Not an easy story to relate.  Stringest emission regulations, crazy insurance premiums and the gas crisis led to the downfall of musclecars.  Anticipated rollover requirements (though they didn't happen) and growing popularity of air conditioning (did happen) led to the downfall of convertibles.  While there were a few vehicles available for car guys (Ferrari Daytona and Lambo Miura on the high-end and BMW 2002 and Datsun 240Z for the rest of us), the pickin's were quite slim by the mid-'70s.  A decade of malaise followed.  Then, in the mid-'80s, there was a glimmer of hope.  In Germany, Mercedes AMG was becoming a force to compete with the BMW M series and Porsche introduced the fantastic 959.  In Italy, the Ferrari Testarossa and F40 challenged the crazy Lamborghini Countach.  In Japan, Turbo RX7s and Supras provided some excitement.  And in the U.S., dealers could be persuaded to part with Camaro IROC-Zs, Mustang GT 5.0s and very rare, one-year-only Buick GNXs.  The 1990s saw the introduction of the Ferrari F50, the Lambo Diablo and Bugatti EB-110, Porsche 928, Acura NSX and perhaps the best sportscar of all time, the McLaren F1.  And the unsophisticated hell-bent V-10 truck-engined Dodge Viper.  Things were looking up leading into the new century.