The DFW Car & Toy Museum has added a 1985 Pontiac Fiero GT to The Ron Sturgeon Collection, providing a tangible connection to an ambitious but brief period in General Motors' history. With only 60,000 original miles and a factory Red (71) finish, this specific vehicle is a remarkably preserved example of Pontiac's attempt to create an affordable, sporty, and futuristic American car with a mid-engine layout, a configuration rare for domestic manufacturers in the 1980s.
The importance of this acquisition lies in its representation of automotive innovation and market risk-taking. The Fiero GT was Pontiac's direct response to consumer demand for vehicles that blended performance with everyday practicality in a distinctive package. Its mid-engine design, where the 2.8-liter L44 V6 engine is mounted behind the passenger compartment, was engineered to offer balanced handling and an exotic driving feel uncommon in American cars of that era. This engineering choice, paired with a factory rating of 130 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque channeled through a three-speed automatic transaxle to the rear wheels, made the Fiero a unique proposition in its market segment.
For museum visitors and automotive enthusiasts, the vehicle's condition offers an unusually authentic glimpse into 1980s automotive design and technology. The car retains its original features, including pop-up headlights, a vented engine lid, an asymmetrical quarter-panel vent, a rear spoiler, fog lights, and a removable sunroof. The interior continues this period-specific character with power windows, a Pioneer head unit, headrest speakers specific to the GT trim, and a comprehensive driver-focused gauge cluster. Ron Sturgeon, founder of the museum, highlighted the car's significance, stating, "The Fiero GT has always been an automotive outlier, and that's exactly why I love it. It's mid-engine, American, sporty, and full of character—and this one is about as clean as you'll find."
The implications of showcasing this vehicle extend beyond mere nostalgia. It serves as a case study in automotive history, illustrating the challenges and ambitions of American automakers during a period of intense competition and shifting consumer tastes. The Fiero's relatively short production lifespan underscores the difficulties faced by domestic manufacturers when venturing into unconventional design territories. For the industry and historians, vehicles like this Fiero GT provide critical physical artifacts for understanding design trends, engineering decisions, and market reception.
For the public, the display at the DFW Car & Toy Museum makes this piece of automotive history accessible. The museum, now located in North Fort Worth, offers free admission and parking at its new 150,000-square-foot facility. Visitors can find more information about planning a visit on the museum's website at https://dfwcarandtoymuseum.com. The addition of the Fiero GT enriches the museum's educational mission, allowing current and future generations to examine a vehicle that dared to be different during a pivotal decade for automotive design.
