Just curious if anyone on the forum has ever run across someone that had their Fiero modified for their particular handicap?

I have and here’s the story: A number of years ago our local GGF club had a rally in the Santa Cruz Mtns area. At one of our planned sightseeing stops, a guy and his daughter joined our tour/rally. On the way back to our cars, we began to talk about Fiero’s and other things. As we came up to his car he said, “Kit, your pretty knowledgeable about Fiero’s. I want you to look at my drivers footwell area and tell me what’s different about it”? I’m thinking, what’s the big deal about a Fiero footwell? You’ve seen one, you’ve seen em all. 😊 In my stupidity I didn’t notice anything and so he said, “look where the gas pedal is”. And then i realized it was on the left side of the brake pedal! (his Fiero was an auto) And then I said, why is it over there? He said, I used to race cars years ago. (I think he drove an old Dodge Charger or maybe a Challenger?)
Anyways, he said that he had an altercation with another car on the track and somehow he got ejected onto the track where another car ran over his legs, sending him to the hospital. Because of this, he has a permanent injury to his right leg to where he cannot flex / bend his leg or foot. His left leg was fine. By the way,
I forgot to mention that as we walked back to our cars, I did notice he walked with a cane but didn’t think much of it. After we parted ways, I never did see him again at any Fiero functions.

Do you have a Fiero person handicap story?
Kit

[This message has been edited by Kitskaboodle (edited 10-01-2024).]

quote Originally posted by Kitskaboodle: After we parted ways, I never did see him again at any Fiero functions.

Well, no wonder... you blew the footwell test!

quote Originally posted by Kitskaboodle: Just curious if anyone on the forum has ever run across someone that had their Fiero modified for their particular handicap? I have and here’s the story: A number of years ago our local GGF club had a rally in the Santa Cruz Mtns area. At one of our planned sightseeing stops, a guy and his daughter joined our tour/rally. On the way back to our cars, we began to talk about Fiero’s and other things. As we came up to his car he said, “Kit, your pretty knowledgeable about Fiero’s. I want you to look at my drivers footwell area and tell me what’s different about it”? I’m thinking, what’s the big deal about a Fiero footwell? You’ve seen one, you’ve seen em all. 😊 In my stupidity I didn’t notice anything and so he said, “look where the gas pedal is”. And then i realized it was on the left side of the brake pedal! (his Fiero was an auto) And then I said, why is it over there? He said, I used to race cars years ago. (I think he drove an old Dodge Charger or maybe a Challenger?) Anyways, he said that he had an altercation with another car on the track and somehow he got ejected onto the track where another car ran over his legs, sending him to the hospital. Because of this, he has a permanent injury to his right leg to where he cannot flex / bend his leg or foot. His left leg was fine. By the way, I forgot to mention that as we walked back to our cars, I did notice he walked with a cane but didn’t think much of it. After we parted ways, I never did see him again at any Fiero functions. Do you have a Fiero person handicap story? Kit

That's pretty interesting.

It reminds me of the fact that in the early days of the automobile... there was no set "standard" for where everything went. I haven't looked, but I assume there's a standard from the NHTSA in eCFR that we can look up that says pedals need to be here, there, and whatever. But in the early 1900s... you could have an acceleration knob in the center of the steering wheel, along with timing advance, or a brake on the right, or a brake on the left outside the car that you pulled up on (like the emergency brakes). Everything was anywhere the builder thought it should be. We've become accustomed to a standard of course...

My father drove for 40 years with hand controls.

They can be fitted to about any cars.

The Fiero would need to be an auto and be aware you would need a steering knob on the wheel since you would drive on handed. With no power steering it could be tough on some

My father’s upper body strength was great so he could have done it. Many people with leg issues have great arm strength.

quote Originally posted by Kitskaboodle: Do you have a Fiero person handicap story?

Does my wallet count ?

I / we have seen the posts where some elder owners had problems getting in (down) and out (up).

That person you met Kit, has grit. And love of the Fiero driving experience.

I dink dhat the on-ee way my Fi-erO could be's mod-E-me-Fied for my Han-e-gap woulds be's to snot allow me to driv-e it!

Actually, I think a large number of Fiero owners are gettin' old, and, although I can't stand the "Low-rider hydraulics" it would be a big help for me if the Fiero would lift up 10-12" higher during entry and exit!

Thankfully I have the full use of all my limbs, but if I ever lose the use of one leg, my plan is to install a drive-by-wire clutch actuator in my Fiero.

Some shifters use a "lockout ring" which needs to be lifted to enter Reverse.


I think that the raisable ring could be used to electronically control clutch disengagement. It makes sense to have it under the shift knob, since it doesn't require the use of an additional limb; most of the time, your hand is already on the shift knob when you need to use the clutch.

Much is possible but these things have a price

https://www.hagerty.com/med...robert-wickens-game/

Also factor in people with disabilities can get out of higher vehicles vs low.

My father never rode in my Fiero. I could remove the tops and get him in but we could never fold his leg in the brace enough to get his foot in. Then lifting him out would have been 220 pounds of dead weight.

I used to kid him I could install an injector seat.

Years ago, there was a guy who came to Carlisle that had one that ran on hand controls as he did not have full use of his legs.

Strangely enough, (and it’s sort of Fiero related) our GGF club (and a few others) used to go to
the “VA” (veterans) show in Redwood City. It was quite well attended by local car clubs because being the show was the weekend nearest Veterans Day, many wanted to show the veterans there their cars and also bring needed items for their well-being like shirts, socks, magazines, soap, shampoo, etc.
Anyways, besides our club having about 7-8 plus Fiero’s, there was also a big showing of the local
PT Cruiser club. One PT Cruiser in particular was driven by a guy in a wheelchair. I spent about 10 minutes or so discussing his conversion. It was quite impressive! First time I’ve ever seen a gull wing PT Cruiser! It was rigged to where he would go up a ramp and his wheelchair would lock right into the drivers side space/area. I asked him about the cost and it was at least $10-12K. I kind of forget the exact amount.
Kit

I love that this thread was brought back at the same time. Lack of power steering is a huge obstacle to some people with some disabilities, and being able to add something that doesn't eat into foot space is crazy helpful too!

[This message has been edited by NewDustin (edited 10-08-2024).]