When was monochromatic paint (aero skirts painted at the factory the exact same color as the upper body panels) first available on a Fiero? Most people assume the 1988 GT was the first monochromatic Fiero model, but this is not entirely correct.
This is not a trick question. The 85-87 silver GT's are not truly monochromatic, since their medium gray metallic aero skirts were not the exact same color paint as the upper body panels. Even the 86 & 87 black SE's do not qualify, since their aero skirts were matte black in contrast with their glossy upper body panels. Paint must be identical on the aero skirts and body panels to be true monochrome.
But in June of 1986, the Quality Pontiac dealership in Pontiac, Michigan arranged to have 50 special Fiero GT's built. All 50 identical cars were produced in one day at the Fiero plant.
Each of these 86 Fiero GT's had white monochrome paint, gray cloth interior, Getrag 5-speed, and most available options, except rear window defrost.
Quality Pontiac purchased fifty, black, Pegasus-style hood decals from FOCOA for these cars and had a couple of people inside the Fiero plant installing the decals onto the hoods the day the cars were produced (the only known time that non-union workers were ever allowed into the factory to work on vehicles). Numbers were added to the window stickers of these white monochrome 1986 Fiero GT's identifying the 50 cars sequentially from 000 through 049, with number 000 being the first one produced.
An interesting side note to this story involves a one-of-a-kind prototype made by Pontiac to show the dealership before the run of 50 cars was scheduled. The prototype was assembled at the factory and modified off-line to add white aero skirts as well as white side view mirrors and white diamond spoke wheels. The color matched wheels & mirrors were too costly to procure in the small quantities required and were omitted from the 50 car production schedule for the dealership. After Quality management approved the prototype, Pontiac Motors put it on display at Pontiac headquarters.
So what ever happened to these 50, all white 1986 Fiero GT's? A few were sold to local area residents, including one FOCOA member who raced the car with numerous stickers added to its exterior. At least one was in a accident: FOCOA later sold a replacement hood decal to the dealership in Michigan where the car was repaired. Quality claims to have sold them all, including several to a Pontiac dealership in California. Other reports are that at most, 19 of the cars were sold and that Pontiac motors reclaimed the balance from Quality, then converted them to stock versions before re- distributing them. Regards Paulv
[This message has been edited by CoolBlue87GT (edited 04-28-2006).]
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08:28 PM
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litespd Member
Posts: 8128 From: No where you want to be Registered: Aug 99
Yep, I've seen a monochromatic White 86 GT....it sits in my storage unit....
Note the white mirrors. However, this car has a 4 speed, not a Getrag, and it's NOT one of the 50 cars listed in the article. Or is it...?
The car was painted like this when I bought it, and when I had it repainted, I decided just to keep it this way. I've gotten more compliments on it...people like the monochrome white over the white/silver combination that it should be painted...
Yep, I've seen a monochromatic White 86 GT....it sits in my storage unit....
Note the white mirrors. However, this car has a 4 speed, not a Getrag, and it's NOT one of the 50 cars listed in the article. Or is it...?
The car was painted like this when I bought it, and when I had it repainted, I decided just to keep it this way. I've gotten more compliments on it...people like the monochrome white over the white/silver combination that it should be painted...
I forgot just how Gorgeous your car is.......
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11:58 PM
Apr 29th, 2006
ARKaiser Member
Posts: 1305 From: lansing,michigan,usa Registered: Feb 2003
There is a member of the MFC that has (from what little I know about these 50 cars) one of them. I don't believe that he claims that it is but he dose say that the white over white was factory.
Just checked and I don't have the picture I thought I did.
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07:22 AM
CoolBlue87GT Member
Posts: 8464 From: Punta Gorda, Florida, USA Registered: Apr 2001
Interesting tid bit. Thanks for sharing. It will be hard not to notice one now and I hope I never do. I don't know how I would tell the wife I've got to have another Fiero .
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07:32 AM
CoolBlue87GT Member
Posts: 8464 From: Punta Gorda, Florida, USA Registered: Apr 2001
There is a white monocromatic 86 GT automatic here in El Paso. It has the white crosslace wheels, gray interior, sub, sunroof, wing, and no defrost. It has small metal adhesive emblems on the doors that say "Delonghi Special Edition" with a matching emblem on the inside. It needs some work but is all there, and is for sale. Anyone know about this car? I thought it was some kind of dealer package. Other than the automatic, it is optioned like one of the 50. Hmmmm.......
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06:48 AM
cliffw Member
Posts: 36925 From: Bandera, Texas, USA Registered: Jun 2003
Wow. Wonder what these "special" Fieros are worth...over other Fieros. Pauls price guide does not say. Even at sentimental value I would like to have one. Oooohhhh, ooooohhhh, the wife just got up. A guy can dream can't he ? Even though her birthday is NOT the day to ask, like she would encourage me to get # 6. Get us some info.
[This message has been edited by cliffw (edited 04-30-2006).]
litespd, I have been debating on what color to paint the 86GT I just finished for my son. You have sealed the deal--I`m going white. (including the mirros) Nice looking Fiero you have there.
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08:42 AM
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under8ted Member
Posts: 1108 From: Sparta, ON, Canada Registered: Mar 2006
Mine is a monochrome white as well with black honeycombs and side trim/mirrors. Aftermarket paint job so not one of the 50 but it still looks good. I'm keeping the paint scheme after the body mods are done. Even those are going to be "subtle"--pointy nose, z24 rockers, a low-rise rear lid vent (late 90's mustang?) and small trans-am/GTA front hood vents.
There is a white monocromatic 86 GT automatic here in El Paso. It has the white crosslace wheels, gray interior, sub, sunroof, wing, and no defrost. It has small metal adhesive emblems on the doors that say "Delonghi Special Edition" with a matching emblem on the inside. It needs some work but is all there, and is for sale. Anyone know about this car? I thought it was some kind of dealer package. Other than the automatic, it is optioned like one of the 50. Hmmmm.......
could you get pics.? and the asking price for Cliffws wife
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09:46 AM
cliffw Member
Posts: 36925 From: Bandera, Texas, USA Registered: Jun 2003
Thanks, all, for the compliments on my car...they are appreciated! Dave, as for your original post...I remember reading about those cars somewhere. Maybe it was one of the old FOCOA magazines? I don't remember for sure, but I DO remember seeing pics of all the cars parked together.
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10:46 AM
RAREW66 Member
Posts: 1119 From: Davenport, IA USA Registered: Jun 2001
I found a little on this. 2nd quarter 1986 FOCOA magazine.
Here is a little personal recollection on the 50 cars. When we went to the 86 FOCOA Fiero Festival, the big attraction to going was being able to drive your own car through the Fiero Plant after the plant tour and meeting many people working at the facility. Everybody seemed really happy and enjoyed their employment at the plant because of the work ethics Pontiac put in place. That is pretty much what I went to Pontiac for. But, on the way to the plant tour, we all had to stop at Quality Pontiac and see these special edition Fieros. We were all gathered around the hospitality tent and given a speech which seemed very similiar to sitting through a time share presentation. The special monochromatic special package added another $1200 to the price of a fully loaded 86 GT. Most of us there already had new Fieros and really was not in the market for another new car. So, I am pretty sure that none of us took to buying one of the special package Fieros except maybe one, but I do not know. So for $1200 you got the ground effects body color, a black Pegasus emblem decal on the hood, a window sticker with the car number on one corner, and a plaque applied to the consule under the radio stating it was a special Quality Pontiac factory option. What seemed most unique to these cars was the 5 speed transmission as we had 4-speeds at the time. Not a very good value for the dollar package.
Many years later (88-90???), through the Fiero rumor mill, I was to the understanding that Fiero Phil was the main influence behind building these cars. Phil had the decals made and supplied them to the plant. Quality Pontiac floorplanned the financing for the 50 cars. What made this a big deal was that Code 40 White had been cancelled for MY1986; so the plant had to make a special batch of white and insert the 50 cars in to the already scheduled production schedule. What Phil might have said to persaude Pontiac to build a "special edition" is beyond me, but only a handful of the cars sold. The rest sat on the Quality Pontiac lot for months with no sales. Supposedly Pontiac bought the rest of the cars back because they did not sell. Maybe this is the reason this special package Fiero disappeared in to obscurity. I personally have never seen one after viewing the 50 in Pontiac. I remember hearing that one possibly made to Bob Steiger's Twin Lakes Fiero, but who knows.
It is a shame that this deal went bad for Quality Pontiac and FOCOA. If it would have succeeded, maybe we would have seen more special Fiero packages offered. I do not think that it would be very easy to talk a manufacturer in to making a special edition based on the wishes of a car club. That is what I recall. It might be worth stopping at Quality Pontiac the next time I am in town and see if I can dig up some more info and see if they will admit that it happened. I am sure they lost money over the deal. Most important to know is if there was a RPO code for the special package.
------------------ Fred Bartemeyer Chairman Heartland Fieros http://www.heartlandfieros.com 86 GT 4spd Black 26k miles 87 GT 5spd. Blue 37k miles 88 Silver T-Top Formula 281,000 miles 85 Yellow PPG GTP Pace Car 87 GT 5 spd Annette's Sunshine Driver 88 GT 5 spd Annette's Daily Driver
could you get pics.? and the asking price for Cliffws wife
I will be real busy this week so pics will be hard. The body is in good what appears to be original paint conditon. The worse cosmetic problem is that one of the aero skirts is damaged and will need to be replaced. John used to post on Pennocks under the name "stasis". Try a profile lookup. If you don't have any luck PM me. I will try to get his local phone number for you. He is a student and a little hard to reach.
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05:08 AM
CoolBlue87GT Member
Posts: 8464 From: Punta Gorda, Florida, USA Registered: Apr 2001
That's the car. The emblem below the beltline is the "Delonghi Edition" badge. Those white spoke wheels are a bear to clean. I thought my 88 black one's were bad. His email address is posted in the profile info.
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06:43 PM
Jul 29th, 2006
CoolBlue87GT Member
Posts: 8464 From: Punta Gorda, Florida, USA Registered: Apr 2001
RAREW66 Thanks for posting the photo's from the magazine. Bump for those that missed this the first time. ------------------ More photos, http://www.cardomain.com/ride/278279
[This message has been edited by CoolBlue87GT (edited 07-29-2006).]
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08:33 AM
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slickrick2000 Member
Posts: 1369 From: Temecula, California Registered: Oct 2004
