Kapiti student giving the Yugo a fair go
Most petrolheads would not put a Yugo 55A, a low-cost car from the former Yugoslavia ridiculed by many, at the top of the list of vehicles to restore.
Most petrolheads are not Sam Pickering.
The 16-year-old Waikanae resident has been restoring his car since his mum bought it for him for $500, as an early birthday present, in July 2014.
He is on course to complete the restoration before getting his licence, and has not practiced in another car in the meantime.
Pickering, a Kapiti College year 12 student, often works on the car until ‘‘1 or 2am’’.
He said he first saw the car in a movie, Good Luck Charlie, it’s Christmas.
‘I’ve always been a car enthusiast ... I did lots of research, got interested in it, and one day it popped up on Trade Me.’’
The Yugo was built in the former Yugoslavia as a low-cost people’s car similar to a Volkswagen Beetle, Pickering said.
It was listed by several magazines and car critics as one of the worst cars of all time.
Pickering said he liked it from the start
‘‘I’ve always liked underrated and underappreciated cars.
‘‘It’s got heaps of character ... they don’t make cars like this any more. It’s very quirky.’’
There were 384 Yugo 55A’s ever sold in New Zealand, and Pickering said his is one of about 10 left on the road in the country. Pickering’s vehicle was first sold in 1989, and had a 1116cc
‘‘It's got heaps of character ... they don't make cars like this any more.’’
engine.
He said they were imported into the US in 1985 - 120,000 units were sold.
When Pickering received the car it was rusty, and bright pink.
‘‘The paint was absolutely flat,’’ he said.
He said while polishing the car had taken the most time, he had also fixed the alternator and water pump, and rebuilt the carburettor.
‘‘The engine’s in quite good shape. It’s only got 70k on the clock,’’ he said.
Pickering also had the rust removed - it took three weeks, and cost $1500. He got his car back last week.
He said the car is about 90 per cent done, and will be ready to drive in the middle of the year.
He said some of the bodywork still needs work, and the car needs new number plates and a new registration.