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

[Luc Janssens]

BTW speaking of chrome I was watching this YouTube video from Barbatos Rex a month or so ago....

 

 

[Ragtop Man]

On 7/5/2025 at 6:12 PM, 64Comet404 said:

I remember cases like this being described in a book I read on the American automotive industry of the late 20th Century. The case was made that firms like GM and Chrysler had been run by groups where the majority of executives had either graduated from GMI or from some Midwestern football school. Consequently, the idea of 'everyone wants big cars' and 'innovation doesn't sell' kept being promoted, usually to the detriment of the corporations. Ford didn't seem to have these issues, or not to the same extent, which probably explains why Ford was more innovative during those years (if Tim Boyd hasn't signed an NDA, I would love to hear his take on the subject...)

I'm happy to see a Fiero which hasn't been moulded in red, and I like the lack of chrome on the trees. I almost bought a 1:1 version when I was a kid, but it had a horrible clutch cable adjustment issues, and was concerned about servicing and reliability problems.

 

Everyone felt the pain in the era including Ford, but they seemed to have the ability to see up to and a litte over the horizion. Explorer 4-door, F-Series and Taurus made the fumbles with other less successful models (Tempo, Escort, et. al.) a sideshow.  They were printing money at the time, but after Don Petersen stepped down the leadership was inconsistent.

I'd go on, but the chronicles of the era including "The Reckoning" by Halberstam and "Wheels for the World"  by Brinkley align very well with the tales my father told (Ford exec 38 years.) Both books deal with the heavy influence of the family on daily affairs of the company, modern Medici princes toiling in an otherwise faceless corporate world.

[Mark C.]

2 hours ago, Ragtop Man said:

I'd go on, but the chronicles of the era including "The Reckoning" by Halberstam

I read this years ago due to your recommendation on the old Hobby Heaven (now Spotlight) board, and I have to say it was eye opening, enlightening, and entertaining, all at the same time.  

Definitely second the recommendation.

[Ragtop Man]

21 hours ago, Mark C. said:

I read this years ago due to your recommendation on the old Hobby Heaven (now Spotlight) board, and I have to say it was eye opening, enlightening, and entertaining, all at the same time.  

Definitely second the recommendation.

Also, Halberstam was the only one who got DeLorean's dismissal from GM correct. Turns out that very innovative antenna in the windshield of the Grand Prix (subject of an award winning campaign for Pontiac) had a big stockholder in direct conflict of interest with company policy... (SFX: FINAL JEAPORDY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYS) leading to the "I fired GM" cover story. 

Ironically, in the final chapter of his book "On a Clear Day" in his parting shot, he lays out the idea for an "Ethical Sports Car" that sounds exactly like the original brief for Fiero.  Space frame, mid-engine design, body panels that would never dent or rust, light enough for good performance and excellent fuel economy... aye, we barely knew ye. 

 

[bigryan18]

On 7/6/2025 at 2:22 AM, Luc Janssens said:

BTW speaking of chrome I was watching this YouTube video from Barbatos Rex a month or so ago....

 

 

I bought some when it was back in stock last month

[Faust]

I got this back when it was reissued a while ago, before I had any other Fierro kits. Looks decent and it's cool that it seems to have the Pace Car scoop, at least on the package. I haven't looked at mine for ages. 

The early GTs are actually my least favourite of them. Round up front but squarish in back... they're kind of a mess; to me, they look like a Croc on wheels. 

I like the early, "small nosed" Fieros okay, but I adore the last GTs. I don't mind the "windows to nowhere" - reminds me of a Maserati Merak, and that's not a bad thing to look like. I do wish they'd do a kit of the proposed '89 GT though... typical GM; they get it right and then cancel it!