PFF - Pennock's Fiero Forum, PDA Edition

Well, that was unexpected (Zimmer Quicksilver) (Page 1/1)

OldGuyinaGT

DEC 16, 12:09 PM

At least I never would've expected an article about the Zimmer Quicksilver in the January 2022 issue of Hemmings Classic Car:

I Don't Want to Love the Zimmer Quicksilver, But I Do

Never was my cup of tea, but interesting nonetheless.

Dennis LaGrua

DEC 16, 03:24 PM

The Zimmer was certainly an interesting creation. I have seen them in person several times. Its an extended wheelbase Fiero frame with a custom fiberglass body designed to keep the most enterprising pimp happy. It was a large car with little interior space for its size but it did have a big trunk in front. With power steering, the std 2.8L V6 and the three speed automatic, the 3200 lb car had to be a slug. They sold for something like $42,000 when new. My guess is that only 100 of these cars survive today. Zero spare body parts are available.
The car is not my taste but I find them interesting vehicles.

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" THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite.
"THE COLUSSUS"
87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H
" ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "

theogre

DEC 19, 09:46 AM

Was and is a Fugly over glorified Kit Car sold thru some dealers at high price.
Many reason people didn't buy them beside Fugly...
Same or Other Dealers could and likely did void the Warranty claims on them. May even cause problems for Recall work because of PS pump and other mods in the engine bay.
Adds Weight to the car that slows down the car, Make harder to stop by Ignores GVWR problems thus makes very easy to overload even more by people and whatever in the trunk. Cops mostly won't stop overloaded cars but in a wreck you hope insurance and others don't find out.

Is sim to having a trunk/suv w/ suspension mods installed by dealers then later warranty is voided often at same dealer. Insurance can cause you more problems when wrecked.

Now Hemmings are trying to act like is a real car that matters and pushing fake "collector value." Their as bad or worse then KBB or NADA that have fake values/prices for used cars in the U.S.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

hyperv6

DEC 19, 06:00 PM

No a car I ever really cared for. But the fact is the made them and they represent some of the craziness of the 80’s.

They mostly were an expensive answer to a question no one asked. Zimmer if you had read the story was on its last legs and was looking to create a car that was easy and inexpensive to convert.

Also the cars were slightly heavier than a Fiero but not unsafely over weight. The length was only 15”. The zero to 60 was 8 seconds not really much different than a auto V6.

Generally the dealers were Pontiac dealers one of the being the largest was Holland Pontiac in Massillon Ohio.

The truth is it was an expensive car that few wanted or cared for in 1988. Looking back many of the cars that hold interest today are odd balls from the past or cars that were rejected.

There are a few of these left in good condition and enough people wanting them that they garners better value than many other cars.

You don’t have to like these but they exist and will always be tied to the Fiero.

Dennis LaGrua

DEC 21, 03:29 PM

For people that liked the bulky Zimmer styling, they could have purchased an 80's era Chrysler New Yorker or Lincoln Town Car for a bit more than half the price. Still the company must have made a bit of money, 240 cars @ $42,000 = $10,800,000 That's quite a bit of cash but they did have to buy the Fiero's build the fiberglass, lighting lens molds and fabricate some parts to convert them to the Zimmer. I often wonder how they made those giant chrome bumpers.

fierofool

DEC 21, 06:05 PM

There have been a couple within the last year that have appeared in several markets that were top show quality vehicles. It might be a very decent car with a 4.9, 3800SC, or an LS4 dropped into it.

Dennis LaGrua

DEC 21, 09:53 PM

quote

Originally posted by fierofool:

There have been a couple within the last year that have appeared in several markets that were top show quality vehicles. It might be a very decent car with a 4.9, 3800SC, or an LS4 dropped into it.

I've have seen a few Zimmers at the car shows in pristine condition. Many years back I had an opportunity to inspect one up close. The workmanship was top notch, it had larger truck space and a revamped fancy leather interior with a plush carpet. The styling was pure 80's full size car with big bumpers, the square grill and wire wheels but with the small Fiero sports car interior. The car was really crying for a larger engine. The owner told me that with the A/C on it gave him 22 hwy mpg and he thought that compared to the GT that he owned, performance was a big sluggish. Prime examples appear to bring decent money but I just can't see the value.

reinhart

DEC 23, 09:34 PM

Is the re-body metal or fiberglass?

Dennis LaGrua

DEC 30, 07:26 PM

quote

Originally posted by reinhart:

Is the re-body metal or fiberglass?

The Zimmer has an all Fiberglass body shell. The spaceframe underneath is metal (Fiero) . I suspect that the bumpers were chromed over fiberglass as well but not certain of that. I give credit to the designers of the Zimmer body for making it work, but I believe that the effort was misdirected. It had a two seat sports car interior with a Lincoln Town car size body. Typically automobiles the size of the Zimmer had large interiors.

PaulJK

JAN 12, 01:14 AM

I drove one at a scumbag used car dealership in Palm Springs about 10 years ago. The stretched wheelbase gives it a much better ride than a regular fiero and the power steering is a real nice touch.