CAR IS SOLD - deposit has been received - payment has been received - CAR HAS BEEN PICKED UP FOR TRANSPORT TO ITS NEW OWNER
AUTOMODA CONVERTIBLE FIERO FOR SALE
UPDATE - 11/26/14 - PRICE LOWERED
UPDATE - 12/9/14 - PRICE LOWERED
UPDATE - 3/5/15 - PRICE LOWERED
General overview: GARAGE KEPT, NEW ENGINE, NEW CLUTCH, NEW TIRES/FRESH ALIGNMENT, ALL-NEW CLUTCH HYDRAULICS AND PEDAL, LED lighting upgrades, ported/reinforced exhaust, 5-year-old PPG paint/clearcoat, and, oh yeah! IT’S A COMPLETELY O.E.M.-BELIEVABLE AUTOMODA CONVERTIBLE!!!27,xxx miles on new/remanufactured longblock engine – 3-year, 100,000-mile warranty on engine and installation work - 236,5xx miles currently on car
Original features:-
1988 Fiero Formula – 2.8 liter V6-
5-speed manual Getrag transmission
- WS6 suspension w/front and rear sway bars
- 15x6 front/15x7 rear crosslace wheels, black, with factory locking lugnuts and key
- Power windows
- Manual mirrors
- Manual door locks
- Tilt steering wheel
- A/C delete
Major mechanical upgrades:-
Remanufactured Jasper longblock engine professionally installed in 2013 by ASE-Certified AutoTek Automotive Service and Repair, 300 Circle Lane, Garner NC
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Brand-new radiator and coolant hoses - 2013-
New Centerforce dual-friction clutch - 2013-
Replaced axle seals at time of clutch installation-
Reinforced and ported exhaust manifolds by Scott Black
- 'Dodgerunner' spring-loaded
belt tensioner and new beltAutomoda upgrades:-
Convertible top conversion kit – including fabric-covered rigid aluminum T-top-style roof panels and fabric rear roof section on folding/telescoping metal support framework, reshaped rear upper fenders and reshaped engine vent covers
- Roof panels store behind seats – putting the top down does not impact trunk space(!)
- Rear section folds down FLAT behind headrests – maintains the original lines of the car, top up or down – VERY clean design
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One of approximately 35(!) original kits ever produced by Onofrio ‘Fred’ Scaduto between 1990-1993-
Professionally installed by Rob Kurnat, Kris Krawcewicz and ‘V8 Archie’ Archambeau – Lake Barrington, IL
- Can be driven with roof panels removed and rear section raised (i.e., ‘targa’ mode) or in full convertible fashion
Rick Coulter Racing upgrades:-
Custom underframe reinforcement done prior to convertible top installation-
Fabricated and installed by company with 29 years of experience custom-building entire race car frames/chassis in Chattanooga, TN- Thick-walled steel tubing connects forward crossmember to rear section of frame rails forward of cradle mounting locations, including diagonal cross-bracing between for additional rigidity
- Custom design does NOT impede gas tank removal or cradle movement/removal in any way
- Professionally designed, fabricated and installed by Rick Coulter and David Trimby
Rodney Dickman upgrades:- Performance Sound subwoofer speaker and gasket
- 1” lowering balljoints in front
- Getrag shift cable
- Getrag select cable
- Adjustable polyurethane dogbone
- Polyurethane forward transmission mount
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Just installed! - New clutch master cylinder w/adjustable banjo and brass bushing-
Just installed! - New clutch slave cylinder w/dual sealsFiero Store upgrades:- Wing gaskets (installed at time of repaint)
- Door mirror gaskets (installed at time of repaint)
- Center console tray
- Driver’s-side power window switch
- ‘Ultimate’ EGR tube
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Just installed! - New all-steel clutch pedal w/new bushings-
Just installed! - New hydraulic clutch line- Emergency brake boot
Mr. Mike’s upgrades:- Factory-style grey FABRIC seatcovers (not leather) – matches the OEM fabric and design
Paint/body work:-
PPG ‘Giallo Modena’ paint and clearcoat – May 2009-
All panels removed from chassis, sanded, primed, smoothed, painted and cleared, reassembled then buffed/polished
- All trim and mirrors prepped and painted satin black
-
30+ years of experience in paint & body work – PPG Certified
- Professionally prepared, painted and clearcoated by David Rowland and Brad Bennett of Middlesex, NC
- Comes with nearly a full quart of matching PPG ‘Giallo Modena’ paint for touchups and future repairs/custom additions
Pontiac OEM/NOS upgrades:- Dark charcoal metallic NOS OEM factory ‘FORMULA’ decals – proper color/location for yellow Fiero w/Formula package – professionally clearcoated into door panel finish for maximum durability
- Black vinyl ‘Fiero’ decal in stock location on decklid – proper color for yellow Fiero w/Formula package
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New inner and outer dew wipes – installed when body panels were removed for painting
- Rear view mirror with integrated maplights/interior lights added
- Decklid-mounted 3rd brake light from 1988 Pontiac Sunbird convertible – uses same bulb as stock Fiero
- Stock ‘Performance Sound’ subwoofer and OEM wiring added
- OEM footwell lighting/stock wiring added
- Power decklid release added
- OEM grey floor mats in mostly-decent condition
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BRAND-NEW OEM steering wheel with reinforced horn tabs
Custom additions / personal touches:- Custom-fabricated stock-style Performance Sound lighting console wired to rear-view mirror with integrated interior/map lights – functions exactly as the stock OEM interior lighting system did
- 1990 Pontiac CD player installed (matches the 1988 cassette player) with 5-band equalizer and added auxiliary input for the MP3 player of your choice
- Relocated stock gas door release from (now nonexistent) B-pillar to carpeted panel behind driver’s seat – can be accessed without moving seat
- 4”x6” B-pillar speakers have been incorporated into the headrests behind acoustically-transparent panel which properly shapes the headrest fabric – don’t even know they’re there until you turn the music on
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Custom all-LED front marker/ directional lights with integrated white driving lights – driving lights wired to come on with parking lights and can be turned off independently with dash-mounted switch
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9-element LED sidemarker lights in OEM side molding- Mid-line connections between solid and flexible line sections of brand-new Fiero Store clutch hydraulic line sealed with heat shrink tubing to maintain excellent seal and prevent future leaks
Maintenance history/upgrades:-
Garage kept since 2001- Extra engine-to-chassis ground straps installed
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New Bosch fuel pump and new pickup filter installed in 2013-
New Optima RedTop gel-cell battery installed in 2013 (sealed gel cell prevents fumes from negatively affecting convertible top material near decklid vent panel – original Optima RedTop battery installed in 2004)
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New 110-amp high-output alternator installed in 2013- Heater core replaced in 2012
- Manual radiator fan bypass switch installed – mounted in driver’s side ashtray area – professionally labeled
- 180-degree thermostat
- Welded/reinforced forward engine mount bracket with new solid rubber engine mount installed 2013
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New tires – BF Goodrich Advantage T/A in staggered stock sizes front and rear – 2014-
New alignment – 2014- Steering column professionally rebuilt in 2012
- Pennzoil Synchromesh fluid in Getrag 5-speed transmission
- Amzoil #AMO Premium Protection (high-zinc) 10W40 oil and Amzoil EaO23 extended-use oil filter installed in July 2014 at 230,000 miles – good for 25,000 mile use
**POSSIBLE** BONUS ITEMS INCLUDED (depending on final price negotiated for car):
- Extra set of New Old Stock OEM grey factory FLOOR MATS – used for car shows ONLY!!!
- 4-piece set of Original, burgundy and grey, Dealer-Optioned FIERO LUGGAGE!!! (includes large bag, medium duffle bag and two small bags – have never been able to acquire the folding luggage bag)
- Original CUSTOM-FIT ‘Back East’ brand fabric CAR COVER!!! Keep the dust off in between top-down drives!
- Custom-made Automoda display banner! Show off your new acquisition at car shows!
- Extra set of original Automoda fiberglass rear upper fender panels – not available ANYWHERE else! Cover yourself against a possible future collision!NOTES:Climate control panel lighting is currently not working – most likely an easy fix but have done fine without
Climate control sliders are functional and original three-color (blue/red/green) climate control cables are in place – however, could not figure out how to correctly route the blue (heater/defrost) cable without it binding so have simply run it alongside the center tunnel to switch between heat and defrost as needed – simple fix if you know how to properly route the cable to prevent binding – other cables are in place and functional (note – car does not have A/C and came without it from the factory)
Elbow damage to rear padding of center console
Small wear area on driver’s side outer seat bolster
Dash vinyl is good shape, although slightly bowed out around the vent/radio/climate control trim panel. Overall, the interior is in better shape than most other Fieros I’ve personally seen.
Passenger side power window switch has usual wear from use – still works fine. Driver’s side power window switch replaced with new in 2013 (passenger side switch looked fine at that time otherwise would have replaced both of them then)
Convertible top fabric has a couple of small holes – backed with cloth repair tape inside
Rubber molding across the top of the windshield seals well – joint between the T-top-style roof panels leaks slightly at the back ends in HEAVY rain – drips slightly in driving rain at the top/forward corners where the end of the windshield meets the door glass – window glass seals tightly to roof panels using OEM door molding – convertible top kit I purchased did not include a seal for the rear arch so I purchased aftermarket rubber molding in different profiles until I found one that works well. Some air leakage down the rearmost edges of the side windows but windows work smoothly.
Select cable is binding somewhat - might need minor adjustment or possible replacement. Was replaced at same time new engine was installed.
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND BACKSTORY:I have always carried full insurance coverage on this car, even though it has long been paid for. I have also always made a note to file my receipts with my insurance agent for major items like the convertible conversion work.
In early 2009, a deer ran into the rear passenger side of the car, going over the back end of the car, breaking the wingstands, removing the wing and causing some paint damage to the side of the car and a small rip and some marking to the convertible top fabric. At this time, the car still had the original paint and clearcoat on it, and some aftermarket Car Color spraypaint on the upper rear convertible kit fenders. The paint was in passable shape but starting to show its age, especially the clearcoat. There was no other damage to the vehicle in any way, shape or form, not even to the fiberglass upper rear fender that is part of the convertible conversion.
I took it to my insurance agent – he sent me to an insurance adjuster who inspected the car, the condition of the paint and asked me to get an estimate for *replacement* (not repair) of the convertible top fabric and return that to him. He also asked me if I knew of a source to get an acceptable replacement wing in order to ascertain a value to ascribe to it – at that time, there was nothing available on the commercial market.
I provided the requested information, waited a few days for their assessment and when they got back to me, they offered me a check for (if I recall correctly) about $3,500, included in that, approximately $1,000 for the replacement of the convertible top (materials and labor), an unknown amount to replace the wing (they were unable to locate a source, so I’m unsure how they came up with a number for the value) and the remainder towards a complete repaint of the car. However, they would have to consider the car Totaled, and would allow me to purchase the car back from them for $700, to which I (of course) agreed.
I did not feel the convertible top fabric warranted replacement at this time, so instead I supplied an identical OEM stock wing I had in storage and invested the insurance repayment into getting a professional paint job in the color I always wished to have and the best quality of paint I could find to be properly-applied (instead of whatever bargain-basement paint job they had most likely provided for), which then provided the new and complete panels-off PPG ‘Giallo Modena’ paint job and clearcoat.
The drawback is that the North Carolina registration for the car is listed as a ‘Total Loss Claim’, based solely on the money awarded by the insurance company, even though there was never anything ‘totaled’ about the car except that the cost of repairs exceeded the estimated $500 tax value of the car. (Even having to purchase a replacement wing, if one was readily available, without offering to paint the car, would have resulted in this. ANY needed repairs over $375 would have resulted in this.) Depending on the state the title is transferred to, this notation may not even appear on your new title. Regardless of the notation,
this car is in terrific physical and mechanical shape.There is/was no structural damage to the car; there is/was no mechanical damage to the car – it was all purely cosmetic and limited to the wing being forcibly removed from the wingstands by the deer going sideways over the back end of the car. I am of the mind that the insurance company was somehow caught between a rock and a hard place to the aged condition of the paint and the requirement to make things ‘whole’ again – I can’t claim to understand their logic, but was happy to be able to give the car a facelift and a refreshed appearance.
The car is currently in the best mechanical shape that it has ever been in since I first purchased it in 1999 now that I have invested in the n
ew engine, new clutch and other mechanical components, and turns heads everywhere with the new color and whether the convertible top is up or down. It has passed every annual NC State vehicle inspection with flying colors, and I know no reason it would not in any other state either. A few months ago, I drove this car to Baltimore, MD and back to Raleigh, NC and got 30(!) MPG on the highway. I usually get about 22-23 MPG around town.
You may ask, 'WHY AM I SELLING THIS CAR?' Years ago, I’d bought a Suzuki Samurai that I loved and I owned it for three years – in that time, I’d had it in the mountains, at the coast, on the highway on long trips, drove it daily on short runs, climbing in the hills and cruising through the sand at the beach, top up, top down… I ended up selling it at the end of that three years (and buying a motorcycle) not because I no longer enjoyed it but because
I felt as though I had done everything with it that I was able to and I just wanted a change. In many ways, I feel I am at the same point now with this car – it has become everything I had wanted it to be back in 1990 when I first saw an ad in the back of Kit Car Magazine for the Automoda convertible top conversion, and only had a 4-cyl. Coupe to install it on (which I still have) even if I’d been able to afford it at the time. It took me 14 years just to locate an uninstalled top kit but thanks to V8 Archie, finally the dream could begin. In the 10 years since,
I have enjoyed the car and improved upon it in every way I have been able to, but I’m thinking now may be the time to pass it on to someone new to enjoy for the next 20 years.
Contact me if you are interested and would like more information.
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Patrick W. Heinske -- LZeitgeist@aol.com
1988 Fiero Formula - Automoda convertible
repainted PPG Ferrari 'Giallo Modena' yellow
1988 Fiero 4-cyl Coupe - Dad's car, the Indy 'clone'
BACK ON THE ROAD! (after a 6 year rest)
[This message has been edited by LZeitgeist (edited 09-12-2015).]
