"The worst car sold in North America..." If 0 - 60 numbers, top speed, luxury and absolute reliability define your idea of a great car, the Yugo certainly might be the worst car sold in North America in the past 25 years.
However, if personality and character mean a lot to you (and they probably do if you're a regular reader of this blog), then the Yugo was not the worst car sold in North America. It had plenty of flaws, that's for sure, but it was a throwback to the days when brands like Simca, Hillman, Skoda, etc., sold imperfect, but personality filled cars in the US. 99% of the car buying public don't remember those days and / or don't miss them. 1% of us - even those of us too young to have bought some of those brands new - do. To us, the Yugo represents the last time we had that kind of choice.Would I put my son / daughter / girlfriend / wife / significant other / mother in an old Yugo? No. I want them in something safe and reliable. But I respect the Yugo for what it was. In this day of cookie-cutter low end cars, the Yugo represents the last of a now dead breed. If I had unlimited car funds and space, there would most likely be one in my collection.
If I was in the market a Yugo today, this car would be one I would take a long look at.This car has a 1500cc engine in it. I assume it's from a Fiat. Since the Yugo is based on an old Fiat, that's a fairly easy and somewhat common swap. It has a "sport grill" with integrated fog lights. It's been given a high end paint job and wears a set of factory stripes. It has an aftermarket sunroof that besides giving the inside of the car an open airy feeling, actually looks pretty good.
This is a Texas car. The upside of that is it is rust free. The downside is the Texas heat has started to take its toll on the interior. It's not horrendous yet, but given the condition of the rest of the car, it's worth repairing. (In general, someone needs to find a way to efficiently and profitably introduce Northeast interiors to Southwest bodies. It's sad that here in the Northeast we have all these cars with great interiors and crusty bodies, while in the Southwest the opposite holds true.)
Located in Fort Worth, TX, click here to see the eBay listing.
6 comments:
Right on JaCG! For those looking for other cars they can read other sites. I appreciate your selections and insight on all the vehicles you post.
I saw this thing on ebay too. Didn't like a lot of the details on it, but I do like Yugo and I thought it was funny this little car was in one of the biggest states with the biggest personality. I think there's a Yugo community down there.
I also appreciate the idea of the Yugo. I agree there are no more extremely basic compact cars with this much character and charm. On my blog I posted a 1987 Nissan Sentra with no a/c, no power windows, no power steering and no radio! It's those kind of stripped down cars people miss today. Instead, we get cars loaded with technology intended to make them more efficient, but also making them much more complex. An even though cars like the Yugo have their faults, we appreciate having the choice as consumers like you said. It's a sad day when manufacturers limit the range of products available, as they are doing with today's cars.
Here here for the Yugo!
I've had a 1500 powered Yugo. Great fun and was very reliable. The drivetrain was never an unreliable part - unless the owner didn't replace the timing belt. The 1100 and 1300 engines that came in the Yugo were interference.
The best thing about the Yugo? It introduced me to Italian cars. I've since had 2 Fiat X1/9s, an Alfa Milano, and a Maserati Biturbo!
Go Yugo!
This is infinitely cooler than an older rabbit or golf.
dont change your style and your writings..
this may not interest some people, "tough",
similarly its not of interest to me but i love reading about it [maybe because I have goggomobils and skodas, and other weird cars and the closest thing to the yugo in Australia was the Lada..[always thought the Lada 4wd looked like what a 4wd should look like..purposeful and still looking like a jeep style.]
ironically I find the jap cars of the 80's/90's, BMWs and other "modern" cars annoying yet you seem to love them..but I will always read your stories..,if I'm not interested I can simply delete that email.
Dont let them change your style....do it your way
kind regards from Rusty in Australia.
ps: having said I find little interest in 1980/90's jap cars and other moderns..I found your story on the Civic convertible one of the most interesting...
such a fantastic conversion it has created its own car totally different to any other convertible on the road...so much so if this was in Australia I'd seriously think about it as I'm thinking about a "moderm" convertible till i can get one of my vintage convertibles on the road..
this car really exites me...so there you go..a blog about a car that shouldnt interest me yet I'd consider buying it...who'da thought?
from Rusty...surprisingly still in Australia
Hi. Over here in the UK we used to call it the Yugo Nowhere. The car is just like Dog the Bounty Hunter... So wrong yet so right!
Pete - UK
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