The Yugo: A Collector's Item?

Exported to the United States in the mid-to-late 1980s and sporting a pricetag as low as $3990, the Yugo was considered by most Americans to be a joke car. From Saturday Night Live to The Simpsons, comic writers poked fun at the tiny Yugo, making jokes about its safety, its engine, and its reliability. But this car, originating in what was once Yugoslavia, is finally getting a second look.

The last wave of Yugos came to the United States in the early 1990s, when the brand was in trouble due in great part to its poor publicity. Although new Yugos are still sold in former Yugoslav states like Serbia, Croatia, and Macedonia, attempts to begin re-importation in other European countries and in the United States (under the company name Zastava) have not fully materialized. That doesn’t mean Yugos aren’t receiving any attention in America.

It appears that enough time has passed for the Yugo to become somewhat of a collector’s item. Because of its rarity, a Yugo from 1986 in good condition might actually be worth a few thousand dollars – not bad in comparison to the $3990 for which it initially retailed. We see a plethora of Toyotas, Hondas, and even Chevrolets from this era still rolling, so those makes are nowhere near as remarkable, even if considered more reliable.

Why would anyone want a Yugo these days? Yugo fanatics cite the now-retro look of the car, its fuel efficiency, and the fact that it came from a country which no longer exists. People see the rare Yugo drivers and ask quizzically about the car. In addition to the expected ribbing, some Yugo owners get thumbs-up from folks who admire the spunk and relative novelty of the small Slavic vehicle.

A poke around the internet shows that there is a small but growing community of Yugo owners who are discussing where to find parts, sharing repair techniques, and debating the best ways to keep their Yugos authentic. Many Yugo collectors are car geeks who enjoy weekend mechanic status. They see Yugo upkeep as a novel, fun challenge.