How about the Benchmark high performance small car of the 1980s, the Shelby GLH-S.
Picture from Hotrod magazine, 1986. I still have my copy.
Basically an upgraded GLH Turbo (which was no slouch itself with 0-60 times in the low 7s). It made 175 bhp with a total weight of about 2,400 lbs. 0-60 came up in about 6 seconds flat, 1/4 mile in the mid 14s.
Straight-line power was just part of the GLH-S' charm. 69 mph in the slalom, .92g lateral acceleration around a skidpad and brakes taken from a full size sedan. Ultra-close ratio gear box and limited slip transaxle. Bilstein struts, Koni shocks and anti-roll bars so thick you'd swear they came from a truck.
I bought mine in new. I drove it up until 1993, I pulled it off the road and spent the next 8 months making it better. I swapped the 2.2 liter engine for a 2.5 liter motor from a low milage wrecked Dodge Spirit R/T. This engine made 224 bhp. 0-60 times fell down to the low 5 second range, markedly quicker than my current 2002 WRX. I sold it in 1997 to clear out the garage for a new project. I miss the violent dynamics of that little car. It was the ultimate sleeper, capable of beating some serious hardware. On an autocross course, it was unbeatable. Down a canyon road, only genuine "super cars" could contend with it. Even today, you would have to spend $30,000 on an Evo, just to keep up. I've driven only one car that had greater capabilities, and that was a new Caterham Super Seven (240 bhp, 1,427 lbs).
The beating that Caterham would give to a 60s or 70s muscle car would be a sight too horrible to witness.
My regards,
Widewing
