1978 Ford Falcon Cobra
In the US, the impressive high-performance tire shredders were extinct by 1978.
While the Mustang was now a Pinto-based econocar and the Torino GT was history, in Australia, Ford released an exciting muscle car that oozed Shelby vibes.
Based on the Falcon XC Hardtop, the Cobra received a bespoke Sno-White paint with blue Le Mans-style twin stripes and a series of aesthetic upgrades that made it look far more aggressive than its standard counterpart.
Under the hood, it hid either the 351-ci (first 200 cars) or the 302-ci (last 200) Cleveland V8, capable of 217 and 202 hp (SAE net), respectively.
Far cooler and more potent than the performance-looking, US-built Mustang King Cobra could run the quarter mile in the low-17-second range.
While that wasn't particularly impressive, especially when compared to earlier Aussie muscle cars, by 1978 standards, it was more than adequate for a performance-oriented ride.