I love Las Vegas. It was a place I had serious reservations about visiting before my friends had successfully convinced me to join their annual trek back in 2012. I’m definitely more of a “practiced extrovert”, and though I am a social person, sometimes I think I’d be happy with occasionally peace-ing out from absolutely everything for an entire week or so before rejoining society. With that said, perhaps it’s true that people are attracted to people and things with qualities opposite their own, because when I’m in Vegas, I can’t get enough of the lights, sights, sounds, and a lot of what else this bright, bold, beautiful city has to offer.
I’m also somewhat risk-averse, and I’m a terrible gambler. Once my betting allowance is gone, there is no second or third trip to the ATM before going back to try to recoup my losses. As with a bad job, a dead-end relationship or any other similarly bad scenario, sometimes you have to know when to cut-and-run and have the mental and emotional strength to execute that plan.
This brings us to our featured car. Sometimes the context in which you spot a rare or unusual vehicle can make it seem just that much more interesting. This beauty was sitting outside a pawn shop located just a few storefronts down from the resort at which my friends and I were staying. Like an off-duty performer or entertainer, this Fiero exuded a certain, tired hotness early that Sunday morning that drew me in with charms I could not resist.
Unless an unlikely, aftermarket “tribute”, this is a bona fide, first-year ’84 SE model with the Indianapolis 500-themed option package. This would make it one of about 2,000 produced out of about 137,000 total Fieros that year. There was only one engine available that year, and it was the 92-horsepower 2.5L “Iron Duke” four-cylinder. Curiously, the Fiero was chosen over the also-new Chevrolet Corvette, a celebrated nameplate with a well-deserved place in American automotive history, to pace the Indianapolis 500 that year.
The Indy option package added about $2,900 to the SE’s $9,600 base price. With options like air conditioning listing for $730 and cruise control at $175, we’re looking at what might well have been a $16,000 car all-up when new in ’84. (For comparison, prices for a Firebird Trans Am powered by a 150-horse Chevy 305 V8 started at about $10,700 before options which, itself, was about twice the starting price of the Chevette-based 1000 3-door hatchback.) Zero-to-sixty mph came in the mid ten-second range for this 2,800-pound car. One thing I love about the Fiero was that it was a Pontiac that was actually built in Pontiac (Michigan).
This car is a pretty rare example, and I wonder how many survive today. I’m also curious about the backstory here, and why this car was parked in front of a pawn shop. A bad game of craps, perhaps, where a local lost several thousand? “It’s alright, Man… It’s alright. I’ve got the Fiero in the garage.” “That thing? How much do you think you’re going to get for it? It’s probably worth more to you than you’ll ever get from one of those downtown pawn shops.” “Will you lend me the money?” “No, Sir. Call me when you need a ride from the pawn shop.” I wondered about the asking price, if in fact this car was for sale. My curiosity gnawed at me, but I let it go, perhaps for the better. It would be a long drive back to Chicago, even if the car ran right and didn’t attempt to barbecue me while on the way home.
I have always liked the looks of the original, notchback-profiled Fiero, being that I was a car-crazed, elementary school-aged kid when they first came out. When Christmas ’86 rolled around, Mom had brought back cordless, radio-controlled toy versions of a Fiero and a Dodge Daytona Turbo Z from the store (Radio Shack, if I remember correctly), asking me to pick one. Do you want to know why I picked the former and not the latter? Because Pontiac Fiero.
I have not one, but two 1:24 scale kit models of the Fiero dating from the 80’s – only one of which I had actually attempted and completed. (The silver one is still in its thirty-plus year old box.) A lot like much of Las Vegas, the early cars were definitely all-show and just as superficially pretty as they could be. Sometimes, though, that’s all you want – something sparkly and beautiful to look at, if only for a little while.
Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Early) Sunday, September 25, 2016.
Related reading from:
- Paul Niedermeyer: Curbside Classic: 1984 Pontiac Fiero – GM’s Deadly Sin #19 – Give Us Five Years To Get It Almost Right And Then We’ll Kill It;
- Exceptional CL Find: “Brand New” 1984 Pontiac Fiero – Heavily Discounted From Its Original Price; and
- Ed Stembridge: Curbside Capsule: 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT—So Very Nearly Inspired.
Nice find, I like these shapes. I remember standing in a pawn shop when a guy came in to offload his E3 BMW. I did a mental estimation of what the pawn guy would offer for it; he offered a third of my guess. $1K. Sold.
That unopened model might actually be worth some cash now.
If you go to model shows and stay away from ebay and stuff like that you could buy that kit for less than $30. I collect a lot of older kits and the big money is 1960’s stuff, the molds were usually updated for the next years car and the older model was lost forever.
Joseph, Nice write up and great (as always) photos.
In the 3rd from last photo it looks like the (male and hat wearing) owner is listening to (female and dubious) pawn shop owner low ball the Pontiac.
Did these come with speakers in the headrests like a Miata? Each seat has round speaker-like vents.
Las Vegas was never a big hit for me; I know nothing about gambling, don’t want free drinks, and like to see seasonal trees and grass and hills around me. But, any place that serves breakfast 24 hours a day can’t be all bad.
Yes, there were speakers in the headrests in ’84 and ’85.
Dare I say it, but this car seems like something a pawn shop owner would drive. I get the feeling it was probably pawned for something and the owner decided to keep it for himself.
I’ve been to Vegas four times but never have made it off the Strip. There was enough walking to do there. It’s a fun destination, but 3 days tops is all you need there. Even the nicest hotels (such as the Wynn) are dirt cheap but that’s where they get you. Getting a protein-less salad and a drink at any decent restaurant will put you at $50 easily. You’ll be broke from that before gambling.
Yeah, I miss the days of the 99 cent buffets and the 25 cent shrimp cocktail. Of course, that was some time ago and worth every penny. Really. Even back then you got what you paid for.
Brendan, I like your theory about this example, and that thought also crossed my mind.
On my first several trips to Vegas, we stayed on the Strip, but I always found myself either in flavor-rich dives like the Stage Door Casino & Lounge (the last independent casino left on / just-off the Strip), or on a bus for downtown. I love the history behind the classic casinos down there, even with the Fremont Street Experience with all of its digital techiness over that central portion. Bang for the buck is key with me, and downtown delivers. We hit Pizza Rock like four times late at night when we needed it. 🙂
I always liked the 87 v6 gt look, but this one for some reason looks just right. Color and graphics and ground effects work nicely.
Rick
It is a nice example, for me I have always hated this style of alloy wheels. Pontiac used them allot on several models in the mid to late 80’s. To me they always reminded me of a snowflake pattern.
This is a really great example for sure. I hope one day the owner runs into those beautiful rally chrome wheels that are seen in the third picture. As well as swap out the black side accent strip in favor of a body colored whit one. Those two changes would make the car complete IMO.
I’m not entirely sure the chrome wheels and white bodyside molding shown on the actual Pace Car in the ad were options for the replicas sold in dealerships. I could be wrong.
Joseph Dennis
Shame because the rally chrome wheels look beautiful..
The black trim and white wheels pictured are factory for the pace car. The only thing that was colour keyed was were the mirrors. The Original tires where white letter Eagle GTs which sadly aren’t available anymore though the owner’s choice of replacement is appropriate.
Having worked on and driven a real ’84 Fiero, You’re better off with the model!
Happy Motoring, Mark
If there’s any place I’ve never had a desire to visit, it’s Las Vegas, and if there’s any car I’ve never had a desire to own, it’s a decal-laden Pace Car. With that baggage out of the way, I have no problem saying that I love these pictures.
Despite my aversion to Pace Car special editions (as an unapologetic introvert, I can’t get past the Look-At-Me graphics), I’ve often wondered about the survival rates of the few that were actually sold. My assumption is that when new, they sold for a premium price, but a few years later when no one cared about the 68th Indy 500, their value tanked. As an investment, a new Pace Car special edition was probably a lousy choice.
It’s been decades since I’ve seen any Pace Car actually on the road.
Like you, I’m really curious about the backstory here. Was the Fiero garage-kept for decades, only to be pawned in 2016? Our guesses could go on, but our speculations are probably more interesting than actual reality. In any event, this was a great find and context.
“It’s been decades since I’ve seen any Pace Car actually on the road.”
Hahaha, you don’t live in central Indiana. I see old Pace Car editions with some frequency, especially on sunny days in May. The older ones are seen at car shows and the newer ones are still driven. In the 80s and 90s I knew a couple of people who drove Chevy passenger vans wearing full Indy regalia. Whoever supplies the Pace Cars also supplies a load of trucks and vans, all with special colors and graphics. In one case the dealer offered to remove all of the decals from the white van, but the buyers’ kids insisted that they stay on.
I have always wondered how common old Pace Cars are elsewhere.
Good point, and spot on! I live in Central Florida and spent 4 years in Central Indiana, and as the Florida locale is where most of the Indiana folks winter, vacation, and retire, you see LOTS of these around in both locales. Now, if you go elsewhere, there is no nostalgia for the race, thus, no Pace Car demand. And as a side note, there are not Daytona 500 pace car versions out there, are there? If so, I don’t recall ever seeing one offered or on the road. Funny how that seems to be an Indiana thing only.
Amusing — Pace Cars are as rare as hen’s teeth here in Virginia. Even at car shows.
After reading JPC’s comment above, I wondered too about Pace Cars from races other than Indy. I recall Toyota offering (or at least advertising) Long Beach Grand Prix pace cars, but I’m not entirely sure if they were sold to the public, or just used as advertising material. If they were sold as a package to the public, I’m sure they were in smaller quantities than the Indy pace cars.
Next time I’m in Indiana, I’ll keep my eye out for one — I’ll test the CC effect.
Put me down as a northern Indiana to Central Florida transplant, as well.
As to Vegas, someone in another CC mentioned that while they were there, a homeless guy on the street accused them of stealing his cheeseburger.
I’d go so far as to say you really haven’t had the complete Vegas experience until you’ve been yelled at by a homeless guy for stealing his cheeseburger.
JFrank, now I’m thinking there should have been a Dodge Daytona “Daytona 500” pace car. If only.
We had various Indy pace cars in Norway…that only really paced anything but at the gas pump.
Eric703
I see exactly what you are saying and fully agree. The distractions of decals, and even sometimes dual tone paint jobs, and wacky wheels. Can easily take away from the raw beauty of the shape and presence of a well designed car.
The Pace car decal has to much writing under the word “Official Pace Car” where it looks like a company car with advertisements message. This is a nice example non the less.
When I was a kid I liked that gaudy decal stuff. Not so much today, in a limited edition car I still find it acceptable but not desirable.
Phil L
This is where car makers should take a page from BMW perfomance M-Division.
For example the 1986 BMW M5 packed about 286 bhp (Euro Specs). The M5 was a beast. At the time the best perfomance sport/luxury sedan in the world. With a heavily revised suspention, steering brakes, engine etc. However, one would never guess it was a $50K sedan.
Why because the M5 was only distinguishable by a small decklid spoiler, s mall M5 badge logo on the decklid, and front grille, special Recaro seats, BBS sport alloy wheels, a slightly more aggressive front air dam pretty much wrapped up the conservative exterior modifications. No decals with poster size font, no raging 1 foot tall rear spoiler, no fancy paint job or racing strip needed. Now that’s how you produce a proper serious sports car!
Valid points but in the Fiero’s case, I disagree. It only had 92 HP, the sporty image was the only thing selling it. GM misread the oil crisis and turned it into an economy car. They did eventually make it a true sports car, but it was too late to save it.
That’s a valid point, the Fiero was just a sporty commuter so I see you’re point.
Nice catch, Joseph. this one looks to be in very good shape. I am not quite sure though if the Pace car options package is complete. I thought, someone please correct me if warranted, that the Pace Car limited edition included an intake snorkel over the roof and down into the engine compartment. Also the lettering appears to be too high on the door. It is more likely you found an homage to the real replica.
The “real replica” would have looked something like this:
Thanks, Wolfgang.
About the trunk-mounted “vacuum cleaner”, all the sources I researched indicated only a handful of Pace Cars were so-equipped. The actual Pace Car had it, as it was actually equipped with a bored-out 2.7L engine with a lot more power. http://pontiac-fierogt.blogspot.com/2009/06/indy-fiero.html?m=1
Another source had indicated only a few of these cars with the snorkel were exclusive to the Detroit area. I don’t think it was a regular option for the Indy.
A lot more power is an understatement. 232 vs 92 according to that link. The real car sounds like a lot of fun.
The actual pace car had a snorkel, but the street going ones didn’t. That pictured car also has the door decals too low. I do like how the low and deep Indy air dam eventually came almost across the board by the time the Fiero was retired. It looked much better than the wimpy standard front fascia.
You say my find is the homage to the replica? -Bummer!
Is that like imitation American cheese? Fromage homage.
Blamage!
Sorry to burst your bubble. Here is a factory publicity photo of the Pontiac and GMC replica vehicles that year. No snorkel.
However, the car you found does seem to have the gray/orange interior, so perhaps you have a replica that has been enhanced a bit with the snorkel. The decal on the door is too low, but perhaps there was some body repair done along the way. Also, not sure about the Fiero, but many other Pace Car replicas came from the factory without the decals so that they could be applied at the dealer, so maybe someone goofed the job up from the start.
I agree with Joe and Dave. The actual Pace Car had a specially built “Super Duty” four that got the thing up over 130 mph on the track. That snorkel was necessary for engine cooling. Every picture I ever saw of the “civilian” versions lacked the snorkel, which made sense since the replicas used the same engine every other Fiero got.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/automotive-history-indianapolis-500-pace-cars-part-8-1980-84/
It would not surprise me if a few people wanted to replicate the look of the genuine Pace Car on their replicas. A snorkel and a few (wrongly placed) decals may have been the only way to get some money back out of your white Fiero. 🙂
I placed a call into a friend who works in a parts department at a Chevy dealership. He started working in the parts department of a Pontiac dealership in 1982. I asked him about the Snorkel on the Fiero Pace Car replicas. He stated that you could actually special order a snorkel and hardware to mount it onto your Fiero pace car replica(or any other Fiero). They were non functional and considered an appearance package. The thought at the time was that due to the interest the pace car had stirred up that folks would have wanted their Fiero to look like it. It was unpainted flat black so that you could have it painted the same color as your car.
The part was not sold long (discontinued by late 1985) due to real lack of interest. He is getting me the old part number from the catalog collection at his home.
So this snorkel on that car Wolfgang showed is probably one of the GM offered ones.
That is interesting to learn, and makes perfect sense. It would not be surprising that a dealership or two here or there got a handful of the cars and put the snorkels on to up the cool factor.
Yes! Leon, thank you for doing that research! Now, the mystery is solved… at least over here at CC. 🙂
I remember my initial, fifth grade reaction to the snorkel was, “That just doesn’t look right.”. But the more I looked at pictures of it, it grew on me.
Like this Fiero, Las Vegas has a veneer of sparkliness that almost covers the underlying sadness and desperation.
I found it interesting for 12 hours, then a great place to depart for Bryce Canyon, Zion NP etc. A Fiero is not the vehicle for that.
Great car for the strip though, nice find.
“I found it interesting for 12 hours, then a great place to depart for Bryce Canyon, Zion NP etc. A Fiero is not the vehicle for that.”
Same here. Add the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. I alos enjoyed a few laps with a driving instructor on a race track. There are at least 3 companies to choose from. Exotics Racing, Dream Car Racing and SpeedVegas.
Best thing about Las Vegas? Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. The dam and its workings are fascinating.
That bridge scared the crap out of me. I couldn’t walk to the middle.
And the “new” parking garage (built into the side of the mountain) and visitors center actually cost MORE than the whole entire dam did!
I haven’t been back since they completed the new bridge, which is an incredible engineering marvel on its own.
And you can stay in nearby Boulder City, which is one of two cities in the entire state in which gambling is not allowed. So it’s really quiet there!
Nice Find
Would have been even better if the Fiero had the original Pace car chrome wheels like in the 3rd picture, as well as the side body white accent strip.
However, still a nice example especially if the car has the 2.8 MPFI V6.
That intro was just begging for a Kenny Rogers quote…
Yes! I should have embedded that. Coulda, woulda, shoulda.
I saw one of those a couple of years ago while filling up with gas at a Costco in Indianapolis. It was not as nice as this one, and appeared to still be driven regularly.
From what I discovered researching Pace Cars a few years ago, these are valuable for Fieros but not valuable as far as Pace Car editions in general are. As of a few years ago, there were several interior pieces that were made of unobtainium, which made these a poor choice unless you found one that had lived a sheltered life.
I am another who could care less about going to Vegas. But perhaps I should try it sometime just to be sure. I have always wondered if the casinos in Las Vegas are as depressing inside as those in the midwest, which seem to be full of smokers spending their disability checks.
I have about 1000 other things I prefer to do with my money instead of throwing it away gambling. So I had no interest in going to Vegas for a friend’s wedding. But I still had a good time, it’s a pretty incredible place.
Nice find. The problem with shopping for a Fiero is finding a good one selling for its true very low market value. Back when these we just older used cars, everyone knew they were troublesome and they were difficult to sell. Still most sellers stuck to a higher price, seeminly unable to accept their beautiful sporty car was almost worthless. I looked at many Fieros that did not sell because the owners were not prepared to give them away.
I eventually buoght a nice 84 Fiero SE with a bad clutch for $160.
I then found out how difficult it is to change the clutch, which explained its near-scrap value.
My neighbor offered me $400, intending to do a V8 swap. Last I heard he sold it to a movie production firm that blew it up on-screen.
The Clutch on a Fiero is no more difficult than any other transverse engine. It’s pretty easy if you drop the sub frame down but you can do it with the engine in the car too. I’ve done one in less than a day in my driveway.
Back when these were new, my friend Randy’s Dad worked for Ernie Miller Pontiac in Tulsa. He came down to visit in one. At 18, I thought it was a cool ride. It was faster than my 74 Maverick. But I never lusted after one. Probably a good thing.
Long ago at a cruze night…
I saw a late 80s SE model in metallic red with a snorkel and Cadillac North Star engine. It was outstanding looking and sounding with 4 pipes protruding from the rear.
It’s hard looking for a decent Fiero with a For Sale sign.
https://youtu.be/oqrtoFWglMY
I remember the Pontiac Fiero. I thought it was Pontiac’s best looking car. It’s a damn shame it had problems. Electrical problems, fires erupting suddenly, those aren’t good things to have happen to a car. Why Pontiac didn’t fix the problem before releasing it to the public is beyond me. Unfortunately there were so many things GM did during the 70s and 80s that make one wonder *”how the hell were they able to get away with things like that and remain in business?”*
Now that I’ve lived in Las Vegas for 10 years, nothing fazes me. Tourists see little but The Strip and Fremont Street, but when you live here, that’s mostly just a tourist trap that is to be avoided. The rest of the Las Vegas valley is a mid-sized city that is a lot like any other.
Except, I suppose, for the cars. Tourists from the East and Midwest see what are to them fabulous old cars, the likes of which they haven’t seen in 20 years.
That was me for my first few years living here, after having spent my first 40+ years in the Rust Belt. I’ve since become jaded; now they’re just old cars to me.
My rust-free ’90 Integra would be completely unique and of interest to car buffs in Cleveland or Indianapolis. Here, it’s completely inconspicuous.
You should have seen if it was for sale, and bought it.
Drop a Supercharged 3800 Series II Buick in the back of that Fiero, and you’ll see a “real” performance car.