October 7, 2020 — American / Success Stories

BaT Auction Success Story: Touring the Pacific Northwest in a Pontiac Fiero

This just in from user cgissaquah, who purchased this 1985 Pontiac Fiero on Bring a Trailer in June 2020.

I turned eighteen in 1984, the year Pontiac introduced the mid-engine, two-seater Fiero. I was immediately captivated by the sleek design – the way the angles converged throughout the body, along with specific GM features like the cast aluminum wheels and the trademark Fiero Red finish. I recall witnessing quite an advertising blitz launched by Pontiac to market its newest creation, and I plastered my bedroom wall with magazine advertising pictures of this teenager’s dream car. “Maybe one day I’ll have one,” I thought while gazing at the pics.

Nevermind there was no practical use for the car other than enjoying the ride while cruising along under a summer sun. As a young musician (a drummer), I had to accept the fact that my first vehicle would have to be one that could haul around a full drum kit from gig to gig, and a two-seater wasn’t up to the task. The pictures remained on the wall, but the Fiero never appeared in the driveway.

Fast forward to 2020, I found myself with a renewed interest in owning a Fiero, probably because of this new world we’re now dealing with. I wanted something to make me smile once in a while, a new way to get out of the house and on the road in the sunshine. I started looking at several listings online and was pleasantly surprised to find a new hunting ground called Bring a Trailer. I found an exceptionally preserved Fiero listed – a 1985 GT model, with a four-speed manual transmission and V6. This car was a rare find with just under 25,000 original miles and was obviously well cared for. The overall condition was immaculate.

I set up an account and started bidding. It’s probably a cliché to admit it, but I have never won something on auction with this kind of value – either monetarily or sentimentally. Up to the very final moment, I really thought someone else would come away the winner. In the end I won the auction and soon arranged for the cross-country delivery – Florida to Washington State. That’s about as far away as two points can be from each other in the USA, but the transport company was wonderful and there were no issues. My teenage dream car became a reality in this middle-aged adult’s driveway.

As far as cars go, particularly sports cars, I know the Fiero can generate quite the discussion for driving enthusiasts. There are things this car can never be, yet it was not meant to be those things. One can certainly find some of the greatest sports cars ever imagined and manufactured on BaT, and they indeed get one’s heart pounding. But the story of this particular car has a personal history with me. It’s not just a picture on the wall of yesteryear anymore. For me there’s an enduring gratitude at being able to experience this vehicle at my leisure in the great Pacific Northwest.

In the three months that I’ve owned this Fiero, we’ve already been on several scenic drives, most notably to Mount Rainier National Park. We’ve driven over the Cascade Mountains and down to the saltwater coasts of Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean. It’s my goal to keep this machine running strong and I’ll probably baby it forever as a matter of course. Because nothing brings out a smile like a nice road trip in the sunshine in a car that you really love.

Long, socially-distant drives in national parks, near oceans and along rivers? Sounds like the perfect use of a classic car in 2020. We hope you’ve inspired other “middle-aged adults” to take the plunge. Thanks, and thanks to svclassics for listing this one with us.

-BaT