Skip to comments.
Tiny "Yugo" Car Set for a New Try at U.S. Market
DPA via BalkanPeace ^
| April 30, 2002
| Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Posted on 04/30/2002 11:28:27 AM PDT by bob808
BELGRADE, Apr 30, 2002
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
The American businessman who imported nearly 150,000 Serbian "Yugo" cars into the United States is interested in renewing the business which already once drove him bankrupt, local media reported Tuesday in Belgrade.
Yugo America Inc. folded in 1989, two years after the first contingent of cheap, little cars of poor reliability crossed the Atlantic.
Zastava, which sold the Yugo in the U.S. for around 4,500 dollars, also came out with a loss from the "deal of the century", but claims to have drawn "valuable experience in building modern cars".
And the founder of Yugo America, Malcolm Bricklin, has already signed a letter of intent with Zastava, the Belgrade daily Blic said.
It quoted the chairman of the Zastava board, Milorad Savicevic, as saying that talks would start in October, after Bricklin completes some market research.
"I know you´re thinking, ´Who needs to start that up over again?´ I thought the same thing myself, at first," Bricklin told Automotive News.
This time there would be higher quality, albeit also for a higher price, he said.
The report said his new venture, based in the New York area but still without a central office, is called Zastava Motor Works USA, or "ZMW".
"That´ll drive people (at BMW) crazy," Bricklin was quoted as saying.
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: balkans; serbia
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-69 next last
To: Pharmboy
Kept a copy of the "Worst Car of the Millenium" results from the guys on "CarTalk":
1st place: The Yugo! "I once test drove a Yugo, during which the radio fell out, the gear shift knob came off in my hand, and I saw
daylight through the strip around the windshield."
"The Yugo's first stop after the showroom was the service department: 'Fill 'er up and replace the engine!'"
"Any time we made a right hand turn, we all had to lean to the right to prevent the driver's side rear tire from
scraping against the wheel well."
"At least it had heated rear windows--so your hands would stay warm while you pushed."
To: bob808
Former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger was a partner in the last YUGO production when the company went belly up and he lost his shirt - approximately $90,000. His two partners went to jail for shady dealings.
Perhaps this is why he detests the Serbs so much?
22
posted on
04/30/2002 12:10:16 PM PDT
by
Doctor13
To: bob808
Yugos are also the best damn porta-potty money can buy too. You shouldn't under-rate these vehicles.
23
posted on
04/30/2002 12:10:34 PM PDT
by
Glutton
To: bob808
The American businessman who imported nearly 150,000 Serbian "Yugo" cars into the United States... I suppose they kept the "Yugo" name, even though Yugoslavia no longer exists, because it has such a great slogan.
"Yugo, but you don't go far!"
I want a vintage Zil. That's a Soviet era Russian limo with all the trimmings. It was reverse engineered from a Studebaker.
Or a Trabant, the East German car with molded beaverboard body panels that tended to disintegrate when wet.
24
posted on
04/30/2002 12:15:56 PM PDT
by
Salman
To: bob808
Q.: How do you double the value of a Yugo?
A.: "Fill 'er up, buddy!"
To: bob808
Ah yes...the Yugoslavians will have their revenge one way or another...
To: Salman
"Or a Trabant, the East German car with molded beaverboard body panels that tended to disintegrate when wet." Those cars died like spring snow on a sunny day in May when East Germany vanished. Those cars made Yugos look expensive. I've heard of them winding up in a dumpster.
27
posted on
04/30/2002 12:23:38 PM PDT
by
Glutton
To: Frances_Marion
If they make a four door model, will it be a Yu'allGo?
To: Dan from Michigan
Are these going to fly off the Mackinac Bridge like the last ones? No joke. A Yugo once hit a wind gust and was blown off the bridge.I've heard of wind gusts knocking over big rig tractor-trailers too.
29
posted on
04/30/2002 12:30:37 PM PDT
by
usadave
To: bob808
You've GOT TO BE kidding! YUGO ....again? No thanks!!!
30
posted on
04/30/2002 12:31:16 PM PDT
by
texson66
To: texson66
Bricklin was also the guy who introduced Subaru to the U.S. way back when.
To: Snickersnee
does this mean Rush will have to get Elvis to tape a new "In My Yugo"??
32
posted on
04/30/2002 12:37:07 PM PDT
by
GeorgeHL
To: bob808
As Dan Akroyd as Sgt. Joe Friday said: "A Yugo, on the cutting edge of serbo-croation technology.
To: Dan from Michigan
That car "flying" off the Mackinac Bridge was the first thought I had when reading this article as well.
To: Salman
"Yugo, but you won't go far" LOL!!!
New slogan...
"It Zeamed to be running yesterday"
35
posted on
04/30/2002 12:39:19 PM PDT
by
OC_Steve
To: bob808
To: pepsi_junkie
Uh oh, the UN peacekeeping force police force is coming!
To: bob808
Anyone here old enough to remember a tiny little 3 wheel car they tried to sell here in the mid 50's?
38
posted on
04/30/2002 1:29:55 PM PDT
by
Ditter
To: bob808, Bluester
truth of the matter is the Yugo was the most successful European import ever introduced. During those few short years before the breakup of the country, there were more imported Yugos sold than VW's, Mercedes, BMW's, Porsches, Jaguars....more than any other European import.
39
posted on
04/30/2002 1:35:59 PM PDT
by
vooch
To: Ditter
Do you mean the Isetta?
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-69 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson