In a museum in Finland, Fiero GTP Concept: This car is the prototype referred to as the "Porsche Eater" It is described on page 89 of the Witzenberg Fiero book. After talking with engineers that worked this project, the car had the all-aluminum 2.9L V-6 Turbo that was developed under joint contract with Porsche. The engine was conservatively rated at 220 hp, 240 ft lbs torque. It is believed that this car also includes one of the Alcan Aluminum space frames. Finland is a stretch to go and do the research to confirm what is hidden under the body panels. The car was styled under the direction of John Cafaro. The mirrors, scoop and wing stands were a common theme in his concept drawings. The wheels were custom one-offs to match the offsets of the widebody built by the same supplier that made the prototype wheels for the 90 Fiero GT concept and the 2+2 four-seater.
If the name and location of this museum is known, can they be contacted and asked to provide documentation and a good lineup of pictures of the car? As a Fiero Club, they may be more likely to respond to you than to an individual.
It's interesting to me that if this vehicle is turboed, there are no boost gauges visible, commonly on the A pillar. Other things I noticed is that it has the original windshield if the trim seal is any indicator. That could mean that the car was built and painted many years ago when the trim was still available. The drip rails are also missing. It's probably a very unique vehicle in some manner otherwise it wouldn't be in a museum.
Our post on our facebook page caught the interest of a former PR manager at Pontiac who shed some light on how it earned a trip to Finland. Amazing stuff!
Quote: "I was a public relations manager at Pontiac and directly involved with this. I’ll try to keep the answer short. We held the long-lead press preview for all of the ‘88 Pontiac models at Riverside Raceway in CA. The division had way to many Fiero show cars and I found a way to ‘save’ them from the crusher.
During the preview I held some competitive driving events and knowledge tests, with the winners in each (4 or 5) allowed the opportunity to have one of the cars donated to a museum of their choice. If memory serves me correctly, 1 went to SanDiego, another to LA, another to Chicago and q more to a forgotten location.
This one to Finland was thanks to contest winner Jukka Sihvonen who wrote the Teknikan Maiilma magazine article shown. I clearly remember Jukka and a bunch of other journalists (and some of us internal folks) chanting “Fiero to Finland” at the evening’s reception when the winners were announced. Fun days! Thanks for shaking the memories loose."
That really is a cool story- all around. I remember that when Pontiac was first working on performance versions of the Fiero, they had "Porsche eater" across the back, and then when they had Porsche help them, they had to remove that lettering.
Can anyone get that article translated? I tried to scan it but it just goes as a picture.....But I have an old HP laptop.......(It came with a Ultra-fine adjustment tool....hammer...)
That is seriously a great story and a fantastic part of history.. I was 18 when all of this was going on. I wish I was a Fiero Nut back then, instead, I just drove them. Thanks for the memory lane!
This is truly an amazing find as this car was reported crushed long ago.
There were two cars one red and on black. The red is still with us as a turbo t top fast back today but the Black car became the Amelia Earhart of Fieros.
The engine was even reported to have been reused in the Transport van.
The frame if it is Aluminum it was not one we knew of as this car predates the Alcoa cars and was built in 1983-84.
The interesting part of the Porsche tail light story is they were removed not to offend Porsche Engineering as the took the GM designed suspension and tuned it for better Turn in and Feel. Porsche had a lot of experience with the 911 so GM went to them to help tune the feel.
This was related by Tom Goad Pontiac engineer and racer.
I am pleased to see this car survive as I used it as a guide in the modificatons of my car back in the 80’s and it has been one of my favorite Fieros.
Our post on our facebook page caught the interest of a former PR manager at Pontiac who shed some light on how it earned a trip to Finland. Amazing stuff!
Quote: "I was a public relations manager at Pontiac and directly involved with this. I’ll try to keep the answer short. We held the long-lead press preview for all of the ‘88 Pontiac models at Riverside Raceway in CA. The division had way to many Fiero show cars and I found a way to ‘save’ them from the crusher.
During the preview I held some competitive driving events and knowledge tests, with the winners in each (4 or 5) allowed the opportunity to have one of the cars donated to a museum of their choice. If memory serves me correctly, 1 went to SanDiego, another to LA, another to Chicago and q more to a forgotten location.
This one to Finland was thanks to contest winner Jukka Sihvonen who wrote the Teknikan Maiilma magazine article shown. I clearly remember Jukka and a bunch of other journalists (and some of us internal folks) chanting “Fiero to Finland” at the evening’s reception when the winners were announced. Fun days! Thanks for shaking the memories loose."
What's with all the secrecy about the name and location of the museum this car is housed in? At least two people in this post know, but wont actually state the name?
What's with all the secrecy about the name and location of the museum this car is housed in? At least two people in this post know, but wont actually state the name?
No secrecy
it's at the Mobilia Museum in Kangasala, Finland
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2014 Ford F150 Tremor 1 of 2086 2018 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T 1988 Fiero Coupe CJB T-Top 1987 Fiero Coupe T-Top 1985 Fiero GT 3800 N/A
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