So, if you’re familiar with your Argentinian muscle cars, you’ll already know all about the IKA Torino, its roots in the Rambler American, and its combination of a straight-six up front, four-speed ZF manual in the middle and two driven wheels at the rear. You’ll also know that Fangio had one.

But for those who might not be au fait with Patagonian performance cars, we should point out that the Torino was a purely Argentine creation – engines and all. Yes, the engineering came from American Motors and the styling from Italian design house Pininfarina, but this was the car built in Argentina, by Argentines, for the Argentinian market. And there’s a commensurate amount of pride for such an achievement – especially when one managed to do 334 laps of the Nordschleife during the Nurburgring 84 Hour. Yes, that’s eighty-four hours, and 334 laps was actually two more than the Torino’s closest competitor – a factory-backed Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF. After penalties, however, the Lancia won with an adjusted 322 laps, while the Torino languished in fourth with an adjusted 315. So, why the penalties? Well, it was too loud, apparently.

But the relegation hardly mattered – the Torino proved Argentina was among the world’s best in more than polo, tango, football and picking up Sloane Rangers; it could build cars to match the finest in the business, too. And these days, the Torino remains a race-proven machine with Pininfarina styling, American muscle and undeniable cult appeal.

That it even kept pace with a WRC-winning Lancia blows our minds