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The Fiero was also starting to take sales away from the flagship Corvette at the end. Chevy just had a bigger bat. I think the Fiero could of eventually been a great sports car.
Didnt he Fiero suffer from issues that caused it to catch fire?
Last edited by louie0406; 10-20-2016 at 07:02 AM..
Didnt he Fiero suffer from issues that caused it to catch fire?
Engine fires were isolated almost exclusively to 1984 models (first model year). The 'official' number of engine fires, according to Pontiac/GM, was 260. There were 10 minor injuries and no major injuries or deaths, thankfully. The total number of cars that experienced engine fires is thought by many to be understated, but even the higher estimates approximate that 0.25% of 1984 models were affected. Out of 136,480 produced during the first year, that would equal around 340 cars.
There were two problems that were responsible for the fires. The connecting rods in many 1984 4-cylinder engines were substandard, making them weaker and more prone to failure. The engine oil capacity was also erroneously stated as 3.0 quarts on the dipstick and in the owner's manual. The actual oil capacity was 4.5 quarts, meaning that the engine was 1.5 quarts low when filled to the specified 3.0 quarts. The insufficient oil level could cause the bearings to seize, snapping the connecting rod and punching a hole in the engine block. Due to the car's mid-engine design, oil would then leak from the engine and catch fire when it made contact with components (such as the exhaust manifold) which were hot enough to ignite the oil.
The problem was solved by 1985, but the damage was done. The reputation for engine fires seriously damaged the car's reputation and sales.
Just for gits and shiggles, I'll bring this one back by calling out the long, low, last model Kaisers.
I had a 1952 Kaiser Manhattan. It had a 6 cylinder 226 CID Continental flathead engine, a GM Hydramatic 4 speed auto tranny, and a Kaiser built body and frame. A comfortable car to drive!
In 1955, Kaiser put a belt drive variable speed supercharger on it.
The Henry J was also a pretty good car, built cheap to sell cheap. If you bought it from Sears Roebuck, it was an Allstate.
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