Latest news with #AlekasandarBjelić
Scotsman
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
The 9 worst cars of the 1980s, as notorious 'lemon' set for unlikely comeback
These cars were notorious for their poor build quality, inferior design and unreliability Sign up to our Retro newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A car dubbed the 'worst in history' is set to make an unlikely comeback Made during the 80s, it was the butt of many jokes due to its poor quality, unreliability and dated features We've taken a look back at some of the other most-hated cars of the 1980s, including one which was so bad it forced a leading automotive magazine to issue an apoolgy more than 25 years later These were some of the worst cars of the 1980s, according to critics and those who had the misfortune to own one | Various It's the most unlikely comeback since the Gallagher brothers set aside their differences to revive Oasis. In fact, it's almost certainly bigger. While the Parka-clad Manchester rockers have their detractors, their return was welcomed by legions of fans. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It's hard to see the same happening for the almost universally reviled 1980s 'abomination' which could soon be rolling off the production line once more. We're talking about the Yugo, a car which tops many lists of the worst vehicles ever made and was more of a laughing stock back in its day than the Lada or Skoda ever were. The Yugo, made in the former Yugoslavia, was released in the UK and US in the 1980s and was the cheapest vehicle available - but sadly it showed. It was infamous for its poor quality, unreliability and dated features, which saw it branded the 'worst car in history'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But Serbian professor Dr Alekasandar Bjelić recently unveiled plans to resurrect the much-maligned motor, unveiling a scale model version at the recent Car Design Event in Europe and announcing that he hopes to have a working prototype ready for the Belgrade Expo 2027. With that in mind, we're taking a look back at some of the other contenders for the worst car of the 1980s, based on critical reception and user reviews. Skoda Estelle Skodas were the butt of many jokes during the 1980s, and the early Estelles (known as the 105 and 120 outside the UK) with their notoriously poor handling didn't help. Once that and other issues were sorted out, however, many people felt it was actually a pretty good car - and a very affordable one. | National Motor Museum/Skodas were the butt of many jokes during the 1980s, and the early Estelles (known as the 105 and 120 outside the UK) with their notoriously poor handling didn't help. Once that and other issues were sorted out, however, many people felt it was actually a pretty good car - and a very affordable one. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad FSO Polonez The FSO Polonez was developed in Poland in collaboration with Fiat and was very popular in central Europe, with more than a million sold between 1978 and 2002, but less so elsewhere. Despite the low price tag, it was much maligned for its poor performance. | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Images The FSO Polonez was developed in Poland in collaboration with Fiat and was very popular in central Europe, with more than a million sold between 1978 and 2002, but less so elsewhere. Despite the low price tag, it was much maligned for its poor performance. DeLorean Forget Michael J Fox, the time-travelling DeLorean was the real star of the Back to the Future films. Despite its vertical opening doors and other features exuding cool, only around 9,000 were ever made, though, and it has faced a critical mauling. Tony Davis branded the build quality 'woeful' in his book, Naff Motors: 101 Automotive Lemons, while Top Gear writer Richard Porter called it 'dismal'. |for ReedPop Forget Michael J. Fox, the time-travelling DeLorean was the real star of the Back to the Future films. Despite its vertical opening doors and other features exuding cool, only around 9,000 were ever made, though, and it has faced a critical mauling. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tony Davis branded the build quality 'woeful' in his book, Naff Motors: 101 Automotive Lemons, while Top Gear writer Richard Porter called it 'dismal'. Lada Riva Jeremy Clarkson once described the Russian-made Lada Riva as the 'worst car ever' on Top Gear, and it seems plenty of people agree. Although it was cheap, the boxy design, dated techology and 'stodgy' driving experience meant it was much-derided, even if it did sell well and was regarded by many owners as a reliable car. | KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images Jeremy Clarkson once described the Russian-made Lada Riva as the 'worst car ever' on Top Gear, and it seems plenty of people agree. Although it was cheap, the boxy design, dated techology and 'stodgy' driving experience meant it was much-derided, even if it did sell well and was regarded by many owners as a reliable car. Austin Maestro The Austin Maestro was one of Britain's best-selling cars during the mid-80s but time has not been kind, with many people now deeming it one of the worst cars ever made. One person, writing on Reddit, called the build quality and reliability 'laughably bad', while another said: "I've had some pretty bad cars over the years but it was the worst." | National Motor Museum/The Austin Maestro was one of Britain's best-selling cars during the mid-80s but time has not been kind, with many people now deeming it one of the worst cars ever made. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One person, writing on Reddit, called the build quality and reliability 'laughably bad', while another said: "I've had some pretty bad cars over the years but it was the worst." Renault Alliance The Renault Alliance was well received upon its launch in 1983, topping Car and Driver's list of the best cars that year. Critics praised its 'excellent fuel economy' and 'good looks', among other features. But history has not been kind to the Alliance, so much so that in 2009 Car and Driver formally apologised for its 'grievous mistake' 26 years earlier. 'The car was trash,' it declared. 'We should have known that back then, and it's taken us too long to confess our grievous mistake. Let this frank admission be the start of our penance.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Morris Ital The Morris Ital, made by British Leyland between 1980 and 1984, was the successor to the Morris Minor. It sold well upon its release in Britain but soon developed a poor reputation for its inferior build quality. Many Morris Itals were later reportedly snapped up on the cheap by Morris Minor owners and used for replacement parts. Alfa Romeo Arna The Alfa Romeo Arna was made between 1983 and 1987 by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo Nissan Autoveicoli, of which its name is an acronym. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It was based on the body of the Nissan Cherry, with an engine from Alfa Romeo's Alfasud. The Arna sold poorly and soon gained a reputation for poor build quality and unreliability. Do you agree with this list? What do you think were the worst, and best cars, of the 1980s? Do you have retro pictures or nostalgic memories to share with us? Send them online via YourWorld at It's free to use and, once checked, your story or picture will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.
Scotsman
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
The 9 worst cars of the 1980s, as notorious 'lemon' set for unlikely comeback
These cars were notorious for their poor build quality, inferior design and unreliability Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A car dubbed the 'worst in history' is set to make an unlikely comeback Made during the 80s, it was the butt of many jokes due to its poor quality, unreliability and dated features We've taken a look back at some of the other most-hated cars of the 1980s, including one which was so bad it forced a leading automotive magazine to issue an apoolgy more than 25 years later These were some of the worst cars of the 1980s, according to critics and those who had the misfortune to own one | Various It's the most unlikely comeback since the Gallagher brothers set aside their differences to revive Oasis. In fact, it's almost certainly bigger. While the Parka-clad Manchester rockers have their detractors, their return was welcomed by legions of fans. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It's hard to see the same happening for the almost universally reviled 1980s 'abomination' which could soon be rolling off the production line once more. We're talking about the Yugo, a car which tops many lists of the worst vehicles ever made and was more of a laughing stock back in its day than the Lada or Skoda ever were. The Yugo, made in the former Yugoslavia, was released in the UK and US in the 1980s and was the cheapest vehicle available - but sadly it showed. It was infamous for its poor quality, unreliability and dated features, which saw it branded the 'worst car in history'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But Serbian professor Dr Alekasandar Bjelić recently unveiled plans to resurrect the much-maligned motor, unveiling a scale model version at the recent Car Design Event in Europe and announcing that he hopes to have a working prototype ready for the Belgrade Expo 2027. With that in mind, we're taking a look back at some of the other contenders for the worst car of the 1980s, based on critical reception and user reviews. Skoda Estelle Skodas were the butt of many jokes during the 1980s, and the early Estelles (known as the 105 and 120 outside the UK) with their notoriously poor handling didn't help. Once that and other issues were sorted out, however, many people felt it was actually a pretty good car - and a very affordable one. | National Motor Museum/Skodas were the butt of many jokes during the 1980s, and the early Estelles (known as the 105 and 120 outside the UK) with their notoriously poor handling didn't help. Once that and other issues were sorted out, however, many people felt it was actually a pretty good car - and a very affordable one. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad FSO Polonez The FSO Polonez was developed in Poland in collaboration with Fiat and was very popular in central Europe, with more than a million sold between 1978 and 2002, but less so elsewhere. Despite the low price tag, it was much maligned for its poor performance. | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Images The FSO Polonez was developed in Poland in collaboration with Fiat and was very popular in central Europe, with more than a million sold between 1978 and 2002, but less so elsewhere. Despite the low price tag, it was much maligned for its poor performance. DeLorean Forget Michael J Fox, the time-travelling DeLorean was the real star of the Back to the Future films. Despite its vertical opening doors and other features exuding cool, only around 9,000 were ever made, though, and it has faced a critical mauling. Tony Davis branded the build quality 'woeful' in his book, Naff Motors: 101 Automotive Lemons, while Top Gear writer Richard Porter called it 'dismal'. |for ReedPop Forget Michael J. Fox, the time-travelling DeLorean was the real star of the Back to the Future films. Despite its vertical opening doors and other features exuding cool, only around 9,000 were ever made, though, and it has faced a critical mauling. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tony Davis branded the build quality 'woeful' in his book, Naff Motors: 101 Automotive Lemons, while Top Gear writer Richard Porter called it 'dismal'. Lada Riva Jeremy Clarkson once described the Russian-made Lada Riva as the 'worst car ever' on Top Gear, and it seems plenty of people agree. Although it was cheap, the boxy design, dated techology and 'stodgy' driving experience meant it was much-derided, even if it did sell well and was regarded by many owners as a reliable car. | KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images Jeremy Clarkson once described the Russian-made Lada Riva as the 'worst car ever' on Top Gear, and it seems plenty of people agree. Although it was cheap, the boxy design, dated techology and 'stodgy' driving experience meant it was much-derided, even if it did sell well and was regarded by many owners as a reliable car. Austin Maestro The Austin Maestro was one of Britain's best-selling cars during the mid-80s but time has not been kind, with many people now deeming it one of the worst cars ever made. One person, writing on Reddit, called the build quality and reliability 'laughably bad', while another said: "I've had some pretty bad cars over the years but it was the worst." | National Motor Museum/The Austin Maestro was one of Britain's best-selling cars during the mid-80s but time has not been kind, with many people now deeming it one of the worst cars ever made. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One person, writing on Reddit, called the build quality and reliability 'laughably bad', while another said: "I've had some pretty bad cars over the years but it was the worst." Renault Alliance The Renault Alliance was well received upon its launch in 1983, topping Car and Driver's list of the best cars that year. Critics praised its 'excellent fuel economy' and 'good looks', among other features. But history has not been kind to the Alliance, so much so that in 2009 Car and Driver formally apologised for its 'grievous mistake' 26 years earlier. 'The car was trash,' it declared. 'We should have known that back then, and it's taken us too long to confess our grievous mistake. Let this frank admission be the start of our penance.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Morris Ital The Morris Ital, made by British Leyland between 1980 and 1984, was the successor to the Morris Minor. It sold well upon its release in Britain but soon developed a poor reputation for its inferior build quality. Many Morris Itals were later reportedly snapped up on the cheap by Morris Minor owners and used for replacement parts. Alfa Romeo Arna The Alfa Romeo Arna was made between 1983 and 1987 by the Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo Nissan Autoveicoli, of which its name is an acronym. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It was based on the body of the Nissan Cherry, with an engine from Alfa Romeo's Alfasud. The Arna sold poorly and soon gained a reputation for poor build quality and unreliability. Do you agree with this list? What do you think were the worst, and best cars, of the 1980s?
Metro
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Metro
'Worst car in history' set for comeback with new makeover
A budget car dubbed the 'worst in history' is set to make a comeback. The Yugo, which hailed from the former Yugoslavia, became the butt of many jokes after it was released in the UK and the US in the 1980s. It cost around £3,000, making it the cheapest vehicle on the market at the time. But the car was known for its poor quality construction, lack of reliability and safety concerns and after an initial rush of customers, demand quickly fell. Britain imported the Yugo for just ten years, between 1981 and 1991 and production ceased entirely in 2008. A book has even been written about the vehicle's failure, called The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History . Now a Serbian university professor is hoping to bring the car back to life, and unveiled a 1:5 scale model version at the Car Design Event 2025 in Munich. Dr Alekasandar Bjelić, who owns the Yugo naming rights and is linked to the German automotive industry, hopes a fully working prototype will be showcased at Belgrade Expo 2027 and on the market soon after. Designed by fellow Serb, Darko Marčeta, the new Yugo has a retro 80s look but with slim LED lights front and back and large alloy wheels. Mr Bjelić said the car would initially be sold as an 'affordable' two-door model, with potential for 'different body versions' in the future. If plans are given the green light, it will launch with a petrol engine and a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes. He hopes electric versions would also be possible at some point. Mr Bjelić has promised a 'fun-to-drive car' that 'meets all relevant safety standards'. The first Yugo was introduced to the UK market under the name Yugo 45 and offered cheaper alternative to rivals like the Ford Fiesta and Austin Metro. It came with three petrol options of different capacities, from from 903cc to 1,301cc, with a 'convertible' version also available. Four years after its UK debut, the Yugo was also launched in the US, where it was 'a punchline' within a year, according to Jason Vuic's book on the car. 'Within a year, it was a staple of late night comedy,' he wrote. It's reputation fell further in 1989 when 31-year-old Leslie Pluhar plunged off the Mackinac suspension bridge in Michigan in her Yugo. She had lost control of the car after being struck with 48mph winds – although her speeding at the time was said to be a contributing factor. In total, 794,428 Yugos were manufactured, although a fairly small percentage of those were sold in the UK. Official registrations show there were only 19 on UK roads by 2018, with reports only nine remain today. In 1997, one reached a rather strange end to its life when it was catapulted through the air. Cavalry officer Hew Kennedy and his friend Richard Barr built a replica 13th century catapult and sent the Yugo flying to showcase the equipment's slinging capacity. Commenting on the Yugo on Reddit, one previous and not so contented owner said: 'I owned one. It was cheap, and I thought, how bad can it be? 'I soon found out, the first time it rained, I found out it leaked badly. Bits of trim were always coming off. It frequently broke down with electrical faults. It is without doubt the worse car I have ever owned. 'There was a running joke, that the heated rear screen was there to keep your hands warm while pushing it.' Another wrote: 'My first car was a brand new 1988 Yugo (purchased in 1990). It was red with a sport stripe. 'My mom convinced me it was better to get a new car with a warranty, instead of something used. SHE WAS WRONG!!! Holy cow was that car a piece of s**t.' Not everyone hated their Yugo though it seems. 'Our Yugo must have been a unicorn, because I loved it,' wrote a third person. More Trending 'It was definitely the Walmart brand of car, super no-frills and had little … quirks. 'But it got the job done, it was easy on gas, there was room enough for the family. It finally died, and we couldn't get parts to repair it, which was a bummer. 'I'd gladly own one again. 'BTW, we had so much fun collecting all the joke names: a two-door is an I-Go, 4-door is a We-Go, a station wagon was a We-All-Go, etc. It was a giggle.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: European leaders arriving in Kyiv told to 'shove these peace plans' by Russia MORE: The buzzy European city crowned the world's most walkable — with £4 beers MORE: 'We just went wild': how children celebrated cakes and peace on VE Day
Scottish Sun
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Cheap 80s hatchback dubbed ‘worst car in history' is making a dramatic return after four decades
It was once the cheapest car in Britain BACK FROM THE DEAD Cheap 80s hatchback dubbed 'worst car in history' is making a dramatic return after four decades A ONCE cheap British car is soon to make a come back after it has been dubbed the "worst car in history". When it was first introduced back in the 1980s, the vehicle could be bought for a great bargain price of just £3,000. 2 The 'worst car in history' will come back from the dead in 2027 Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 2 DVLA records show just seven remain on the road today Credit: Facebook / Carole Nash Inside Classics It was known for its low quality construction, safety concerns and reliability issues, making it the cheapest car between 1981 and 1991. The car was known as the Zastava Yugo, a Yugoslavian branded car designed as a simple box shape by ItalDesign. With Britain in the depths of recession around the time of its introduction, the car undercut rivals like Austin Metro and Ford Fiesta. However, this affordability still did not enable the Yugo to become a successful or popular car for the long run. Around 794,428 Yugos in total were produced, but only a fraction of these were sold in Britain. And by 2018, just 19 remained on the road, according to official registrations data. Author, Jason Vuic, subsequently entitled his book "The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History". Return of the vehicle comes as part of a project by Serbian university professor, Dr Alekasandar Bjelić, who hopes to bring the car back to the market for 2027. Dr Alekasandar Bjelić is linked to the automotive industry in Germany, and unveiled his 1:5-scale vision for what the Yugo could look like soon. This new design for the Yugo was debuted at the Car Design Event 2025 in Munich that took place earlier in the month. Fully restored first edition of iconic Ford motor to be auctioned for huge price after £130k spent on its renovation It included stylish compact car features such as slim LED lights on the front and rear, along with large alloy wheels. A fully working prototype of the new Yugo is expected to be shown at the Belgrade Expo in 2027. On top of that, Bjelić said it would be initially sold as an "affordable" two-door model, adding that there is potential for "different body versions" to follow. Affordability of the new Yugo is hoped to be facilitated by introducing the vehicle a petrol engine, and choice of manual or automatic gearboxes. Yugo Automobile did add: "electrified versions are possible." With this project, Yugo are teasing a "fun-to-drive car" that "meets all relevant safety standards," hinting it will use a shared platform borrowed from a "cooperation partner".
The Irish Sun
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Cheap 80s hatchback dubbed ‘worst car in history' is making a dramatic return after four decades
A ONCE cheap British car is soon to make a come back after it has been dubbed the "worst car in history". When it was first introduced back in the 1980s, the vehicle could be bought for a great bargain price of just £3,000. 2 The 'worst car in history' will come back from the dead in 2027 Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 2 DVLA records show just seven remain on the road today Credit: Facebook / Carole Nash Inside Classics It was known for its low quality construction, safety concerns and reliability issues, making it the cheapest car between 1981 and 1991. The car was known as the With Britain in the depths of recession around the time of its introduction, the car undercut rivals like However, this affordability still did not enable the Yugo to become a successful or popular car for the long run. Read More Motors News Around 794,428 Yugos in total were produced, but only a fraction of these were sold in Britain. And by 2018, just 19 remained on the road, according to official registrations data. Author, Jason Vuic, subsequently entitled his book "The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History". Return of the vehicle comes as part of a project by Serbian university professor, Dr Alekasandar Bjelić, who hopes to bring the car back to the market for 2027. Most read in Motors Dr Alekasandar Bjelić is linked to the automotive industry in Germany, and unveiled his 1:5-scale vision for what the Yugo could look like soon. This new design for the Yugo was debuted at the Car Design Event 2025 in Munich that took place earlier in the month. Fully restored first edition of iconic Ford motor to be auctioned for huge price after £130k spent on its renovation It included stylish compact car features such as slim LED lights on the front and rear, along with large alloy wheels. A fully working prototype of the new Yugo is expected to be shown at the Belgrade Expo in 2027. On top of that, Bjelić said it would be initially sold as an "affordable" two-door model, adding that there is potential for "different body versions" to follow. Affordability of the new Yugo is hoped to be facilitated by introducing the vehicle a petrol engine, and choice of manual or automatic gearboxes. Yugo Automobile did add: "electrified versions are possible." With this project, Yugo are teasing a "fun-to-drive car" that "meets all relevant safety standards," hinting it will use a shared platform borrowed from a "cooperation partner".
