Someone told me a while ago that there is a way of telling each year of the Fiero apart...but I forgot.
I know that you can tell a Fiero GT made in '85 apart from the '86-'88s, but how can you tell the '86-'88s apart.
There is this one Fiero that is parked all the time near my house at the City Hall...its a Fastback with like a maroon paint job...I've always wondered what year it was?
So starting from '84 and all the way up to the '88, can someone tell me and all the people that dont know, how can you tell them all apart???????
------------------ BORN FIERO LOVER,DIE FIERO LOVER!
You can tell an 84 apart from all the years by the vents. The 84s has the vent in the middle of the decklid, and the 85 and up has them on both side of the decklid.
84-86 coupes had the black rubber bumper on the nose, and the 87-88 did not have black bumpers.
Thats all I know.
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04:08 AM
furious_fiero Member
Posts: 3028 From: Surrey,BC,CANADA Registered: Mar 2002
Assuming everything is completely stock, the '88 GTs had narrower wheels at the front (6" as opposed to 7"). Also, the '88 GTs were monochromatic. (Ground fx were the same color as the rest of the body.) Those are the only visual/cosmetic differences between the '88 GTs and the '86/'87 GTs.
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08:07 AM
Old Lar Member
Posts: 13797 From: Palm Bay, Florida Registered: Nov 1999
was the monochromatic an option or all '88s got it? i see 2 maroon gt's within a block of each other all the time (wonder if they know each other or even speak to each other about their cars) and i've been assuming (shuddup) that one's an '88 because of the black lace wheels.
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10:10 AM
Oreif Member
Posts: 16460 From: Schaumburg, IL Registered: Jan 2000
There is this one Fiero that is parked all the time near my house at the City Hall...its a Fastback with like a maroon paint job...I've always wondered what year it was?
The GT you want to know the year of is an 87 or 88. First 86 did not have the maroon color. If it's an 87, the lower aero effects should be silver and the wheels should have the same size lip. If it's an 88 the aero effects are painted the same color as the rest of the car and the front wheels should be missing part of the outside lip.
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10:29 AM
furious_fiero Member
Posts: 3028 From: Surrey,BC,CANADA Registered: Mar 2002
I cant really tell the year by the wheels...cause hes got custom 5 spoke 16" rims on it. But I'll go back today and see if the color scheme is the same...I'll check back to you later.Thanx!
------------------ BORN FIERO LOVER,DIE FIERO LOVER!
If its got 5 spoke wheels, Look thru at the brakes. I think the 88s were vented. Also, the calipers have a flat spot on top rather than those groves that run down the hole side.
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02:21 PM
PFF
System Bot
Bob Englert Member
Posts: 535 From: Greensboro, NC, USA Registered: Mar 2000
The foolproof way to determine the year is to look at the serial number plate at the base of the windshield. The 10th digit of the serial number indicates the model year.
Originally posted by furious_fiero: Someone told me a while ago that there is a way of telling each year of the Fiero apart...but I forgot.
I know that you can tell a Fiero GT made in '85 apart from the '86-'88s, but how can you tell the '86-'88s apart.
There is this one Fiero that is parked all the time near my house at the City Hall...its a Fastback with like a maroon paint job...I've always wondered what year it was?
So starting from '84 and all the way up to the '88, can someone tell me and all the people that dont know, how can you tell them all apart???????
Here's how to tell (almost) everything apart from the outside.
Coupes:
The original coupe body style was '84 - '86. The later coupe body style was '87-'88
The '84 Decklid has the grille in the middle and solid panels on the outside. The later ones have a solid decklid with grilles on the removable panels.
'86 was the first year of the third brake light.
The '87 coupes have one exhaust cut-out in the rear fascia. The '88 coupes have two cut-outs in the rear fascia (like a Formula) even though they only have the exhaust pipe coming out the left side.
Aero notchback:
Indy was '84 only. Silver ground effects means it's an '85 GT. Black ground effects (and third brake light) means it's an '86 or '87 SE.
Aero fastbacks:
Silver ground effects means it's an '86 or '87 GT. Body colored ground effects means it's an '88.
Colors:
Blue was '87 only. Maroon was '87 - '88 only. Yellow was '88 only. Red was not offered in '87 (except for rumors of about half a dozen cars).
With all that information you should be able to narrow down the year. There are a few that are impossible to tell apart without looking at the interior or the VIN. Certain colors of '86 - '87 SE or GT, for example.
I recommend the spotter's guide at the link above. It's well worth $5.
------------------ Doug Chase Duvall, WA '88 Fiero Formula 5-spd (autocrosser) '88 Fiero GT 5-spd (daily driver) '85 Fiero GT 4-spd (rally car) '86 Fiero GT 5-spd (organ doner for rally car) '86 Fiero GT 4-spd (fixer-upper, 4 sale soon)
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04:31 PM
furious_fiero Member
Posts: 3028 From: Surrey,BC,CANADA Registered: Mar 2002
I found out what it is...its kinda tricky though cause he had some mods done to it...I wont say what it is until I post the pics...should have them up in about 2-3 hours.
------------------ BORN FIERO LOVER,DIE FIERO LOVER!
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05:41 PM
Ferrari Fan Member
Posts: 1594 From: Newport News VA USA Registered: Jan 2002
well anyways...I cant get the pics posted tonight cause Im at a friends...but that car was an '87 aparently according to the VIN #...I post the pics tommorow.
------------------ BORN FIERO LOVER,DIE FIERO LOVER!
Originally posted by furious_fiero: Someone told me a while ago that there is a way of telling each year of the Fiero apart...but I forgot.
I know that you can tell a Fiero GT made in '85 apart from the '86-'88s, but how can you tell the '86-'88s apart.
There is this one Fiero that is parked all the time near my house at the City Hall...its a Fastback with like a maroon paint job...I've always wondered what year it was?
So starting from '84 and all the way up to the '88, can someone tell me and all the people that dont know, how can you tell them all apart???????
This is the best picture I can find. If the battery covers were there, they would be solid, not vented like the other years.
------------------ James Essar Co-Founder of NEO Fiero Club! 88 V6 Coupe 3.2L V6 With all the goodies..soon to be Turbo! 84 SE 4 speed Stock 4, Wanna Race?
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02:12 AM
Fiero 88 Member
Posts: 705 From: Mason City, IA Registered: Apr 2002
Originally posted by Doug Chase: The '87 coupes have one exhaust cut-out in the rear fascia. The '88 coupes have two cut-outs in the rear fascia (like a Formula) even though they only have the exhaust pipe coming out the left side.
My '88 coupe only has the cutout on one side.
------------------ Chris--1988 Fiero coupe "Fiero means PROUD"
Originally posted by Haze_Performance: Hmmmmmm.. I test drove a 88 coupe at a dealer & it only had 1.. ?? It must of been a crash repair...
I stand corrected..
Hmm, could be why mine only has 1 cutout. About 5 years ago (a week after I bought it) some little bastard backed into it. .....coulda killed that kid for doin that.
------------------ Chris--1988 Fiero coupe "Fiero means PROUD"
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02:41 AM
furious_fiero Member
Posts: 3028 From: Surrey,BC,CANADA Registered: Mar 2002
I finally got the pics of that '87/'88??? car that I was talking about...according to VIN# its an '87 but from everything that I've been told to look for, its seems to me its an '88.
Can anyone tell what it is, just by looking at the pics?
If you need more pics of it, then I can go over there tommorow and take more pics of it.
------------------ BORN FIERO LOVER,DIE FIERO LOVER!
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03:50 AM
Old Lar Member
Posts: 13797 From: Palm Bay, Florida Registered: Nov 1999
You have to remember that there is something called paint. The only way to tell is by vin #. If the vin # indicates that it is an 87, then no amount of body or paint modifications will change that fact.
So what is pictured is a 87 GT with a monochromatic repaint job.
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06:56 AM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
Originally posted by furious_fiero: so then on that '84, do the 2 side covers still come off like the '85-'88s?
Yes.
Break it down:
Notchbacks: 84 - center vent on decklid, bumper pads, no 3rd brake light. 85 - side vents on decklid, no 3rd brakelight, bumper pads. 86 - side vents on decklid, w/ 3rd brake light, bumper pads. 87 - side vents on decklid, w/ 3rd brake light, no bumper pads, 1 exhaust notch in rear 88 - side vents on decklid, w/ 3rd brake light, no bumper pads, 2 exhaust notches in rear.
Aero Notchbacks: 84 - Indy Fiero only 85 - GT only 86, 87 - SE only - (anyone know how to tell these apart?) 88 - no aero notchback.
Aero Fastbacks: 84-85 n/a 86-87 - 2-tone body, gray cross lace wheels (anyone know how to tell these apart?) 88 - monochrome body, black or gold cross lace wheels.
So aside from 86-87 SE's and 86-87 GT's, everything else can be visually checked, without having to decode the VIN.
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09:56 AM
Raydar Member
Posts: 40912 From: Carrollton GA. Out in the... country. Registered: Oct 1999
Another way to tell is to look at the suspension. In the front... 88s have the shock inside the spring. Pre-88s have the shock mounted behind the control arm. In the rear... 88s have several straight links. Pre-88s have upper and lower control arms.
BTW... Is this a car you are thinking about buying? Has the owner asked you if you are stalking him? ------------------ Raydar
From the Department of Redundancy Department.
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 04-05-2002).]
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12:32 PM
Oreif Member
Posts: 16460 From: Schaumburg, IL Registered: Jan 2000
The pics are of an 87. Here are my thought's as to why. First, the left rear bottom shows chipped paint. It looks like it is silver under the maroon paint. Second, since it has aftermarket wheels, and the 88's had a different offset, the front wheels should stick out differently. Third, from the pic it looks like an 84-87 style front brake caliper. Finally VIN #'s don't lie.
[This message has been edited by Oreif (edited 04-05-2002).]
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12:49 PM
Doug Chase Member
Posts: 1487 From: Seattle area, Washington State, USA Registered: Sep 2001
86, 87 - SE only - (anyone know how to tell these apart?)
Aero Fastbacks: 86-87 - 2-tone body, gray cross lace wheels (anyone know how to tell these apart?)
Those are the tough ones. The only way to tell when you see it going by on the street is by paint color (assuming it's original, or course). Blue or Maroon means it's an '87. Red means it's an '86. Anything else could be either one.
If you can look inside and see that it has a 4-spd then it's an '86. If it has a 5-spd it could be late '86 or '87. But if you can look inside you're close enough to look at the VIN.
------------------ Doug Chase Duvall, WA '88 Fiero Formula 5-spd (autocrosser) '88 Fiero GT 5-spd (daily driver) '85 Fiero GT 4-spd (rally car) '86 Fiero GT 5-spd (organ doner for rally car) '86 Fiero GT 4-spd (fixer-upper, 4 sale soon)
AIM: CanadianFiero
