Kolbjorn S

Slightly OT, but thought I should share this experience with you all.

Quite some years back when I had my '80 928S back in Oslo, Norway, one nice Sunday morning I was out cruising on the highway with the shark when all of a sudden the car started to hesitate and driving lights faded. Fortunately there was an exit which I took, leading into a quiet and rather posh residential area. Shortly after the car died, and I rolled to a hault. Flat battery...
Well this appeared to be in a very very quiet location, and there was noone in sight. After almost half an hour I heard a car approaching, which surprisingly turned out to be the first (and last) YUGO I have ever seen in Norway! This Yugo then pulled up to a large iron gate in front of me, which opened electronically, and drove in. Since I did not feel like waiting any longer, I ran inside just as the gate closed. I somewhat hestitantly walked up the driveway, and as I came around the corner there were a couple of families. And, two guys in black suits (no kidding) of which one immediately pulled beneath his jacket for what seemingly was a gun.. I stretched my hands up and can't exactly remember what I uttered but probably something like "don't shoot I need help!"

So I had entered the Yugoslavian Embassy !! I was politelty explained I was not allowed to be there, and was escorted out by the bodyguards. However I quickly explained my misfortune - and indeed, a few minutes later, the YUGO stood there with jump-leads, bonding with my 928 - a sight to remember. Shortly after I drove away only seeing the crowd in the rear view mirror, with the lesson that even a mighty Shark needs a little Yugo once in a while

bgrabner

LOL - great story! I wonder if they used any Yugo stretch limos for any dignitaries!

AO

Cool story.

NickT

Wonderful story!!!

Garth S

As good as your story is, I'm even more impressed that the Yugo lasted long enough to give you a jump start. When they were released in Canada, they were soon found everywhere - but never in one piece!! They were cheap, but far from durable.

the flyin' scotsman

A 3 cylinder 2 stroke 12v DC supply source............I knew they had a purpose for something.

Great story.

Imo000

Nice story.

Let me add my Yugo experience to this thread.

A few years ago on Vacation in Europe, I drove a brand new Yugo (6mths old) for one day. Actually it was almost 24hr straight to pick up parts for my 5.0L Mustang I use when I’m over on vacation. The car only had 6000KM on the odo, but 24hrs later the right front wheel bearing started howling and the valves developed a loud ticking (needed a valve adjustment). I was amazed how bad the quality of this car was. At the time, the Mustang broke down and didn’t have much choice in the matter. It was a toss up between the Yugo 45 or a Polski Fiat 126P. I’m glad I chose the better of the two. The Yugos’s top speed was 125km/h and the Polski’s was 105km/h. The Yugo was a 1.1L liquid cooled 4 cyliner 5-speed and the Polski Fiat was a 0.65L, 2 cylinder, air cooled (rear engine) 4 speed. Believe it or not the Yugo was a lot larger on the inside too, however we did manage to squeeze 6 people into a Polski once! )

Imo000

Nahhhh it's a 4cylinder, 4 stroke 12v power source. You were probably thinking of the Trabant 510. It also had a composite body that pigs could eat and digest!

Fogey1

About five years I saw a youngish 30-something guy filling a Trabi at a gas station in Austin, Texas. IIRC, I was driving my '95 Caprice cop car. Naturally, i had to talk to him and check out his tin can ... errrr ... car. (I'd grown up with two-stroke Saabs after my Dad got rid of the teen-killer cars when I got to be 14 and got caught out at 3am a couple of times.)

I can't remember the car's import story, but his story was that he was a red-diaper baby born to US parents in Texas. They'd moved to the East German worker's paradise while he was an toddler and he'd been back in the States about five years. He had all the humor, spontaneity and hedonism one expects from a Stalinist and all the bitterness of an Ostie.

It was an interesting conversation. I might have bought him a beer if I hadn't feared I'd be corrupting his purity or perceived as an imperialist condescender. ;-)

1981 Shark

I knew someone who bought a Yugo that had a passenger seat that fell apart. The dealer was not able to get her another seat. Great entry for the passengers, but she always looked like a chauffer.

Needless to say, she didn't own it long. I don't know who gave up first, her or the car.

Mark

They are coming out with a new 'family' model next year for a similar purpose.

It will be called the WEgo!

ErnestSw

There were two Yugos entered in the 8800 mile One Lap Of America in 1984, the year they were introduced into the US. Both cars finished, but only after having their engines replaced.
Also known as the Nogo

Daniel Dudley

The Yugo is built on Fiat 128 mechanicals as is the X19. They used to be popular at autocrosses once they were dolled up with Italian parts. Lampredi who did the Ferrari long block V12 designed that engine as well as the 124 twincam.

Basicly good mechanicals, and about as reliable as a 928 once sorted. Wait, that doesn't sound right. I just can't figure out who I'm insulting. Lets see, which was getting the jump and which was driving?