Image courtesy Zastava Yugo Page
The Yugo. In past Class of 1986 exercises, we can see how at least most of the candidates for the Class of 1986 had inspired some sort of admiration, if only for some matter of significance. We’re failing to see much to admire the more we look into the Yugo.
True, it did debut in the 1986 model year, making it, we believe, the first Yugoslavian manufacturer to be officially imported into the United States. Being the first of its kind to be imported into the United States might have been a matter of significance for the Hyundai Excel, that’s simply because Korean cars have become a force to reckon with in automotive sales nowadays. Yugoslavian cars never quite caught on. True, Malcolm Bricklin was behind the importing of the Yugo to the United States, but not all of his ventures have been successful. True, the Yugo did hold the title of cheapest car in America. And by that, we definitely mean “cheapest,” not merely “least expensive.” True, the Yugo was based on Fiat 127 underpinnings; true, it likely returned great fuel mileage; true, almost 36,000 of them were sold in 1986 (and nearly 49,000 in 1987). Yet the phrase “you get what you pay for” comes to mind with the Yugo.
Are we being too harsh on the Yugo? Are we simply following into the easy ruts dug by millions of people mocking it over the last 25 years? Or does it actually deserve that mockery? You tell us: Would you place a Yugo GV in your garage dedicated just to 1986 vehicles? Would you hold your head high driving one on a VMCCA tour?