Posted on 11/20/2008 8:41:29 AM PST by mlocher
BELGRADE, Serbia -- Why does a Yugo have a defroster on the rear window?
To keep your hands warm while you push it.
That's just one of the "Yugo jokes" about the cheap and much-maligned subcompact that won notoriety for being one of the worst cars ever exported to the United States.
Today, the last Yugo, once the pride of communist Yugoslavia's automobile industry, will roll off its Serbian production line in Kragujevac.
It will be missed here -- but probably not in America.
Soon after it hit the U.S. markets in 1986, selling for the bargain-basement price of just $3,990, the boxy Yugo was derided by American car magazines "as barely qualifying as a car" and "an assembled bag of nuts and bolts."
(Excerpt) Read more at columbusdispatch.com ...
The best thing about owning a Yugo is that no matter how rough a neighborhood you might live in, nobody has ever reported a Yugo being stolen. I don’t know if this is because nobody wanted to admit to owning one or because a Yugo has never been stolen. I suspect the latter.
You would think that wouldn’t you! But I drove my Rabbit through the same fields and it never had a problem!
This is a sad day for car jokes.
Q: Why did they put a rear-window defroster in a Yugo?
A: To keep your hands warm while pushing it.
Ping
Geraldo made a tasteless crack on-air during the bombing of Serbia regarding the damage done to the Yugo factory, which apparently also produced armaments.
Ah yes, the Adobe! Awesome SNL sketch! Back in the Phil Hartman days when SNL was actually funny.
Maybe Baraq, the Most Merciful, will include Yugo in the auto bailout. Why should we just limt the bailout to American companies? Shouldn’t we be sharing our wealth with the rest of the world? What about the poor Yugoslavian workers who would be out of work? Where’s our compassion?
Great pics. I especially like the toaster!
ROTFLMAO!!!!!
Actually, the explanation is probably something like this:
(Conversation with boss of local chop shop)
“Hey Bro, I just boosted a brand new car for you!”
“Cool, Dude, what kind? Jag? Corvette?”
“No, I got this brand new Yugo!!”
BAM!! BAM!!
(Two shots to the chest)
“Boys, quick, get rid of the body and the Yugo, we got a reputation to maintain around here!!!!”
Well, the only good thing about the Yugo was that when it flooded, you just threw it on your shoulder and “burped” it like a baby.
Hilarious!
From the article:
“This is driving in its most natural form. You feel every bump, squeak and jolt, and one can enjoy the sweet smell of gasoline and exhaust fumes,” he said. “No car can replace it.”
Nearly bought one myself...until I watched an interview of the American distributor on the docks in NY as they were unloading the first shipment. Said something about being based on a FIAT design, with over 5,000 modifications since its inception! Shouldn’t have said that. Hmmm. A FIAT built by commies in Yugoslavia. Ya, that’s the car for me.
The Yugo was based on a Fiat 128. I bought mine new for $1600 in early ‘73. Great car, I drove it for 15 years. Here’s a nice one:
http://community.myride.com/kickapps/_1972-Fiat-128/photo/93957/3898.html
I remember the Fiat.
My folks had a Fiat, don’t remember exactly what year, but I drove it my senior year of high school (’75-’76). It was a great little car.
That’s not as bad as a clutch pedal falling off ...’64 Beetle...pedal fell off in about ‘74 I think. LOL
It’s a piece of junk and the company can’t make any money? I’m surprised congress isn’t giving them a bailout...
Drive a GMC cube truck through the mountains on the 550 south of Ouray, CO ...
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