I spotted a lotus in the parking lot of my hotel....my first thought was that its a kit. Its dark and im not wanting to be too nosy. I have a pic on my phone if any1 can post ill email it.

The older Esprit looked kinda like one, with the black bumper being remanisant of the bumper pad fascias.



Actually, I'd think a kit car would lend itself well to a Fiero if one was ever made. It doesn't even look like a stretch would be needed between the door and rear tires. Even if one was needed to make it look right it doesn't look like it would be much of one.

[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 07-19-2012).]

Thats exactly it. Im parked right next to it. Wheel base seems similar. But like i said its dark. I think it looks friggin sweet. Im hoping i catch the owner tomorrow and maybe sneak a peak of it.

I hear the fiero suspension is made by lotus.

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Turbo 3800 E85 F23 5spd spec5
11.54@132.7

quote Originally posted by Justinbart: I hear the fiero suspension is made by lotus.

Aaannnd, here we go.

Let's get this right once and for all... The Lotus suspension was designed by Pontiac.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Let's get this right once and for all... The Lotus suspension was designed by Pontiac.

I believe that Justin was just being facetious. If you look at the 88 Fiero suspension there are some striking similarities to what is used on the 80's era Lotus cars. Pontiac engineers may have been influenced by the Lotus design, how well it worked and came up with something similar. Its amazing though how many people still believe that an 88 Fiero has a Lotus designed suspension.

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" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Powerlog manifold, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Flotech Afterburner Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

Well I wouldn't call them identical but you can sure see a few similarities I guess.

quote Originally posted by Steel: Well I wouldn't call them identical but you can sure see a few similarities I guess.

Four wheels and a chassis...

I can see it a little when you do a choptop fastback. But maybe I need a thicker set.

quote I can see it a little when you do a choptop fastback. But maybe I need a thicker set.

I agree. The first time I saw a chop-top GT, I immediately thought of the Lotus Esprit. Looks like it's a modern version of it to me. And I LOVE the Lotus Esprit!

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Tim
'87 GT Auto
Med Red Metallic
78K miles
Bay City, MI

I wonder if it has the super limited submarine option package?...

I had a 79 Lotus Esprit for allmost 20 years. Only true exotic I will ever own, since most cost too much for an old guy to afford. They look similar to a Fiero and have at least one other similarity to the 88. A plastic steering rack bushing that goes bad! I had to work on the steering rack with less than 20,000 miles, because the bushing was bad on the passenger side. It was a fun car, but more time was spent maintaining it than driving it. It averaged about 1000 miles a year and I sold it with 33,000 miles on it. I lost about $500 a year in depreciation. Had I bought a Dino Ferrari at the same time for about the same money- I would have gained about $100,000 over that same ownership period. Hindsite is great. Fiero's are way better, buy cheap, fix up yourself, and if you are tired of it, sell it for your dollar outlay and start another one. Labor not included!
Pictured the day it was sold.

[This message has been edited by bjc 350 (edited 07-19-2012).]

quote Originally posted by bjc 350:

To me this shot is what a GT would look like if you stretched the wheel base about 6-8 inch's behind the doors. Kept the GT clip attached to the rear of the car and then filled in the viod with body panels off another GT. I love it.

Rob

The last gen was my favorite, I hope that some day I can own an Esprit V8



BUT... I'll take a late GT5 Pantera over any Lambo/Ferrari/Lotus/Aston, what a car!

quote Originally posted by nitroheadz28: The last gen was my favorite, I hope that some day I can own an Esprit V8 BUT... I'll take a late GT5 Pantera over any Lambo/Ferrari/Lotus/Aston, what a car!

Some company in California was making Lotus Espirit style noses and was selling them on eBay for about $400. Then some distributor took over and raised the price to near $700.00. I saw this Lotus style nose installed on a Fiero 3 years ago at Carlisle and it looked great. Actually the best of the lot. The car was owned by a Brian Borsh who lived in upstate NY. It was a sharp 3800 Fiero but I have not run into Brian in quite a while.

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" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Powerlog manifold, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Flotech Afterburner Exhaust, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

I can't post a pic but I always thought the Ferrari 308 GT-4 from around 1976 looked an aweful lot like a Fiero. Anyone care to post a piccy up for me?

quote Originally posted by johnyrottin: I can't post a pic but I always thought the Ferrari 308 GT-4 from around 1976 looked an aweful lot like a Fiero. Anyone care to post a piccy up for me?

Eh...

CLICK FOR FULL SIZE

Esprit was always one of my fav cars. Ive always been surprised no one made a kit of one for Fieros. Lot more classy than any crap Lambo. I know owners locally, and they all call them junk.

The Fiero has a little Lotus, Prosche 944, Pantera and Ferrari in it. GM robbed a little of each in their design.

Lotus were always a neat car but often most suffered issues. the light weight items or their runs near bankruptcy have many times led to many cars that often had issues.

Even today Lotus is having money troubles again.

quote Justinbart:I hear the fiero suspension is made by lotus.

Check the batteries in your hearing aid.

It is the Impluse that has the suspension designed by Lotus.

quote Originally posted by 30+mpg: Check the batteries in your hearing aid. It is the Impluse that has the suspension designed by Lotus.

Not designed, tuned. Sadlly the Storm didn't get that suspension tuning.

quote Originally posted by Khw: Not designed, tuned. Sadlly the Storm didn't get that suspension tuning.

But the MkII Celica did...

quote Originally posted by outlawfiero17: I spotted a lotus...

Eh, those things catch on fire, don't they?

[This message has been edited by GraterFang (edited 07-21-2012).]

Graterfang, your "fire" statement allowed me to recall a story about my Esprit. Back about 1982 a friend and I drove my Lotus from Astoria to Portland to PIR to watch the IMSA races. Low and behold, as I drove into the track [we could park near the padock in those days] there was another Esprit coming my way on the narrow road. Man was I excited, another Lotus owner. I stopped beside his car and we rolled down the windows and he said "Has yours caught fire yet?" The first words out of a fellow Esprit owner mouth! Needless to say it was not long before I had to splurge for a set of Delorto carbs to eliminate the problem of the factory units. Never came close to a fire, but the engine compartment sure could get hot in traffic. True story.

[This message has been edited by bjc 350 (edited 07-22-2012).]

quote Originally posted by GraterFang: Eh, those things catch on fire, don't they?

The 4cyl turbo does when the oil line springs a leak...hmm maybe more Fiero than we thought..

quote Originally posted by crashyoung: Four wheels and a chassis...

Well, maybe just the four wheels.

have never seen a lotus that looked exactly like the fiero. a few design cues, maybe, but IMHO it's not even close.

But the giugiaro esprit is really cool. Definitely a dream car for me.