What about the Albury Crusader II? Could that car ever have been a rival to the Mk2 Scarlet X? Here is a 5.7 FHC (fixed-head coupe) in definitive production trim. (There is a targa-roofed version, but it has a shorter rear window, and I won’t show it on this particular thread because I prefer the looks of the regular coupe.)
I must admit that the Crusader II is actually faster and better-looking than its predecessor.
@DeusExMackia you are spot-on… the Crusader II is also heavier, but at the same time, even more powerful. And about that front end… it reminds me of a Ferrari 512 TR for some reason. Meanwhile, the rear fascia has a wraparound taillight strip just like the Scarlet Mk 2, but the Crusader’s is wider and more reminiscent of a Honda NSX, especially with that long wraparound rear window on the FHC.
And one more thing: If you are in doubt as to where the Crusader is built, it’s in the company’s name. Albury Motors has been building Crusaders in Albury, New South Wales, Australia since 1985. The Crusader II, in the spec shown here, retailed for $25350 (including a 30% markup) when it was introduced in 1992. Thus, it would have been more expensive than the Mk 2 Scarlet Lex, but cheaper than the X version.