Pontiac Fiero
The story of the Fiero is one of the greatest “what if” tales of the American car industry. This classic sports car caused a big sensation in the early ’80s. Everybody expected another GTO from Pontiac. But they got a small sports car similar to something Italians would build. It was a bold move for Pontiac to introduce a compact, rear-wheel drive car with the engine positioned behind the driver and to pair it up with a five-speed manual transaxle gearbox (via Motor Trend).

For the standards of the day, this was the most advanced American production model. The Fiero’s appearance hyped customers, and with its cool and modern design and advanced technology, the initial response was more than good. For example, the 1983 sales figures topped over 130,000 examples. Unfortunately, Pontiac didn’t develop the Fiero, and early models needed to be better put-together. Engine power could have been better and the interior was cramped.