This Iconic V8 Pontiac Realized the Mid-Engine Dream Well Before the C8 | Carscoops

      A well-known DIY Fiero build featuring a 4.6-liter Northstar V8 and extensive modifications stands as an exception to the common advice against purchasing a project car.

      This vehicle includes a 4.6L Northstar V8 engine, a Porsche gearbox, and parts from a Corvette. The builder extended the chassis by 12 inches and meticulously documented every phase of the process. This project has become a cherished DIY icon with a rich history in the community.

      A stock Pontiac Fiero is always a quirky reminder of what might have unfolded if GM's 1980s optimism had been better realized. However, this specific example goes far beyond that—it is essentially a legend among Fiero enthusiasts, having evolved since 2003.

      The car has received numerous awards at significant anniversary gatherings and has even raced at Indy. Now it's available for auction, featuring a Northstar V8, a Porsche transaxle, and various Corvette components.

      This Pontiac began as a Canadian-market Fiero SE but now accommodates a Cadillac Northstar V8 positioned behind the cabin, coupled with a five-speed Porsche 901 transaxle that powers just the rear wheels.

      To accommodate these features, the builder extended the chassis by a full foot and incorporated Corvette chassis and braking elements. Additionally, Dellorto carbs were added to the V8.

      Common wisdom advises against buying another person's project, but this particular case might be an exception. When the project commenced in 2003, the builder initiated a thread to document nearly every detail of the work performed, including custom modifications like the center-exit quad exhaust, HID headlights, and aerodynamic enhancements that further distinguish this Fiero.

      Inside, the interior remains strikingly unique, featuring bucket seats, an Audi TT shifter, a Firebird console, and a more advanced audio system. The odometer is non-functional (the car is TMU), the shifter is reported to require some effort, and the idle can be finicky.

      This is typical for a mid-engine Pontiac that incorporates components from Porsches, Corvettes, and 1980s Dellorto hardware.

      The builder once mentioned that the concept was intended to demonstrate what a DIY “Indy Fiero” could become, humorously suggesting that its silhouette was what the next Corvette should resemble. When the C8 was introduced in 2020 as a mid-engine exotic wedge, he found it amusing to experience a strange sense of validation, as GM's billion-dollar supercar shared a conceptual design with his garage-built Fiero. Now, after changing hands several times over the past two decades, it could be yours.

      For anyone who has ever desired a Fiero that doubles as a Corvette-Porsche hybrid with a dash of carbureted excitement, this is your chance. It’s quirky, it’s fast, and it mostly runs. Check out the listing here and see if you’re daring enough to claim it.