Back in 1980, Ghia built the Mustang RSX for Ford. It's basically the Italian-bodied rear-drive rally car of your dreams, but Ford decided we weren't cool enough to get one.
Well, Ford probably had zero intention of bringing the Mustang RSX to production, but surely the idea of a two-seat Foxbody rally car that looked like a Lancia 037 Stradale that ate too many hamburgers appealed to someone at Ford HQ.
By 1980 Ford owned Ghia completely, and it wouldn't have been that hard to commission a few hundred of these things in Italy, and then send a few into the then-popular World Rally Championship. Ford was just coming off of a massive winning streak with their rear wheel drive Mk.2 Escorts, and a Mustang name could've pulled in an American fanbase, too.
That said, it would have been hideously expensive to build and the Audi Quattro would have whupped it in competition.
Who cares? An Italian Mustang rally car would've been awesome.
Photo Credits: Ford