Hey y'all - I have searched and searched but can't find this answer.
I have an '84 SE with the 643 Fleece/Suede, Med Doeskin (2 tone) seat cover option - in the window sticker it was called European leather.
I'm just curious because so many people who see the car remark on it and say they've never seen it and ask it was a factory option. Anyone have access to that kind of data?
[This message has been edited by 84SECAR1 (edited 04-09-2025).]
Hey y'all - I have searched and searched but can't find this answer.
I have an '84 SE with the 643 Fleece/Suede, Med Doeskin (2 tone) seat cover option - in the window sticker it was called European leather.
I'm just curious because so many people who see the car remark on it and say they've never seen it and ask it was a factory option. Anyone have access to that kind of data?
Is this a picture of your car? I always thought the fleece seats were very cool. Back in the late 90s and early 2000s... it was common to see Fieros in the local South Florida junkyard. I've run across several of these. They were also offered in 1985 and were not uncommon in 85 GTs. They are pretty rare though, as it was probably an expensive upgrade. I've maybe seen 10 cars with these in my whole life, out of like maybe 1000 Fieros total. They were usually very trashed, but I always thought they were so cool. I'm glad you're keeping them, and that they're in such great shape. The 84s don't get the respect they deserve, but 1984 had a LOT of features that other Fieros didn't get. There were a lot of 1-year things... and even though it didn't get the V6, they put a lot of effort into that car, for what it's worth. I think 84 (and 85) were the only years they had pockets in the back of the seats (like a cargo net), and they had the matching luggage (which I have seen), along with the sill tags, and a bunch of other little odds and ends. I'm glad to see one in such good shape.
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: Is this a picture of your car? I always thought the fleece seats were very cool. Back in the late 90s and early 2000s... it was common to see Fieros in the local South Florida junkyard. I've run across several of these. They were also offered in 1985 and were not uncommon in 85 GTs. They are pretty rare though, as it was probably an expensive upgrade. I've maybe seen 10 cars with these in my whole life, out of like maybe 1000 Fieros total. They were usually very trashed, but I always thought they were so cool. I'm glad you're keeping them, and that they're in such great shape. The 84s don't get the respect they deserve, but 1984 had a LOT of features that other Fieros didn't get. There were a lot of 1-year things... and even though it didn't get the V6, they put a lot of effort into that car, for what it's worth. I think 84 (and 85) were the only years they had pockets in the back of the seats (like a cargo net), and they had the matching luggage (which I have seen), along with the sill tags, and a bunch of other little odds and ends. I'm glad to see one in such good shape.
Yessir that is my car! I was super excited when I found the car. It was purchased new by an airlines pilot and he was as meticulous with his records and maintenance on the car as one would be on an aircraft. I bought it from him a couple of years ago. I had never seen the seats either...and my family had a Pontiac dealership. That's why I'm trying to find out about production numbers.
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: I think 84 (and 85) were the only years they had pockets in the back of the seats (like a cargo net), and they had the matching luggage (which I have seen), along with the sill tags, and a bunch of other little odds and ends. I'm glad to see one in such good shape.
84 only had the cargo nets, don't know about luggage, 84 had "Fiero"and Fischer body labels on the door sills, 85 just had "Fiero", apparently 84 could have an extending roll-up "blind" that goes from the decklid to the front trunk edge, effectively hiding the engine, but being easily unclipped for work, also the spaceframe was different between AC and non AC cars, non AC had an additional manual vent under the passenger side dash (and drivers side) later years all had the AC spaceframe, with a plugged hole for the vent on the driver's side, and nothing on the passenger side. many many one year options and standard accessories, my favorite off the top of my head is the short shifter, an inch shorter than any of the other years, it looks like it belongs, whereas the longer shifter of later years looks out of place. My Fiero 2 summers ago, looks good, but long shifter(missing the leather on it), ripped seats, and peanut butter steering wheel. More or Less current, 84 shifter, recovered and accented strong wheel and shift knob, Mr Mike's vinyl seats with red accents, the short shifter really looks good
85 also has the netting cargo pockets on the back of the seats.
I wish my Formula had the seat back pockets, they were very handy in my 85 GT. I was disappointed when I got my 86 SE and there were no seat back storage spaces.
84 only had the cargo nets, don't know about luggage, 84 had "Fiero"and Fischer body labels on the door sills, 85 just had "Fiero", apparently 84 could have an extending roll-up "blind" that goes from the decklid to the front trunk edge, effectively hiding the engine, but being easily unclipped for work, also the spaceframe was different between AC and non AC cars, non AC had an additional manual vent under the passenger side dash (and drivers side) later years all had the AC spaceframe, with a plugged hole for the vent on the driver's side, and nothing on the passenger side. many many one year options and standard accessories, my favorite off the top of my head is the short shifter, an inch shorter than any of the other years, it looks like it belongs, whereas the longer shifter of later years looks out of place.
85s did come with the seat-back nets, for the high-end seats... my daughter's 1985 SE had them on her seats too (which we removed and sold-off). But they were discontinued in 1986. I had a 1985 Fiero GT as well, and it didn't come with the seat-back nets... but you could order them. My 85 was a totally stripped down car... had zero options... hardtop, 4-Speed, V6, and automatic... nothing else, haha.
For the AC and non-AC cars, I'm not aware of the space frame being different. The "fresh air vents" are present in all Fieros, but the only difference between A/C and non A/C cars in 1984 is that the air box was different and blocked it off. In 1985, the passenger-side "vent" was permanently sealed off... literally they stopped cutting it out, so the spaceframe did change from 84-85 in that case... it basically lacks the hole. On the driver's side though, all years still have the fresh air vent, but it has a screw-in block-off plate that you can remove. You can actually add the fresh-air vent from the 84 for the drivers side in all cars from 84-88, regardless of whether it has A/C.
In A/C cars though... the place where the hole would be is blocked by the HVAC box.
I have an entire kit from a non-84 car... and it's pretty cool. It's basically a cable-controlled flap that takes the place of the blockoff plate. I plan to add it in my 87 one day when I take it out of storage. But you can totally add it on the drivers side for all cars.
Hey... so for your shifter, all you did was just swap out the shifter arm itself to the earlier year one?
[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 04-10-2025).]
84 only had the cargo nets, don't know about luggage, 84 had "Fiero"and Fischer body labels on the door sills, 85 just had "Fiero", apparently 84 could have an extending roll-up "blind" that goes from the decklid to the front trunk edge, effectively hiding the engine, but being easily unclipped for work, also the spaceframe was different between AC and non AC cars, non AC had an additional manual vent under the passenger side dash (and drivers side) later years all had the AC spaceframe, with a plugged hole for the vent on the driver's side, and nothing on the passenger side. many many one year options and standard accessories, my favorite off the top of my head is the short shifter, an inch shorter than any of the other years, it looks like it belongs, whereas the longer shifter of later years looks out of place. My Fiero 2 summers ago, looks good, but long shifter(missing the leather on it), ripped seats, and peanut butter steering wheel. More or Less current, 84 shifter, recovered and accented strong wheel and shift knob, Mr Mike's vinyl seats with red accents, the short shifter really looks good
that suddenly explains the holes in our 84 decklid. that blind is long gone but the holes were still there, i have heard a few weird things about 84s compared to every other year 1. the wiring is difficult to deal with (me and my buddy coming fresh from a 69 toronado didnt have any issues since its standard 70s gm wiring) 2. the option wiring is installed for everything under the dash on the later models but 84 only had what was ordered eg. power locks and windows wired up to the door wiring hole but no further 3. the shift cables are 4 inches longer and the shifter is shorter on both the top and pivot meaning its a real shorter throw 4. different interior color options. this im unsure of since ive only seen a light grey (almost white) and a brown 84 5. way more custom paint options. i know our 84 has a gloss white and flat white 2 tone which is the weirdest way to order one.
Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: 85s did come with the seat-back nets, for the high-end seats... my daughter's 1985 SE had them on her seats too (which we removed and sold-off). But they were discontinued in 1986. I had a 1985 Fiero GT as well, and it didn't come with the seat-back nets... but you could order them. My 85 was a totally stripped down car... had zero options... hardtop, 4-Speed, V6, and automatic... nothing else, haha.
For the AC and non-AC cars, I'm not aware of the space frame being different. The "fresh air vents" are present in all Fieros, but the only difference between A/C and non A/C cars in 1984 is that the air box was different and blocked it off. In 1985, the passenger-side "vent" was permanently sealed off... literally they stopped cutting it out, so the spaceframe did change from 84-85 in that case... it basically lacks the hole. On the driver's side though, all years still have the fresh air vent, but it has a screw-in block-off plate that you can remove. You can actually add the fresh-air vent from the 84 for the drivers side in all cars from 84-88, regardless of whether it has A/C.
In A/C cars though... the place where the hole would be is blocked by the HVAC box.
I have an entire kit from a non-84 car... and it's pretty cool. It's basically a cable-controlled flap that takes the place of the blockoff plate. I plan to add it in my 87 one day when I take it out of storage. But you can totally add it on the drivers side for all cars.
Hey... so for your shifter, all you did was just swap out the shifter arm itself to the earlier year one?
Interesting, yeah my 85 GT didn't have them, I guess they had to be ordered. I could be wrong, and probably am, but I thought I remembered that there was a legitimate difference, not just that a hole wasn't punched out, like the firewall on one was angled at 45*and one was squared off, I don't know. If it were just something where the frame wasn't different, then why isn't the hole there on the passenger side, they stopped using them both, so why block off one and completely remove/not punch out the other, you'd think they'd be both blocked off, or both not punched out. Yes, just the shift arm, and it works on all manual Fieros, all years and transmissions. I also got Rodney's real leather shift boot (he only had 84 model ones)
Interesting, yeah my 85 GT didn't have them, I guess they had to be ordered. I could be wrong, and probably am, but I thought I remembered that there was a legitimate difference, not just that a hole wasn't punched out, like the firewall on one was angled at 45*and one was squared off, I don't know. If it were just something where the frame wasn't different, then why isn't the hole there on the passenger side, they stopped using them both, so why block off one and completely remove/not punch out the other, you'd think they'd be both blocked off, or both not punched out.
Yeah, I don't know... it seems really weird. It was over a decade ago that I found out about the weird non-AC vent buttons. But I ordered a kit from the Fiero Factory way back when from Ed Parks... where it's still sitting in the box in storage with my Fiero. I think I first found out about it when I was restoring the cowl area of my Fiero back in like 2010, and discovered that there was a block-off plate. But yeah, the one on my 87 and my daughter's 85 are both... well, you can see WHERE it would be cut out on the passenger side, but it's just not.
I think if you live in the more northern states, or for use in Florida for 2 months when it's not humid... those fresh-air vents would be totally awesome.
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Originally posted by 1985 Fiero GT: Yes, just the shift arm, and it works on all manual Fieros, all years and transmissions. I also got Rodney's real leather shift boot (he only had 84 model ones)
Man, I'm going to have to get one for my 87. I've got the Getrag in that car, but definitely don't like the really / ridiculously tall shifter. My daughter definitely needs the tall shifter for the leverage, but I've definitely got to get an 84 shift arm for mine.
Man, I'm going to have to get one for my 87. I've got the Getrag in that car, but definitely don't like the really / ridiculously tall shifter. My daughter definitely needs the tall shifter for the leverage, but I've definitely got to get an 84 shift arm for mine.
Yeah it definitely increases the effort significantly haha, the second (and last) time I took my Fiero into a garage, they couldn't find reverse, like at all, I had to walk out and explain it was stiff haha, the first time they couldn't find or disengage the parking brake, oh well, the mechanic there is generally really good with my families classic cars, but after those 2 times and me getting a job there, I always drive our vehicles in myself, mine especially for inspections and alignments (although now I'll be doing alignments myself during my lunches).
Grab one or several of Rodney's leather shifter boot for the 84 shifter before he closes, they look great, feel great, and work pretty great.
[This message has been edited by 1985 Fiero GT (edited 04-12-2025).]
Follow up for others who see this thread and may want to know - NIFE President says he knows it's rare, but that "unfortunately, data such as this has not been found to exist at this point."
