When the Yugo came to the United States in 1985, buyers flocked to the hatchback and its $3,990 price, making it the fastest-selling first-year European import in U.S. history. But its poor quality soon made drivers turn on the vehicle, and resulted in numerous bad-car jokes. Why does the Yugo have a rear-window defroster? So you can keep your hands warm while you push it. In his new book, Jason Vuic chronicles the history of the Yugo and examines how- fair or not- it became infamous as the worst car of all time. What makes the Yugo the car Americans love to hate?
Guest:
Jason Vuic, writer of The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History (Hill and Wang). He is an assistant professor of modern European history at Bridgewater College in Virginia.