Could be had with the V-8, 3-speed 'Dearborn" trans on the floor, 4-wheel disc brakes (post-77) alloys and a decent looking interior.

While well short of a 3-series or Bavaria, I'm having a dim recollection of a magazine car that got a bunch of '70 Mustang bits in the chassis, and a warmup under the hood.

Doubt it would go down in history, but for the time, it was a quick, credible solution that kept Ford dealers busy until they could do Taurus.