There’s an endless stream of kit cars and custom-bodied specials out there. They usually wear styling that quickly betrays the car used as the foundation. For example, you can quickly deduce when a classic MG and other models are built on a VW Beetle chassis.
But if you didn’t know much about the Zimmer Quicksilver for sale on eBay, we doubt you’d guess its origins.
Zimmer reworked the body and chassis so thoroughly that the base car, a Pontiac Fiero, is unrecognizable.
Yes, we said Pontiac Fiero—the plastic-bodied mid-engine runabout that spawned so many backyard Lamborghini replicas. It’s also the basis for this 1986 Zimmer Quicksilver.
A Zimmer Quicksliver Is Like Nothing Else On The Road
The Zimmer Motorcars Corporation was started in 1978 to build retro-styled cars. The firm’s first model, the homely Golden Spirit, was a mashup of prewar Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz luxury cars but built on a then-modern Mustang frame.
Then, the Quicksilver arrived in 1984. The luxury two-seater is based on a lengthened Fiero platform but still powered by the original GM 2.8-liter V-6 and automatic transmission.
The Zimmer Quicksilver’s styling is hard to pinpoint. It reminds us of various Lincolns of the 1970s, maybe with a touch of Thunderbird. The mirror-polished lower body trim visually connects its huge chrome bumpers.
The interior is leather and wood-lined, definitely a far cry from what Pontiac would have supplied at the time. That’s not surprising, as the Zimmer started at $52,000 when new, while the base Fiero cost around $12,000.
Hefty Price or Bargain?
Considering that sticker price, we’re not surprised that this Quicksilver was well maintained. Zimmer made about 170 examples, so there are remarkably few compared to the hundreds of thousands of lowly Fieros.
The $19,500 Buy-It-Now price on eBay Motors is a jump over what you might pay for the best 1986 Fiero these days. But consider the discount you’re getting in real dollars over the original sticker for a limited-production car with under 35,000 miles on the odometer.
Modern reviewers note that the performance of the lengthened Zimmer is saddled with the weight of extra leather, chrome, wool carpets, and wooden trim. Fortunately, the aftermarket provided countless performance upgrades for the Fiero. That gear should transfer easily over to this Quicksilver.
Shop now for Pontiac Fiero parts
We would start with an upgrade to a V-8 engine. Doubling the horsepower seems like a no-brainer, although we’d also suggest adding larger, more effective brakes at the same time.
With some work, this baroque beauty could live up to the quick part of the Zimmer Quicksilver name. Even without aftermarket upgrades, there’s little chance you’ll ever see another one on the street. The joy of showing off your ultra-rare mid-engined coupe would be worth every penny.
