This guy put a racing engine in the ‘worst car to ever exist’
- The Zastava Yugo is the most hated car in America
- It launched in the 1980s and came with endless issues
- However, this guy put a racing engine in it to make it better
Published on Aug 19, 2024 at 2:59 PM (UTC+4)
by Siddharth Dudeja
Last updated on Aug 20, 2024 at 5:09 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Most owners of a vehicle alleged to be America’s worst car ever would be willing to get rid of it for good, but someone decided to install a racing engine inside one of these just because – well – why not?
Meet the Zastava Yugo, the car with the least amount of fans in the United States.
Why is that, you ask?
Well, it’s all for good reason.
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Installing a racing engine in the worst car ever
![worst car ever racing engine](https://supercarblondie.com/wp-content/uploads/Unreliable-1-1024x576.webp)
The Zastava Yugo has flaws in its design, engine, and the better part of the rest of the hardware.
It makes owning one extremely challenging, so the worst car ever naturally attracted dislike ever since it launched in America in the 1980s.
However, a YouTuber from Nevada had a Yugo and decided to pump it up with a racing engine.
They made a video showing the entire process and posted it on their YouTube channel.
Replacing an engine isn’t that difficult for the experienced, but it’s a different game if you’re doing it on the worst car ever.
That’s because it took them more than a few months to actually get it working.
The 80s and 90s were a strange time for automobiles and the world saw several vehicles that shouldn’t have launched, including this plane-shaped motorcycle car.
Before even beginning, the YouTuber and his friend — who was working on this project — ran into issues.
Issues, issues everywhere
![worst car ever racing engine](https://supercarblondie.com/wp-content/uploads/efi-engine-worst-car-1024x576.webp)
Sourcing parts for a car whose manufacturer doesn’t exist anymore can be challenging, even if they used parts from Fiat.
The duo still managed to get a ‘like-new’ engine kit and everything that came with it.
While disassembling the Yugo, they found problems with the gearbox, starter motor, and wheels, which would have to work in the end.
Hence, the YouTuber improvised and tinkered with the hardware for weeks before finally installing the racing engine with the hope that it would start.
![worst car ever racing engine](https://supercarblondie.com/wp-content/uploads/trying-engine-1024x576.webp)
![worst car ever racing engine](https://supercarblondie.com/wp-content/uploads/fire-engine-1024x576.webp)
As you might have guessed, it wasn’t that easy.
The underlying issue was an underpowered fuel pump and starter motor, but it took them more than a month to figure that out.
They did, however, find the issue and fix it immediately.
After spending months with America’s worst car ever, the Zastava Yugo had a running racing engine.
There was more work to do, but it worked, and that’s what mattered.
It certainly is an odd project vehicle, but it was all about fun, which the team had despite wanting to abandon it every other day.
In the end, tinkering with unusual cars is something car enthusiasts tend to like — we’d say it was well worth it.
![user](https://supercarblondie.com/wp-content/uploads/cropped-sid-96x96.jpg)
Siddharth Dudeja
Siddharth is a tech nerd with a secret love of all things cars. He has been writing for a few years now, and on his free time you would find him gaming when he's not procrastinating.