The Vintage Club

Clear headlights front a classic form,

Knowing eyes atop an aging body.

Shiny tires hold up the shapely metal,

Comfy footwear help steady legs.

 

There’s a Mustang like the one

That once got him to school and work,

And even stood by as he married,

Before making way for a growing family.

 

Over there is a Monte Carlo similar to

His first brand new set of wheels 

That drove his suited body on the highway

To that cool job in an office miles away.

 

Oh, is that a Viper like the one 

A neighbor had but he wished he did

Instead of the minivan that hauled

His kids to and from all their practices?

 

And isn’t that something like the Jeep

He drove for a few years not that long ago

And eventually taught those same growing kids

To drive carefully and maintain adequately?

 

For sure,

Indeed,

Yes,

And yes.

 

And now he’s got a vintage Thunderbird

At a show for everyone to admire,

While in his garage at home 

there’s a Grand National ready to roar.

 

And he’s thinking about getting a Corvette

That he can drive when he feels like

Getting somewhere in something other than

The Escalade he motors around town in.

 

He knows he’s not getting younger,

But neither are all those vintage cars

That look every bit as good as ever

And make him and his club mates happy.

 

Copyright 2026, Charles A. Bruns

 

Legacy of the Fiero

A 1985 Pontiac Fiero heard it all during the annual West End Cruise Night in Long Branch, NJ yesterday.  While proudly parked alongside classics and other eye-catching cars as bands played music from the 1950s and 1960s, the black plastic-body, five-speed mid-engine coupe overheard the following comments from passersby:

"I had an '88 six-cylinder with the Lotus suspension. Best car I ever had. Absolutely loved it. My ex-wife took it and left it running in Spanish Harlem and jumped on a subway. The NYPD called me 29 days later and told me they found it, in pretty bad shape. Yours is one of my top four cars in this show."

"Frank had a Fiero."

"They came in four cylinders and six cylinders. They came and went. The six cylinders were fast."

"Look -- a Fiero. I didn't think there was any of them left around."

"How many years have you had it?  Twenty-nine?  Wow, most people here have only had their cars three years or so.  Is that the original paint?  Looks good!  Is it automatic?  Oh wow, it's a stick shift!

"Look, a Fiero. It's so cute."

"Five speed!"

"Remember those?"

"I had this exact car, an '85 Fiero."

"I worked on these cars.  It was my first job."

"Someone had one of these. A neighbor."

"I was told they run hot."

"Look, Mary, here's your car. I had an Indy."

"You can take off all the panels and completely customize it."

"It has the vents in the back because it gets hot."

"I've had an '87 for eight years. I've been changing it a lot, but now I wish I kept it all original. Take it to more shows."

"What is this car?"

"Oh, a Fiero! 1985."

"2m4! I had an 86 with a six-cylinder. I am a Fiero conneseur."

"I worked at a Pontiac dealer when they came out. They had a lot of recalls. Yours looks really good."

"That is so cool."

"Remember when you had a Fiero, Steve? You tried to trade it in at Reedman's."

"When we were teenagers. Yeah, that's when they came out."

"That was her first car."

"Look, a Pontiac Fiero."

"I had one of these. It was the worst car ever made. It had a lot of problems and was recalled a lot."

"Is this yours? I love sports cars. I always loved this car."

"A Pontiac Fiero. Wow!"

"A death trap. My sister had one. Had an accident, plastic shattered all over the place."

"It's amazing. These cars don't exist any more. A Fiero."

"Look at that, a Fiero."

Feel free to add your comments about the legacy of the Pontiac Fiero.