1988 Pontiac Mera – The Dealer-Sold Fake Ferrari You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

Imagine walking into a Pontiac Mera dealership in the late 1980s and spotting what looks like a brand-new Ferrari 308. But instead of a prancing horse on the badge, it says “Mera.” That wasn’t some guy’s garage-built replica—it was a real, dealer-sold car called the Pontiac Mera, based on the Pontiac Fiero.

Yes, this was an actual thing. And the story behind it is as wild as the car itself.

The Fiero Foundation

The Pontiac Fiero was already an interesting car. Launched by General Motors in the 1980s, it was a mid-engine sports car made to be affordable and practical. While its performance wasn’t exactly jaw-dropping, it did have the right layout and proportions for something sportier.

Because of this, the Fiero quickly became the go-to base for Ferrari and Lamborghini replicas. Its chassis and size made it easy for people to modify the body panels and transform it into something exotic. Backyard builders all across America did this—but what made the Mera special is that it wasn’t built in someone’s garage. It was sold brand-new at select Pontiac dealerships.

The Birth of the Mera

The Mera was created by a Michigan-based company called Corporate Concepts. They took regular Fieros and gave them a full makeover—new body panels, styling tweaks, and design elements pulled straight from the Ferrari 308 GTS.

It wasn’t offered as a DIY kit. You couldn’t buy parts and bolt them on yourself. Instead, Corporate Concepts did the conversion and shipped the finished car to Pontiac dealers, where customers could buy them as ready-to-drive “Ferraris”—sort of.

Technically, Pontiac didn’t build the Mera. But since dealers sold them as new vehicles, it was as close to being “official” as a replica could get in that era. It even came with a warranty.

Costing Corvette Money

Back in the day, a regular Pontiac Fiero would run you around $12,000. But a Mera? That would set you back $25,000, more than double the price. It was also getting close to Corvette territory, which started around $34,000.

Sure, it didn’t have a V8 or the horsepower to back up its exotic looks, but for someone chasing Ferrari style without Ferrari prices, it was the perfect in-between.

Styling So Close, Ferrari Sued

Now, here’s where it gets spicy. Ferrari took one look at the Mera and basically said, “Absolutely not.” They sued.

Corporate Concepts tried to defend themselves by claiming that the Mera was “not intended to replicate any existing vehicle.” But one glance at it and… yeah. Nobody was buying that. The Mera’s shape, side vents, proportions—even its rear-end layout—closely matched the Ferrari 308.

In fact, people on the street would regularly stop and ask if it was a real Ferrari. That’s how convincing the design was.

Copycat Details That Went All the Way

What really makes the Mera fascinating is just how deep the design team went to sell the illusion.

• The side vent behind the door? That wasn’t on the Fiero—it was added to mimic the Ferrari 308.
• The bumpers were reshaped to stick out, just like the Ferrari’s, which had to comply with U.S. regulations at the time.
• Even the pop-up headlights were tweaked to include small vent-like slots, echoing the 308’s nose design.
• Wheels were made in Italy and styled to resemble Ferrari’s own.
• The rear end was almost a carbon copy. Same layout, same taillight shape, and even the same font for the “GTS” badge.

They even called the car “GTS”—the same model name used for Ferrari’s open-top versions—even though the Mera didn’t actually have a removable roof.

Still a Pontiac at Heart

Underneath all that Italian-inspired bodywork, the Mera was still a Fiero. That meant modest power, average handling, and a pretty basic interior. But it also meant easy maintenance, parts availability, and affordability—something no Ferrari owner ever says.

The engine remained a typical Fiero V6, and nothing mechanically exotic was added. This was very much a “style over substance” kind of car—but that was the point.

Original Badges? That’s Rare

One of the coolest parts of this particular Mera is that it still wears its original Mera badges. That’s a rare find today.

Most owners back in the day were so obsessed with the Ferrari look that they ripped off the Mera badges and slapped on real Ferrari emblems instead. The size and shape of the Mera badge were almost identical to the Ferrari prancing horse, so swapping it was easy. Same story with the wheels—people would add Ferrari center caps to complete the illusion. So to see one still wearing “Mera” proudly on the nose and rear deck is truly something special.

Final Thoughts

The 1988 Pontiac Mera is more than just a quirky replica. It’s a snapshot of a time when automakers and dealers were willing to take bold (and legally questionable) chances to give customers something cool and different.

Sure, it’s not a real Ferrari. But it’s also not just a backyard kit car. It came brand new from a dealership, had real warranty coverage, and was built by professionals.

These cars are extremely rare today, and finding one in original condition is even rarer. So while it might make you do a double take, the Pontiac Mera is more than just a poser—it’s a legitimate piece of automotive oddball history.