The Yugo is an exact replica of the FIAT BRAVO. I worked for a Fiat
dealer when that hunka junk came out. Yes they bought the plans but also
the dies and tooling direct from Fiat.
Larry Macy
78 Midget
>Your message below about the Yugo is totally and 100% incorrect! The Yugo
>was a direct rip off of a lousy Fiat that had failed in all markets several
>years before 1980 (when the Yugo was introduced). I believe Yugo even
>bought the plans and rights on it, but I would have to check a lot of things
>to be sure of that.
>
>><< I defy you to find a single car that was developed in a vacuum.
>>
>><snip>
>>
>>Ever hear of the Yugo? Apparently it was designed by a communist Smurf in a
>>vacuum left in some closet with no light!
>>
>>Sorry, I promised myself I wouldn't, but couldn't resist, so consider
yourself
>
>>defied!
>>
>>Dr. Doug
>>
>>Three complete assemblages of British car parts - 69 vintage.
>>
>><end snip>
>> Elements of any car can be found in earlier cars, the only
>> difference is how public the automaker is about admitting it. Not
>> that I think it's necessarily a bad thing. I dont' want to deal
>> with an automaker that tries to totally re-invent the automobile with
>> every new model they build.
>> I think that the Japanese have given us a lot of improvements in
>> terms of safety, reliability and fuel efficiency. And for the rest
>> of the sour grapes, you have to ask yourself who's still selling cars
>> in LARGE numbers, and who isn't?
>> It's kind of like Bill Gates. Everybody likes to bash him, but
>> with $35 billion, he must be doing something right. With the sales
>> figures Japanese car companies have, they might be somewhere on the
>> right track. As for the Miata being an MG knockoff (Not that you
>> said it, Ray, but others have.) Where was the MGB when Mazda
>> released the Miata? I think that a Miata is about as close to the
>> essence of an MGB as you're going to get, while still keeping in all
>> the federally-mandated bells and whistles, as well as the level of
>> reliability most people have come to expect. I think the fact that
>> they're still selling so well after nine years with the same body
>> should tell you something.
>> Don't get me wrong, I love my MGB, but I don't think automotive
>> design had its birth in England, nor do I think it ended in 1980.
>> Scott
>> Scott Gardner
>> gardner@lwcomm.com
>> www.lwcomm.com/~gardner
>>
>>
>> - >>
>>Scott,
>> You are correct in the statement that no car has been developed in a vacuum.
>> But my observation still stands: the Miata is nothing more than a
>>replica/repro of the Lotus Elan. Yes, it's updated (it couldn't be sold
>>otherwise), and yes, it's a neat little car. BUT.....MG's tried hard to make
>>large improvements throughout the companies' existence; in short, no looking
>>back. The Miata is a redo of a 60's car.
>>As for the grapes.... I enjoy mine and drive it often (well, before the B
>>kneecapped me....) It does most things well, but it's not a ground breaker.
>>The Japanese auto makers are generally very conservative in their design
>>changes. This has served them well for the most part. The fact that the
>>Miata is selling well with the same body says a lot about the original
>>Lotus......
>>Don't know Bill Gates...like his house, though.
>>I don't say that auto design began and ended in GB. By 1980, you must
>>remember that the B design was 20 years old.....unheard of as far as sports
>>cars are concerned.
>>Time passed the B by because of short sightedness on the part of several
>>people....now the F is here, and the F IS the spirit of the MG.
>>Safety Fast!
>>
>>Regards, Ray
>>
>>
>>
>Phil Bates
>58 MGA
>67 MGB
>75 Jaguar XJ12C
>66 Land Rover
>52 MG TD replicar (VW)
>86 Peugeot 505 Turbo Gle
>86 Honda Accord LX-i
|