Automoda was a company incorporated in Illinois by Onofrio Scaduto and partners in 1987 and ceased operation in California in 1997.

Onofrio Scaduto, which held several patents for convertible top mechanisms and vehicle suspensions, was the man responsible for the conversions of about 45 Pontiac Fieros and a single Honda Del Sol.

The mechanism was well suited to the then popular Pontiac Fiero that lacked space for proper convertible option and ungainly design result.

Pontiac never offered a stock Fiero convertible, but would only display show cars that would never see production claiming safety concerns. The problem lay with the incompatibility between the car's layout and conventional mechanisms.

The process would have been costly and the design wouldn’t have been faithful to the original car’s design.

The cars had a mid-engine layout and Automoda's top seemed to wrap around the rear engine compartment and hide low enough into the car without intruding in the cabin.

There were chassis reinforcements made to reinforce the vehicle once cut.

The conversion consisted of two overlapping Targa panels constructed with a steel frame and aluminum or fiberglass outer panels covered with canvas.

The car could be driven without a single panel or in full Targa mode, and of course with the rear section fully down.

Many questioned the existence of the top with incredulity when it was fully down.

When fully upright the whole top was quite strong using aviation locks; it was so rigid that you could rock the car back and forth with it.

Some of the rear mechanisms were hydraulic; after releasing the top locks and activating a switch on the dash, the mechanism would gently lower and disappear.

A canvas cover was also supplied.

Automoda was present at the 1988 Chicago International Auto Show; three brand new 1988 Pontiac Fieros were modified and displayed at the McCormick Place.

A Fiero Formula was converted into a Targa only, another Fiero Formula and a Fiero GT into full convertibles.

The last two cars were also displayed at the 1988 Orange County International Auto Show in Anaheim California.

It was during this show that Pontiac uncharacteristically announced the demise of the Fiero, thereby limiting the success of Automoda.

A few vehicles were converted afterwards, but kits were also offered to either individual owners, club owners and kit makers for Ferrari 355 and Testarossa replicas.

In 1994 a new Honda Del Sol was purchased with the intent to convert it into a full convertible. The car already had a Targa panel that stowed in the trunk.

The Targa panel was covered with cloth.

The rear section was cut and replaced by a very small and deceptively simple top mechanism.

The overall design was superb but lack of funds doomed Automoda, which sadly closed its doors in early 1997.

We invite owners of Fieros with Automoda tops to send in pictures of your car with the history behind; by sending them you will grant this web site the right to post them in our picture gallery.