Kathryn DiMaria, Teen, Restoring Pontiac Fiero For Sixteenth Birthday (PHOTOS)

Kathryn DiMaria will be getting a car for her sixteenth birthday. But unlike most teens her age, she'll be building it herself.

The 14-year-old first approached her parents about purchasing a Pontiac Fiero when she was 12, Jalopnik reports. She told them she'd buy the car with some babysitting money and restore the vehicle in time for her sixteenth birthday.

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Kathryn got the green light for the project and soon purchased a 1986 Pontiac Fiero SE 2.8.

The Michigan teen and her dad, Jerry, have been updating readers on the project through posts and photos on Pennock's Fiero Forum for about a year.

Jerry said the pair never imagined getting such an overwhelming response to the restoration.

"[It was] not what we expected when we set out to have some fun with a daughter/daddy project," Jerry told The Huffington Post in an email.

Kathryn's excited about her new wheels, but between school and soccer practice, she admits finding time to work on the car and post progress updates has been a challenge.

But at least one supporter, forum user Gixxer Quad, assured the teen her determination is admirable:

We all think it's cool as hell that you're doing what you're doing (and you're already far past what i would comfortably do with my own fiero), so just update when you can, and don't worry about saying sorry.

Kathryn, who thoroughly enjoyed working on the car's interior, said the restoration project has brought her closer to her family and friends, and she's not planning on doing away with the finished product once it's completed.

"At first it was just a project and something cool to do, but now it is a part of my past and who I am. So it's staying with me as long as possible," she told HuffPost.

Kathryn's car might very well be the envy of town once it's up to par, but could the teen's future ride rival one Floridian's handmade Bugatti replica?

In 2011, 25-year-old Mike Duff transformed a 2002 Mercury Cougar coupe into a "detailed Doppelganger" of the supercar," albeit without its performance, Yahoo! News reports.

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Comments

[beobnoxious]

03:57 AM on 04/25/2012

ahhh pontiac the brand sort of defined american muscle. i always liked fieros i dont kno why but in away there like really poor mans ferraris and they can fool most with a body kit if you drive up in one many wont kno what it is, bottom line though there junk and old tech an 86 doesnt even have SRS or ABS or any modern safety features i wouldnt let my kid drive one. and you could probably find one in better condition that doesnt need so much restoring save time save money, i just drove a 1989 5.0 Mark 2 out of the lot the other day all it needs was some gas and fluids oil etc.

[ButteJbyrd]

08:20 AM on 04/21/2012

Kathryn should check out those World War II "Rosie the Riveter" posters about the dangers of operating a drill press while wearing long hair.

[frankponte]

07:23 AM on 04/21/2012

Nice story and great project! One thing caught my eye though. Tie your hair up or pull it back whenever using power tools, especially a drill press. Safety first. Glasses, gloves and hair!

[wsdave]

11:06 PM on 04/20/2012

Do yourself a favor and get rid of the 2.8 liter mill.

Probably the worst engine GM ever made.

[Sanders McGrillin]

09:05 PM on 04/19/2012

thats awesome, cars are a good positive hobby to get into!
and if your good at buying & selling, while looking for rare desirable models you may make some money too!

[Kali03]

04:35 PM on 04/19/2012

What a great project!

You go, girl!

:D

[Patti DeWitt Jozwiak]

01:35 PM on 04/19/2012

Good for you young lady...I worked at the Fiero plant in the chassis dept..this was a nice story to come across...Good bonding with dad story...

[anothervoter]

01:23 PM on 04/19/2012

Nice work!

[Reginald Dennis Johnson]

01:11 PM on 04/19/2012

At least she's not some spoiled powder puff begging for a new car.

[Darius Molark]

12:46 PM on 04/19/2012

You go girl! And dad, too! A marvelous story of a future builder of America.

[Litho-stone]

12:41 PM on 04/19/2012

I'm happy for her, but a Fiero? Very dangerous car.

[Junius Gallio]

04:46 PM on 04/19/2012

The danger of engine fire pertains almost exclusively to the 1984 model year--the young lady and her father are working with a 1986. (I always thought the Fiero was a terrific car, but I'm too tall to sit in one.)

[Litho-stone]

05:18 PM on 04/19/2012

I not necessarily talking about the fire hazard, it's also light, tiny and very fast. When I was in High school in the 80's a rich, very popular girl in the grade ahead of me got one for her 16th birthday. Her's did not catch fire, however there wasn't much of the car or her left after she hit that deer.

[Clamdip LobsterClaws]

11:45 AM on 04/19/2012

Great project Dad and Mom! I wish every girl in America had an opportunity like this. Next your daughter might be building her own house. There is no limit when you have supportive parents like this. Bravo!

[KJ Pierson]

11:34 AM on 04/19/2012

Good work, hope you get it done!

[huffpoconservative]

11:11 AM on 04/19/2012

This is cool! What a great way for a Dad & Daughter to bond and for her to learn about auto mechanics. She will never be at the mercy of a crooked mechanic because she can do it herself!

[coreten]

11:03 AM on 04/19/2012

Bravo young lady...It does not matter what the car is or how long it takes. It doesn't even matter what the end product is. What matters the most is the fact you have committed yourself to accomplish a worthwhile project...Kudos to you.