The 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT is a weird car. Honestly, it’s a miracle it even exists in the form we remember today. If you ask a random person about the Fiero, they’ll probably crack a joke about engine fires or call it a "poor man's Ferrari." But if you talk to someone who actually owns a late-model GT, you get a completely different story.
It’s about the 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT specifically. This was the year everything started to click, just before GM pulled the plug in one of the most shortsighted moves in automotive history.
By 1987, the "commuter car" lie was dead. Pontiac had finally embraced what the Fiero should have been from the jump: a mid-engine sports car. The 1987 GT didn't just look fast with its "flying buttress" rear sail panels and aggressive ground effects; it actually had the soul of a driver's car. It was the peak of the 2.8L V6 era.
The 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT: Beyond the "Iron Duke" Rep
Most people's hatred for the Fiero stems from the 1984 models. Those early cars used the "Iron Duke" four-cylinder engine, which was basically a tractor motor shoved into a wedge-shaped body. It was heavy. It was slow. It was prone to oil leaks that—yes—occasionally caused fires because the oil pan was too small.
But the 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT was a different animal.
By '87, the 2.8-liter V6 was the standard for the GT trim. We’re talking about 135 horsepower. That sounds pathetic by 2026 standards, but in a car that weighs about 2,700 pounds with a mid-engine layout, it’s enough to be genuinely fun. The torque curve is meaty. When you hit the gas in second gear, the engine is right behind your head, growling through that distinctively tuned exhaust. It feels visceral. It feels mechanical.
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The 1987 model year is also significant because it was the last year of the "old" suspension. In 1988, Pontiac completely redesigned the suspension to be world-class, but the 1987 GT remains the most "classic" feeling of the bunch. It’s got that heavy steering that makes you work for every corner. You feel the road. You feel the tires.
What actually makes the GT special?
It’s the body. The 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT used what enthusiasts call the "fastback" look. While the base models had a notchback design that looked like a squashed economy car, the GT had those beautiful long pillars stretching back to the rear bumper.
It changed the silhouette entirely. It went from looking like a kit car to looking like something that could have come out of Maranello.
Reliability: Is it actually a fire hazard?
Short answer: No.
Longer answer: By the time the 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT rolled off the assembly line, the fire issues were largely solved. Those problems were almost exclusively tied to the 1984 four-cylinder engines and poor maintenance (specifically, people letting oil levels get too low).
The V6 in the '87 GT is actually pretty stout. It’s a pushrod engine. Simple. If you keep the cooling system burped—which is a pain because the radiator is in the front and the engine is in the back—it’ll run forever. The biggest headache you'll actually face is the pop-up headlights. The plastic gears inside the motors strip over time. You’ll see a Fiero "winking" at you on the highway; that’s just the gears failing.
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Also, the interior. 1980s GM interiors were... let’s say "economical." Lots of gray plastic. Switches that feel like they came off a microwave. But the GT seats? They’re actually great. They have speakers in the headrests. It’s a total 80s gimmick, but it works surprisingly well when you’re cruising with the windows down.
The Getrag Factor
If you're hunting for a 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT, you want the 5-speed manual. Specifically, the Getrag 282.
Earlier Fieros used a 4-speed that felt like rowing a boat. The Getrag box changed the car's personality. It shifted cleaner. It allowed the V6 to stay in its powerband. If you find an automatic version, it’s still a cool cruiser, but you’re losing about 40% of the "cool factor" and 20% of the performance.
Why collectors are finally waking up
For decades, you could buy an '87 GT for $3,000. It was the "cheap" car for teenagers who wanted to look fast.
Those days are gone.
Clean, low-mileage 1987 Pontiac Fiero GTs are now hitting $15,000 to $20,000 at auctions like Bring a Trailer. Why? Because we’ve realized we aren't getting cars like this anymore. Everything now is electric, heavy, and filtered through a thousand computers. The Fiero is raw.
The mid-engine layout provides a center of gravity that front-engine cars just can't touch. When you dive into a corner in an '87 GT, the nose doesn't dive; the whole car just rotates around you. It’s addictive.
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Common issues to watch for
If you're looking to buy one tomorrow, don't just look at the paint. These cars have plastic body panels ("Enduraflex"), so they don't rust. But the frame? The "space frame" underneath can rot out, especially near the trunk and the rear suspension mounts, and you'll never see it from the outside.
Check the "dog bone" engine mount. It’s a little torque strut on the top of the engine. If it’s worn out, the engine will rock back and forth, eventually cracking your exhaust manifolds.
Listen for a "tick" when the engine is cold. That’s usually the exhaust manifold bolts snapping off—a classic V6 Fiero quirk. It’s a $20 part and a $500 labor bill because space in that engine bay is tight. Very tight. You’ll lose skin on your knuckles working on this car.
Parts availability
Surprisingly, it’s not bad. Since it’s a GM "parts bin" car, many mechanical bits are shared with the Chevy Cavalier, Buick Skylark, and Pontiac Grand Am. You can get brake pads and water pumps at any local parts store. The hard stuff to find is the GT-specific trim. If you crack one of those rear fastback glass panels? Prepare to pay a premium.
Actionable Next Steps for Enthusiasts
If you are serious about the 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT, don't just browse Craigslist. You need to get tactical.
- Join the Fiero Forum (Pennock's Fiero Forum): It looks like a website from 1998 because it basically is. But the collective knowledge there is insane. Every bolt, every torque spec, and every engine swap (like the popular 3800 Supercharged swap) is documented there.
- Verify the VIN: Make sure it’s a real GT. Look for the "9" in the eighth digit of the VIN for the V6 engine and "G" in the fifth digit. People love to put GT body kits on base models.
- Inspect the "Dew Wipes": These are the window scrapers at the bottom of the side glass. They almost always dry rot. If they’re fresh, the previous owner cared. If they’re gone, water is leaking into the doors and rotting your power window motors.
- Cooling System Test: Drive the car until it’s hot, then let it idle. If the temp gauge climbs past the midway point and stays there, the radiator is likely clogged or the fan switch is dead. Mid-engine cars live and die by their cooling.
The 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT isn't a perfect car. It’s cramped. The trunk gets hot enough to cook a pizza because it’s right next to the engine. It’s got 80s build quality. But it’s also one of the most daring things an American car company ever tried. It’s a piece of history that you can actually drive, and frankly, it looks better today than it did forty years ago.