X1/9 vs. Yugo

[SergeantSavage]

Seems like the perfect place to ask this question: I happened to be working on a Yugo and an X1/9 at the same time some years back and noticed that the engines are similar. I'm new here but I'm sure you guys know the story on that. Was the Yugo just a cheap copy of an older Fiat design?

[TX82FIAT]

Yes, very similar. Let's pull on the memory and from a very informing conversation I had with a guy just this past summer (I can't remember the guys name). While the body is different the Yugo was based on the Fiat 127 design. Fiat has allowed manufacturers around the world to produce cars from thier designs and in many cases contributes to the engineering. In Yugoslavia a plant called Zastava has been creating FIAT clones since the 50's. They decided to change the name of the FIAT based vehicles from Zastava to Yugo in the 80's. The Zastava plant was bombed to the ground in the 90's and rebuilt in early 2000's. They started producing cars again. An in 2008 guess who purchased a 67% interest in the Zastava car company and plant.... FIAT!!! Thay are selling these cars all over the place now manufactured in the same plant as the Yugo.

I was told Zastava, the name of the car company means ... Gun factory!

[SergeantSavage]

Cool, thanks for the great info! I wonder if anybody ever made a fast Yugo using Fiat know-how..haha.

[131]

http://www.turbo124.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=7059

[SergeantSavage]

Mick, thank you for that! Andrej, that is by far the best Yugo that I have ever seen. Very cool!