Used Yugo Engine Models

Used Yugo Engine

Let’s be honest. Yugo cars were the rear of the jokes at the bars back in the 80s and 90s. Most people refer to it as the failure model. Despite all that bashing in media and popular culture, this car was a hit in the U.S. The cars came from Yugoslavia, a communist country back then, and sold a whole lot of unreal numbers in the capitalist USA. There is a lot to Yugo than what meets the eye and other senses. It is a perfectly adequate car for a lot of different applications. The intense competition and branding also meant this car never got credit for the things it got right. The car came with free maintenance and a ten-year warranty. Not everything could have gone wrong. Let us look at the Yugo car, used Yugo engine and why this car and engine are still relevant in 21st-century America.

Initially, Yugo gave none of the premium features one would expect in a car. You have a pathetic-looking interior and exterior. From steering to dash to switches to climate control to seats, everything looks cheap. Yugo focuses on putting money where it matters the most. For instance, the door closes in solidly. Sadly, the cost-cutting is felt extensively in places where you interact with your car. Nevertheless, it is a budget car, and by that, we mean a shoe-string budget. Though the exterior doesn’t impress, there is plenty of storage place. Also, Yugo gives a lot in terms of utility. The car is meant to bring more utility at an unbelievably low cost. All the more, you won’t feel anything premium about this car.

What’s under the hood?

Barring the silly features, Yugo proves its worth under the hood. Their 1.1 Liter. The 4-cylinder engine comes with the most impressive radiator. It delivered 50 hp, slightly lower than 54 hp in Europe to meet the emission restrictions in the US. Though the modest horsepower didn’t appeal so much even in 1986, it is adequate to meet day-to-day traffic demands. While driving, the engine doesn’t contribute to a bad driving experience. Shifting down the gears is so easy. You can hear the engines singing the pleasant tunes while taking a 50-60 mph stroll. It’s the engine and transmission that got this vehicle making those sales figures. You get a feel of this car pretty quickly, thanks to the impressive engine and carbonator. The engine makes the car all the more adequate too.

History behind Yugo

Yugoslavia is remembered as a tourist destination and a former communist state even today. What most people know is the budget hatchback, which saw a meteoric rise and disappeared soon – The Yugo. Yugoslavia was once a communist country, but still independent from USSR. It didn’t fall into the miserable state of being a satellite state of the USSR. To fund their economy, they started making their vehicles. The same company which produced Yugo, previously made ornaments and military vehicles. Then, workers decided in 1953 to invite foreign companies to start civilian car production. Zastava tied with Fiat and then, came up with their own Zastava 101.

While Fiat pushed for a salon or estate, Zastava wanted a practical 3 door hatchback. The car of Zastava was underpowered to meet the low budget. The cars sold first in Poland and Egypt besides creating a market in Yugoslavia. Beginning in 1975, Yugoslavia decided to produce a front-wheel drive hatchback all by themselves. Testing of Zastava 102 began in Yugoslavia and Italy. 848 cc engines and 1.1 L engines from Zastava 101 were the chosen candidates. The smaller engine was a straight-out failure since it couldn’t power a drive. The larger 1.1L engine meant costs were going to be high. Hence, they decided to pick the 900 cc 44 hp engine from Fiat 127, returning an adequate engine performance. The new car, Yugo 45 debuted in Belgrade Autoshow in 1980, with deliveries to follow in a couple of months.

Yugo arrives to USA

Yugoslavia and Zastava hoped their budget car would compete with competency. They hoped to snatch some sales from the western competition, in which they were successful. Initially selling in Yugoslavia, it reached the British shores in 1985. Despite harsh criticism, it sold in good numbers due to its only USP – low selling price. In the same year, the company produced 54 hp, 1.1 L Yugo 55. The larger engine powered the Yugo to compete with its Western counterparts. Besides, its 0-60 is achieved in under 16 seconds, which wasn’t bad back in the eighties. Zastava started exporting Yugo 55 to countries around the world. Thanks to bankrupt Malcolm, who was resolute in bringing low-cost cars to the USA, Yugo arrived in the U.S. in 1984. The car underwent some cosmetic as well as functional changes to meet the demands of the American market and emission restrictions in the U.S.

Disadvantages turned into advantages over a quick time. There are no fancy computer chips, which incur maintenance costs. Keys cannot be locked inside the car by accident. It sold as an inexpensive starter car at under four grand. Surprisingly, Yugo was once the official car of the U.S. volleyball team. Pre-orders came in hundreds of thousands for this new inexpensive car from Yugoslavia. 150,000 sales were made by 1988 in the U.S. alone. There were two production units of Yugo in the U.S. Homeland. Yugo proved more effective and cost-efficient even in the lesser-priced car category. If there’s one thing, Yugo got right, it’s their engine and transmission. They did not compromise with the quality of the drive train and the power train.

Purchase Used Yugo Engine at Turbo Autoparts

You can still purchase quality used Yugo engines at Turbo Autoparts. We have a brilliant selection of engines in perfect condition. Moreover, they are road-ready after being calibrated for another ton of thousands of miles. Our engineers worked extensively on these engines to provide you with a perfect driving experience. The engines are still adequate for the average US traffic conditions.