7. Chrysler Sigma

1977-1987 FROM $3000

If you’re searching for a Chrysler Galant – a small Holden Gemini competitor with a big reputation for sporty fun – good luck: they’ve nearly disappeared. Its larger, Adelaidemade Sigma replacement isn’t far behind either. When new in ’77, the GE was a standout success. Decent to drive, the stylish midsizer was technically advanced at a time when other rear-drive rivals were mired in mediocrity (dreary Datsun 200B, anybody?). While the Sigma’s growing popularity eventually saw the demise of Chrysler Australia (taking the long-lived Valiant with it) after Mitsubishi took control in 1980, this ensured the long-term security of thousands of local jobs. It also led to the golden era of the game-changing, wide-bodied Magna – an Australian initiative that redefined packaging and refinement standards globally heading into the ’90s, bringing on big export deals in the process. Part of Australian motoring history, the Sigma is on the rise once more.