9: Shelby Lancer
Mitsubishi was originally known more in America for selling imported economy cars through Chrysler dealerships than for its vehicles. But there was a compact car that caught Carroll Shelby’s attention, and that was the Lancer. Chrysler had been importing this model for some time and the team at Shelby decided to make it into a performance version.

The Shelby Lancer is remembered for its bright red paint job and silky smooth ground effects. The look of the car was more than just skin deep though. The 2.2L Turbo II drivetrain was good for 175hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. Combined with the lowered suspension and an affordable price tag, this Lancer was a steal. This car was faster than a comparable CSX off the line, which was Shelby’s other project around the time.