60 powertrain for it. Only problem is that I picked a Blue/Silver theme with it, which looks great! But I don't think it will go that well with Gold/Tan. My car is no longer bone stock, I'm adding a bunch of mods to it, but besides my foglights, and exhaust tips, it will look factory from a glance. For now.

quote Originally posted by mattwa: Thanks for your comments. As you may or may not know, Im building a 0 mile 3.4/4T60 powertrain for it. Only problem is that I picked a Blue/Silver theme with it, which looks great! But I don't think it will go that well with Gold/Tan. My car is no longer bone stock, I'm adding a bunch of mods to it, but besides my foglights, and exhaust tips, it will look factory from a glance. For now.

Seeeeee lol you couldent keep youirsewlf from doing it. Everyone modds somthiong on there fiero at one point or another

quote Originally posted by pontiackid86: Seeeeee lol you couldent keep youirsewlf from doing it. Everyone modds somthiong on there fiero at one point or another

I never said (or at least I don't think I did) that I wouldn't mod it in some way, that's just way too damn hard with all the cool stuff that is available to spend all your money on.

And if you can't bear the thought of modding your Fiero....that's what second Fieros are for. And third ones too.

quote Originally posted by Frizlefrak: And if you can't bear the thought of modding your Fiero....that's what second Fieros are for. And third ones too.

Exactly! But for right now, this is my only one. Parents told me I'm only allowed 1 car in their driveway at a time.

quote Originally posted by Frizlefrak: And if you can't bear the thought of modding your Fiero....that's what second Fieros are for. And third ones too.

That is the delema im having with my green one. I want to put the stock GT 1/4 windows in it but the scoops that are on it are glassed into the fastback.

Well i need to take 1 step at a time, still need to legally own it (i'm still a minor)

Fiero1K what yard? I got my 5 speed transmission from a yard in Midland. It was in town. I came in from the west on M20 turned right headed to what seemed to be south and went to what I would call the old part of town. Guy named Steve was real helpful.


Steve W
NE Grand Rapids, MI
88 Coupe

Why not just tell the realestate agent that you are interested in speaking to the owner of the car for parts. Then, if you get the name you can talk to him/her about buying it. Just a thought

Dont really see what the big hype about this car is, its just a plain old 86 SE, nothing special about it, and its pretty beat down, a $250 IMO, much better can be had for not too much more. Gold was 86 only, but not really that rare or special, the interior is just plain old brown, and in bad shape at that. Who knows what condition the engine is in, maybe there is a reason it was dumped. Not only that but you'll have to come up with rims to get it home.

Not worth the trouble at all IMO, at least around here, you'll find much better very easily.

quote Originally posted by 86GT3.4DOHC: Dont really see what the big hype about this car is, its just a plain old 86 SE, nothing special about it, and its pretty beat down, a $250 IMO, much better can be had for not too much more. Gold was 86 only, but not really that rare or special, the interior is just plain old brown, and in bad shape at that. Who knows what condition the engine is in, maybe there is a reason it was dumped. Not only that but you'll have to come up with rims to get it home. Not worth the trouble at all IMO, at least around here, you'll find much better very easily.

Thanks for the support on saving a Fiero, we really appreciate it.
And your facts are wrong anyway, Gold was in 86 and 87, not just 86.

http://www.clearcartitles.com/
might help

quote Originally posted by 86GT3.4DOHC: Dont really see what the big hype about this car is, its just a plain old 86 SE, nothing special about it, and its pretty beat down, a $250 IMO, much better can be had for not too much more. Gold was 86 only, but not really that rare or special, the interior is just plain old brown, and in bad shape at that. Who knows what condition the engine is in, maybe there is a reason it was dumped. Not only that but you'll have to come up with rims to get it home. Not worth the trouble at all IMO, at least around here, you'll find much better very easily.

Two words....."Rust Free"

Seriously though, I could rehab that car in less than 6 months. I don't care what condition the running gear is in....I can make it run. If the engine and / or trans are locked, it's a trip to the salvage yard away from being a V8 car. Interior? Hello Mr. Mike, here's my Amex number....send me some seats...Fiero Store will send me carpet and headliner, the rest will come from WTB in the mall. Paint? Not a problem....have a shop scuff and shoot it 56 Gold (86 & 87 color)...call me when it's ready. Or take a week off work and do it myself. Wheels and tires? Have a spare set just sitting around.

I'm sure I could talk the local dudes into lending a hand with the heavy stuff....dropping cradle, etc. I've done two swaps, no mystery left.

Cost effective? Probably not, but what do I care? I ain't getting any younger and I can't take it with me. We spend more eating out in 6 months than it would cost me to rehab this car. And besides, it's my hobby....keeps me out of the Bingo parlors, right?

I reiterate....if someone local will get me contact info on an owner that has a clean title, is willing to sell, and is realistic about what the car is worth, I'm game.

quote Originally posted by Frizlefrak: ...besides, it's my hobby....keeps me out of the Bingo parlors, right?

I like how as a child/teen, hobbies were meant to keep you out of drugs, alcohol and bad things. Now they're meant to keep you out of bingo parlors. I can't even begin to imagine the evil that lurks within those parlors.

quote Originally posted by Frizlefrak: Two words....."Rust Free"

Exactly, that area doesn't promote rust at all. Now while my car is in better condition with the powertrain and interior etc, it has a rusty frame. My trunk corner had a football sized hole in it, and my whole battery tray area was gone. I had holes in my cradle. You don't see many older cars at all around here, since they use salt on the roads, it just eats up the frames in 10-15 years. Mine is only around because it was garaged its whole life, and its still quite rusty.

Great find. It does have the stolen feel to it but it is worth saving.

Ok so 86-87, so its even less rare.

I would rather see a beat down used up Fiero go to scrap than a fellow forum-er waste a ton of money and dump all that time into a moneypit. There is nothing spectacular or even noteworthy about the car

It needs paint
it needs rims \ tires
it needs brakes
it needs interior
it needs headlight rebuilds
it probably needs a motor or trans
everything is stock


Now lets list the good parts...

Its a Fiero
It might be rust free
Anyone got anything else?

There are plenty of Fieros in way better shape 'up for adoption' that could be had and save the buyer a ton of money and a lot of headache. I would rather adopt a dog from the pound that has been fixed and has its shots and a general temperment assessment than pick up a mutt off the street that I know nothing about and has no extrodinary qualities.

Sometimes its just better to let them go to parts.

[This message has been edited by 86GT3.4DOHC (edited 02-17-2010).]

Who steals the wheels off a Fiero?

I have seen this Fiero in the same spot for years. Its in WORSE shape than you see in the pics IMO.
Also, there are several HUGE federal prisons near by....who knows how many body parts are in the trunk!

Sometimes you climb the mountain just because it's there. Allow me to wax philisophical for a moment.

There's a million reasons not to try to save a car like this, and one major reason TO do it......because I want to. Really. Not necessarily this car, but maybe one like it. Sometimes you get to a stage in life where there is very little challenge left in anything. You've long since slayed all the dragons you set out to slay when you were young, you've accomplished every realistic goal you ever set, and you look for reasons to keep getting out of bed in the morning. Some folks get to that stage and spend 15 hours a day at work because they're bored with the rest of their lives....or they begin doing foolish things like drinking, philandering, unwise risk taking you name it. Some of us restore old cars. And one this far gone, it's really a matter of just showcasing what I'm capable of bringing it back to life.

Waste of money? Probably, but I reiterate....I'm not getting any younger and I can't take it with me. Why not spend it on something I actually enjoy doing? Nobody thinks a thing about blowing a grand on a set of golf clubs, and I find golf to be the most boring human activity possible....why not put that into the car? That will easily get me brakes, suspension, and a steering rebuild. I'm fully capable of doing every ounce of work needed myself. I'm certain there are plenty of folks that blow $200 a night clubbing and piss it away an hour later. Bottom line, it's my money and at this stage in life, I have more than enough to pay for my automotive proclivities. That wasn't always the case....now it is. And no, I don't harbor any illusions about getting any of it back whatsoever down the line....just like golf and clubbing (ooops...no pun intended).

Frustration? Hardly. I find wrenching relaxing. No hurries, just me and the machine. And the results are very gratifying. Frustration results from not getting the result you are striving for. I always get the result I'm looking for, because I know what I'm doing and am quite confident in my abilities.

Better cars out there? Of course. In abundance. If I wanted one of the "new" Fieros that pop up for sale all the time, there's certainly nothing stopping me from buying one. A cashier's check and a plane ticket later, it would be mine. But again, where's the challenge in that?

I didn't mean to go on a rant here, and I certainly mean no offense to anyone. But sometimes, we do things just because we can.

Well said. The opposite is true for me, I'm young (17!), have little to no money, and have my whole life in front of me. Yet I still enjoy working on my car (when its not buried in a foot of snow.).

Thanks Matt....in 1980, I WAS you Make the right decisions along the way and everything else will take care of itself.

Frizlefrak; Ya excellent post-I agree. I'm old-well just >65, still buying fieros, got 23 of 'em. will never get my $$ back-it don't matter. Like
you, I do all my own work, @ my own pace-welding, fab work, fiberglass, machine shop, sheet metal--it is just a gas to make or
modify a car(my fiero project involves a 98 camaro T-top, rear hatch, extended front glass,firebird doors, caddy 4.9 etc., etc.). Got all
the parts, gotta get the trike done first. I hope you get the car. Just for S&Gs, the 87 SE model, seems like there were only 1400 of 'em made-don't dare use the word "rare"-don't want to start a war....In my book--"every fiero" is worth saving!!