VIDEO: 1988 Yugo sales video is hilarity of the unintentional variety
1988 Yugo sales video promo -- Click above to watch video
If this video had been made by Saturday Night Live, it would have been the funniest thing on the weekend variety show for as long as we can remember. But it's not a skit, and it's not comedy – at least, it's not meant to be. It's a 1988 video extolling the mighty and numerous selling points of the Yugo, such as the 1.1-liter engine that roared with 54 horsepower at 5,000 rpm, the 19.5-second quarter-mile time "ensuring safe access to major highways," and "no expensive computer chips to diagnose or replace."
Back in 2007, USA Today put the Yugo GV at #17 on its list of the 25 cars with the most impact. Have a look at the 10-minute video after the jump and find out just how that car was "a remarkably equipped hatch that gives new meaning to the term 'basic transportation.'" Thanks for the tip, John!
[Source: Yugo via YouTube]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Level 8:08PM (10/25/2009)
We laugh as yesterdays Yugo and Praise Today's Tata Nano....
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Soccer Mom 8:34PM (10/25/2009)
Because Yogo was a stripped-down subcompact piece of crap, and Nano is a modern economy car.
James 9:20PM (10/25/2009)
"...other luxury refinements including niceties such as two overhead night lamps..."
Niceties....how cute.
;-)
Dave 9:44PM (10/25/2009)
http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/yugo/gv/1988/
Mike P. 9:54PM (10/25/2009)
I like how they point out the carpeting. Twice.
Or how they point out the remote bonnet release. So when you've broken down (again), you have a convenient way to pop the hood.
Jim R 10:25PM (10/25/2009)
There's a difference. The Nano was designed from the outset to be as cheap as possible to manufacture. The Yugo was just cheaply built.
Monica Dickey 2:00AM (10/26/2009)
The only difference is I wouldn't buy a Nano
Jared 10:02AM (10/26/2009)
But.... But.... It takes advantage of Yugoslavia's natural resources with it's copper cored radiator. You gotta pay big bux to get that here in Amerika!
Michael 1:22PM (11/06/2009)
Yugo is good car, comrade.
Obama says so.
Da!
ThatsAgood1jay 8:25PM (10/25/2009)
Nah, we laugh at the Nano as well.
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vladimirsc 8:35PM (10/25/2009)
Here in Serbija we still drive yugos,sadly last year they stop production,and start producting fiat punto under "zastava" badge
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z-man 8:36PM (10/25/2009)
WOW!!
I want one of those!!111!!1!
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rob 8:49PM (10/25/2009)
0-50 in 10.6 seconds?? what happened they couldnt get to 60??? lol
and what would customers have done w/o the piece of mind of an interior hood release, phewww!!! lol
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Dave 9:48PM (10/25/2009)
Actually, I remember the VW Rabbit also advertised 0-50 mph.
http://www.adclassix.com/a3/76vwrabbit2.htm
bhtooefr 10:03PM (10/25/2009)
0-50 was a common spec back in the days of the 55 MPH speed limit.
xtM450 8:49PM (10/25/2009)
Is it weird that its actually faster than my current whip?
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Judy Zik 11:07PM (10/25/2009)
Only in theory. In practice the Yugo only went from Zero to the Mechanic in 10.6 seconds. There is a reason why on a stripped down vehicle where carpeting was a luxury they included a tool kit. With a Yugo you don`t go. Compared to these clunkers ANY modern vehicle has the reliability of a Lexus. Ironically their poor mechanicals killed them off so fast that today`s generation has no idea just how bad these slugs were. The Yugos, Skodas, Ladas and Hyundai Ponys of the 80`s made the much maligned GM`s of the period look good.
Zoran 12:45AM (10/26/2009)
Judy Zik, what the heck are you talking about?
All over Balkans there are plenty of late 80s / early 90s Yugos still running and in a great condition. Let me put it this way: I see more Yugos in Serbia every time I go there than I see Crown Victorias (including ones that cops drive) in the USA.
500 3:03AM (10/26/2009)
xtM450 - Yes.
RMN 4:02AM (10/26/2009)
Zoran, I was in Eastern Europe and there are plenty old cars such as Ladas, and Volgas. I got a ride from a friend of the family in a 28 year old Lada already on its third engine. The guy said that the body is most important and the engine can be replaced. The reason the these cars are still around in some countries is because of the lengths people go to maintain them, while in the United States people get rid of cars faster and engines aren't rebuilt etc. GM was probably much better even in the 80s, which is why we don't see these anymore. Dont even remember seeing these in the mid nineties in the US.