As a relatively affordable car with a mid-engined layout and body proportions that make a supercar replica look (at least somewhat) plausible, the Pontiac Fiero is a firm favorite among kit car enthusiasts. Only produced for five model years (between 1984 and 1988), the Fiero was discontinued due to poor sales but has found a new lease on life thanks to its versatility as a base for improbable replicas.
Ferraris are the most commonly copied cars, but Fieros have also served as the starting point for enterprising gearheads looking to build their own Lamborghinis, Fords, and more. Let’s look at some of the most absurd, hilarious, and (occasionally) impressive Fiero builds from across recent years.
Pontiac
- Production Status
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Discontinued
The list includes 10 examples of weird and wonderful supercar replicas based on the Pontiac Fiero. We don’t know the exact specs/performance figures for each of these wacky builds, but we have included the specs for the stock Fiero as a baseline. Each image gallery also contains a photo of the model the build is supposed to imitate at the end, for comparison.
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The Pontiac Fiero In Numbers |
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Production Years |
1984–1988 |
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Engine |
2.5L inline-four / 2.8L V6 |
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Power |
92 hp / 140 hp |
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Torque |
134 lb-ft / 170 lb-ft |
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Transmission |
3-speed automatic / 4-speed or 5-speed manual |
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0–60 |
10.9 seconds / 8 seconds |
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Top Speed |
103 mph / 125 mph |
1
Lamborghini Miura
We start the list with one of the most unique – and, honestly, pretty impressive – creations based on a Fiero. Archie V8 created the “Chop Top Fiura” around 15 years ago, by meticulously turning the Fiero into a copy of the legendary Lamborghini Miura.
The Miura is one of the most iconic cars of the 1960s, with instantly recognizable lines and distinctive headlights. Archie clearly spent a lot of time studying the car and how to replicate its look, and the result is one of the most accurate Fiero-based replicas we’ve seen. Of course, a keen-eyed observer will still be able to figure out this isn’t a real Lamborghini, but it’s not a bad effort at all for a DIY project.
2
Ferrari F50
Pontiac Fieros are very frequently used as a base for Ferrari replicas, of varying levels of quality. In this particular project, an unknown Fiero owner in California has transformed his car into an attempt at a Ferrari F50 replica. The chassis was widened to accommodate the F50 body kit, which includes a slightly-too-bloated front fascia that doesn’t quite recreate the original look.
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There are a number of other noticeable differences; the car sits higher than it should, and other elements of the bodywork (such as the side intakes and the too-short rear end) don’t quite match up. The paint job, at least, is accurate, replicating the rare Giallo Fly color which was only used in 31 examples of the F50.
3
Ferrari Testarossa
We continue the compilation of dubious Ferrari imitations with a Fiero-turned-Testarossa. After gaining TV fame thanks to Miami Vice, and decorating posters in teenagers’ bedrooms all over the world, the Testarossa has now joined the club of supercars being “paid homage to” with a Fiero-based replica.
The car did not receive any modifications on the mechanical front; the original V6 engine was left in place, along with the five-speed manual transmission. A series of other components, such as the brakes, seats, and air conditioning system, were swapped out. The faux-Testarossa last surfaced on Craigslist ten years ago, with just 25,000 miles on the clock; who knows what it has been up to since?
4
Ferrari 355
Being on the receiving end of a criminal charge can be a form of flattery. This was certainly the case for one Italian businessman, who owned a Fiero-based Ferrari 355 replica. He put a lot of effort into making the Fiero look like a real 355, complete with accurate badging and interior; the quality of his work was so high that the final result was considered to be virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.
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When the car went through a routine police check, the paperwork revealed that it was not, in fact, a Ferrari, but that it was officially registered as a Fiero. The driver was subsequently charged with counterfeiting a trademark. Sometimes, as it turns out, you can do too good of a job.
5
Ford GT40
We’re taking a break from all these Ferraris to jump on the other side of the Atlantic: that’s right, this time the Fiero was used to create another, albeit very different, American car.
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The Ford GT40 is best known as the iconic supercar that earned Ford its 1-2-3 victory at the 1966 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans; enthusiast Lloyd Jennings decided to pay tribute to it by building his very own replica, at a total cost of just $26,000 (as opposed to the real-life GT40’s multi-million-dollar price tag). Unlike many Fiero builds, which leave the original car’s powertrain intact, this creation has had an engine swap, to a 2.5-liter Ford V6 that produces 200 hp.
6
Lamborghini Murcielago
No car is immune from the menace of Fiero replicas: this time, our victim is the Lamborghini Murcielago. The Italian supercar has been the source of inspiration for this one-of-a-kind built; although you couldn’t mistake it for the real deal from a mile away, it’s still a fascinating insight into the working process of its owner.
An attempt was made at including all the visual elements that characterize the Murcielago, including the signature Lambo scissor doors; the interior was left mostly stock, with a few half-hearted modifications that don’t go anywhere near replicating the Murcielago’s cabin. Power comes from a (slightly modified) supercharged Pontiac V6.
7
Ferrari F40
This “Ferrari F40”, looking like a prop from the set of a post-apocalyptic zombie movie, is truly proof that you can race anything if you put your mind to it. The California-based Ratsun Racing team bought this Fiero-based F40 replica on Craigslist in 2016, and set out to turn it into a race car ready for the infamous “24 Hours of Lemons” competition.
The car was torn down and rebuilt (with a generous helping of mold and dirt removed along the way), but the final result still kept its original scruffy look. The “WTF40”, as it was christened by the Ratsun team, ended up winning the Lemons “Index of Effluency” prize, given to the most terrible car that embodies the event’s spirit.
8
Lamborghini Diablo
The third Lamborghini model on our list is the Diablo, more specifically the Diablo VT roadster; despite the odd proportions giving us that “uncanny valley” feeling that something isn’t quite right, we have to say the people responsible for this creation paid a surprising amount of attention to detail. The build is based on a 1985 Fiero GT, and a Diablo-imitating body kit has been carefully applied, complete with open top.
The interior is doing its best to resemble the instruments and materials you would find in the real deal; somewhat of a novelty for a Fiero-based build, seeing as they normally only focus on the car’s exterior looks. The engine is still a Pontiac V8 rather than anything remotely approaching the Diablo’s V12, but hey, nobody’s perfect.
9
Ferrari 308
Another example of legal action being the highest compliment. In 1987 Bob Bracey, the owner of Corporate Concepts Limited (CCL), created a Ferrari 308 replica body kit for the Pontiac Fiero, and even managed to sell a number of modified cars through real Pontiac dealerships, under the made-up model name of “Pontiac Mera”.
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Each car was ordered by the customer in stock form, with the body kit selected as an option; it would then make its way to CCL’s facilities in Michigan, where all necessary modifications would be carried out. Ferrari, true to its lawsuit-happy nature, immediately sued CCL for copyright infringement, in a pretty open-and-shut case. The surviving 247 cars are now a veritable unicorn of the automotive world.
10
(Another) Ford GT40
We wrap up our list with another Ford GT40 replica, this time based in Canada. The body kit was sourced from a small company called Kellison Cars, founded by drag racer James Kellison. The replica is, quite possibly, the only one of its kind to be equipped with gullwing doors, which makes it even rarer.
Power comes from a Cadillac 4.9-liter V8 engine, a popular choice for Fiero builds due to its compatibility. The design elements have been cranked up to 11, with a slightly over-the-top 60s-inspired style that’s rich in chrome accents and vivid colors. The interior hasn’t been heavily modified as well, with vintage instruments and a bright red and black color scheme to complete the retro look.
Sources: Craigslist, Copart, eBay, Reddit, RCN Mag
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