I got my 87 GT about a year ago now & have been fixing it up to get it back on the road after being parked up for many years by the previous owner. As a kid I lived in the US and my 1st car was a Pontiac, a Firebird (V6 - yeah I know don’t judge me...) But I always wanted a Fiero. It’s taken me 40 yrs to get one! I served in the military for 18yrs with several tours with USN & USCG and moved back to UK in 97 Fiero's are a pretty rare car here in UK so finding one was tough & a GT even harder.
What is really cool is that I bought the car blind off of eBay in North Scotland (I live on the Southcoast, so its as far away as it gets) & when I got the title from the UK DMV there was a statement printed on the front that the car had an import tax exemption due to it arriving over 20yrs ago in the UK via a US serviceman ! Crazy that a Serviceman shipped it across the pond all that time ago & now its in the ownership of a veteran.
Anyways, I thought I should say hi to everyone as a new member.
[This message has been edited by Darren C (edited 03-09-2024).]
Hi there! I'm just across the Channel from you. Even though I run a much more powerfull engine in my Fiero now, I have worked quite a bit on the 2.8L. And yes, the GT is the best Fiero to find! Glad you got one! If you've got any questions, don't hesitate to ask...
Cheers, Rafe
P.S. My Fiero was exactly the same colour scheme as yours when I got it.
------------------ "Turbo Slug" - '87 Fiero GT. 3800 turbo. - The fastest Fiero in France! @turboslugfiero https://youtu.be/hUzOAeyWLfM
Has it Passed MOT recently? MOT has some rule changes in past few years affecting everyone on top of issues w/ LEZ & ULEZ in London & other cities. Quick Example: In around 2018 MOT will Fails w/ HID Headlamp "upgrades" now includes Failing most LED HL "upgrades" as well.
Even w/o the rule changes, Fiero Brakes can be hard to Pass because how MOT test them.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
I have had a weekly Fiero resto thread (Sunday updates) running this past year on Twitter X if anyone wants to see how I've got on. (classiccarguru1 on X or just google "classiccarguru1 Fiero" & then image tabs to see several hundred photos & videos for those not on Twitter X
Lots still to do on the car but most of the bodywork is done.
Currently in the process of making my own new GT tail lights as the ones I have are really badly beat up, delaminated & cracked plus not exactly easy to come by in the UK!
[This message has been edited by Darren C (edited 03-13-2024).]
...if anyone wants to see how I've got on. (classiccarguru1 on X or just google "classiccarguru1 Fiero" & then image tabs to see several hundred photos & videos for those not on Twitter X
Currently in the process of making my own new GT tail lights...
Using the Upload Media button, it's very easy to embed images in posts here... hint, hint. (The image size can be anything, just make sure the file size is below 2MB apiece.)
I've noticed you've posted videos on X. Do you also have your videos uploaded to YouTube? If you do, they could be embedded in your posts here as well.
I don't keep the photos or videos I post on Twitter X, they are deleted straight after, so as not to use all the memory up on my phone. That's why I haven't put any of the 500 or more pictures & 50+ videos of the last years work on the Fiero on here, I simply don't have them anymore. I do have a youtube channel but the content I film, edit & produce, I like to think is more professional & better quality than the "throwaway" social media content. Stuff tends to be there forever on youtube, so I don't like the idea of doing something "half cocked" so spend weeks & weeks on making any video for my youtube channel as quality matters to me & folks are very quick to judge & troll you if your stuff isn't good. Plus I don't want to add to all the junk on there already!
Originally posted by Darren C: Currently in the process of making my own new GT tail lights as the ones I have are really badly beat up, delaminated & cracked plus not exactly easy to come by in the UK!
Making Taillights & other external fixtures may Fail MOT depending just how you do this.
All Taillights have ECE/DOT/SAE "codes" that easy to find & are standard worldwide by SAE. The problem is many DIY & some aftermarket lights have problems to start & don't have the codes Including replacement taillight "covers" for GT & most to all reproduction light fixtures sold by Fiero Store. Some use OE lights for other vehicles that maybe legal or not but has the code(s) so many inspectors don't bother unless has other problems, too bright/dim etc. Some use "Truck" lights with "codes" on the part & can/should be "legal" in most places. In this case, can also get Legal LEDs because made tested & "coded" to meet laws/rules from most "Western" Govrmnts. Example: 4in/102mm round format fixture is very common to big trucks but have many other formats that have standard or LED as drop-in parts. The LEDs are factory sealed & replace the whole fixture vs many w/ standard bulbs can replace just the bulb when dead.
Just so you guys know, I am in the business of hand building cars from a pencil sketch to getting them road legal. I design & make pretty much every part of a vehicle by hand (chassis, suspension,body, interior inc seats, dash, instruments, wiring looms etc, etc. I mean every part!) been doing this since I was 14 yrs old & have built over 100 cars and they are in private collections all over the world. Even had two of my creations on Jay Leno's Garage & another came 1st at Pikes Peak last year driven by Tanner Foust Making vehicle lights is something I do regularly so I know all about DOT & EU marks
These markings wont fail you an MOT for an existing registered vehicle here in UK (as long as they function correctly) but will fail an IVA which is what you require to register a new build (like a DMV inspection - & yes done those in the US so I know which states are the easiest ones!)
Don't worry on my home made GT taillights, I'm not selling them, just making a set for my own use.
