(Lead photo: Steve Sanford Designs) If the name Steve Sanford doesn’t ring a bell immediately, that’s ok. I promise you know his work: he is the man behind “Eleanor” from the 2000 reboot of Gone In 60 Seconds and was the evil genius behind the drawings of Hot Rod Magazine’s April Fools Day prank from 2008. You know the one, the AMC revival that had some really interesting concept sketches behind it. That guy. And he’s decided to do what arguably is the best thing anyone who practices a craft can do: pick an extremely challenging project and take it on 100%.
We bought it, we own it! Now how many of you DARE us to have Stanford design a Yugo that looks cool? Write YES in the comment if you want to see Stanford make it with his special touch …Admin
Posted by Steve Stanford Designs on Saturday, May 16, 2015
Picking a Yugo to turn into something cool doesn’t seem like a “challenging project”. In fact, it’s more akin to self-flagellation from where we stand…sure, you can do it all you want, but why the hell would you voluntarily submit yourself to the punishment? Because he believes that he can succeed, and because if he succeeds, he will have proven something that we (ok, I) have harped on: that even a throwaway car can be awesome with the right work.
(Thanks to Tedly for the tip!)
It could be done. Custom tube frame, flared fenders, Big ol’ wheels and tires, mid-engine turbo rotary.
Yep, I’m thinking box flares with much larger wheel openings and some big wheels and tires. Either mid engined like a Renault 5 Turbo or something completely loony under the hood. Maybe a Chrysler K-car turbo motor – I’ve seen these put in the related Fiat X 1/9.
Dead easy – make it cool by feeding it to the biggest car crusher on the planet!
Come on guys – it\’s not 1 April any more!
Agreed ! i mean damn ! So now hot rodders and customizers are going all ‘ Hipster ‘ on us as well ?
[ in the Hipster alternative universe the Yugo and its FIAT equivalent are now …. cough … collectables ! ]
And damn Bryan ! First three breakfasts on the floor last week . And now a mid morning snack as well ? What ? Y’all tryin ta put this 6’5″ 175 lb beanpole on a diet or something ?
Cruel heartless SOB ! [ just razzing you a bit again McTaggert .. not that especially after this one you don’t deserve it mind you … just saying ]
Cruel heartless SOB? *sniff!* You’re too nice!
Straight from the man himself, Steve Stanford: “Years ago people thought bullet-nosed Studebakers were ugly and had no ‘redeeming value’…. So it took a visionary like Thom Taylor to work up a few sketches to show potential in these former ugly ducklings. Now folks beat the bushes looking for a Stude of their own to fix up. Then there is the Edsel: The very definition of failure, remember? Well gee, you sure see a lot of rodded or restored Edsels at various events around the country these days… some fetching pretty good coin when they change hands. As for a Yugo…… Sometimes you just wanna have some fun with a project and the hell with logic, the bank account, common sense, or resale value and do something for the hell of it. Besides, speculators looking to flip cars for a quick buck are ruining the hobby in my opinion. At least with a Yugo you’re not held hostage by all this ‘numbers matching’ crap or ‘you’re ruining a good car’ caterwauling– This time it’s all about fun. This car thing used to be all about that…. Still is with me.”
Mopar 2.2 turbo driveline, either in front, or in back. Job done.
I’d build the car similar to a Renault 5 Turbo.
Look to the SHOgun’s from the mid 90’s Took a crappy Ford Fiesta (same look) and stuffed a SHO motor in the back. Even Jay Leno owns one of those.
Hmmn …. Damn ! … a Shogun Yugo ! Damn ! Now you’re making me rethink the whole thing after my glaring and damning previous post … Damn !
With that Yamaha developed Ford SHO V6 behind the seat ? Or perhaps even better … the Cosworth developed turbo I4 out of the Merkur ?
As long as it aint no damn Chebbie though ….
Damn !
I think … I hate you …. Damn ! 😉 ( humor most definitely intended )
Seeing as how the Yugo was an old Fiat, what about an Alfa Romeo GTV6 engine screaming through ITBs? Go Metro 6R4 on it and make it a screaming rally terror.
…. or since its motor is related to the X1/9’s and the habit of the day is to stuff a Hayabusa into an X1/9 to get em moving like Bats out of Parma [ Ohio that is ] …
… hows about a highly modified and maybe even turbo’d Hayabusa stuffed amidships .. with the needed suspension etc upgrades of course .
Damn it ! Now I’m even considering the creative possibilities for this thing ! Crap .. next thing you know the beard’ll start growing .. I’ll be sprinkling Rust Fairies on every vehicle I own … start paying $75 a pound for some coffee with a story … wearing flannel and Pendleton plaid 24/7 … and abusing Irony to the point of absurdity !!!
Damn you McTaggert and J Russell
Chevy Hatin Mad Geordie ? – HELP !!! – Know of any Ten Step programs to get me out of this mess before I become a full fledged freaking … Hipster ?
I think Kugel Komponents makes a kit to fit a Shogun in the Fiesta.
I was thinking Renault 5 as well with a Chrysler 2.2 Turbo boosted to the moon…I’ve been dreaming of the day someone would attempt to so something useful with one of these things….Huge Flares….AH! Now I am getting all warm and tingly in my no-no parts…..
All I can think of is Lada Niva…
Seriously all I can think of is some bigger fenders with flares, moderate sized wheels for adequate ground clearance.
To be weird, I’d put a Subaru H6 with a turbo on it in there…
HaHa, There are several odd cars I’d love to play with if I had the time and money. A shogun is one those, or something similar at least. I think this Yugo would be fun with a rear engine transplant. It’d be real fun to stick a 2.0L Ecoboost out of a Focus ST (I’m a Ford guy, so run what you know). Tuned for about 300hp.
I’m going to build my wife a mid 60’s Jaguar E-type coupe with a new 2.3L Ecoboost from a Mustang as soon as I win the lottery (or she finishes med school which is the reason for the car).