The Yugo car – Yugo drivers are going to heaven/they’ve already been through hell

The first prototype of the “Yugo” was hand-built in 1978 and was presented as a gift to Josip Broz Tito. Two years later, at the Belgrade Car Fair, the Zastava Yugo 45 model was officially introduced. The designation “45” represented the engine’s power in horsepower. Mass production began, lasting until 2008, during which just under 795,000 units were produced. A little less than a third of that number, around 256,000, was exported from the country, with 141,000 going to America. However, despite the efforts of the factory and importers, the Yugo’s quality was not up to the standards of American consumers.

Many international magazines ranked it among the three worst cars ever made, often bestowing it with that ignoble title. Nearly everyone had stories about it failing to start or breaking down in the middle of a trip. Nevertheless, despite all of that, you won’t find anyone who regrets having owned this car.

Numerous jokes and anecdotes testify to the Yugo’s poor quality:

• What do you call the brakes on a Yugo? – Optional equipment.
• How do you double the price of your Yugo? – Fill up the tank.
• The Yugo was designed for five people: one to sit in the driver’s seat, and the other four to push it.
• What’s the Yugo owner’s biggest wish? – To buy a car.
• What do you call a Yugo on top of a mountain? – A miracle.
• I’ll trade my Yugo with a hook for a Lada with a hook. – Code: Misery loves company.

The Yugo also appeared in many movies, TV shows, and music videos (Inspector Gadget, Dragnet, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Moonlighting, The Crow, Die Hard with a Vengeance, and more).