Revell (Monogram) 1/24th scale, 1985 Pontiac Fiero

[Matt T.]

Am I mis-remembering, or did I read back then that the Fiero started as a mid-engine Corvette concept, but Chevrolet axed that idea? 

[Jim B]

Jason Cammisa from Hagerty did a pretty interesting video on the Fiero.  It's informative & funny:

 

[Ragtop Man]

Fiero was pegged as an affordable, lightweight two seat commuter car, but with really aggressive Pontiac styling.

At the time, X1-9 was big, and the idea of a really innovative car that could be a stalking horse for new manufacturing techniques was hot - enduraflex body panels, mill-and-drill construction, space frame design, etc.  

Pontiac had an entire divisional concept built around the car - they would become 'center of expertise' for this type of construction. A very innovative 4-cylinder engine was also planned (Manhattan) that was similar in concept to the Offy - with no separate cylinder head (!) - that weighed only a little more than a 4-stroke motorcycle engine of similar type.  As twin turbo 2.9L was also in the plan, as was a body to be pressed from lightweight HSLA (high strength, low alloy) steel. 

Other Pontiacs would follow the idea - light space frame cars with innovative styling, great handling and great fuel economy, and the campus at Joslyn Rd would go from stone age to high tech, keeping a large and loyal workforce busy for a generation. 

Then ... came the GM law of gravity. Namely, "yea, fellas, that all sounds good, but we have all this other stuff laying around, so use that instead." The suspension that debuted in '88 for the final year was planned for all in '84 and instead components from X car and chevette were substitituted. Engine came from the Pontiac foundry - the clunky Iron Duke derived 2.5L - instead of Manhattan. Purchasing killed HSLA steel, claiming it was too expensive and hard to press with conventional GM tools.  What was once a beauty became the beast...

[martinfan5]

Was never a fan on the Fiero , but its nice to see kits of cars from my kid years getting a reissue. 

As for which one looks better, I think they both look fine for their respective reasons, I am not sure even if you forced me to choose I could.