30. Pontiac Fiero
The story of the Fiero is one of the greatest “what if” tales in the American car industry. This compact sports car caused a big sensation when Pontiac introduced it in the early ’80s. Everybody expected another GTO from Pontiac but instead got a small sports car like was something the Italians would build. It was a bold move for Pontiac to introduce a compact, rear-wheel-drive car with the engine behind the driver.
They then paired it up with a five-speed manual transaxle gearbox. By the standards of the day, this was the most advanced American production model. The customers were hyped by the modern design of the Fiero and cool, advanced technology, so the initial response was promising. In fact, 1983 sales figures were over 130,000 cars. Unfortunately, Pontiac didn’t develop the Fiero, so early models were badly put together. Also, engine power was lacking and the interior was cramped.