Page last updated 2nd September 2011 Scroll down to the bottom for the latest news on the restoration of the oldest surviving UK Yugo.
The Yugoslavian car company, Zastava, formed Zastava Cars (GB) LTD in late 1981, to sell budget cars in right hand drive format in the UK. From 1982 to 1984, only 3 and 5 series cars were available. These were known as Zastava Skala, Zastava 101 or Zastava 128 across Europe. Zastava Cars (GB) LTD decided to rename these vehicles specifically for the UK market. Thus, the first UK versions were badged Zastava ZLC, ZLM & ZLX. It wasn't until the Yugo 45 was released in 1984 that these cars became known exclusively as 311, 313, 511 & 513 that we are all familiar with.
As a result of this, the ZLC pictured here, is almost certainly the only survivor anywhere in the world, and is the oldest registered car left in the UK. Follow me as I take you through a complete restoration of this car over the next 2 years. The plan is then to drive to the factory in Kragujevac and back in the summer of 2013.
As collected from Hayle, Cornwall on 29th December 2012. A 600 mile round trip for me, my son and our editor, Ian Macaulay. The car was purchased by its first owner on 1st October 1982. He kept it until 1994, covering just 11,000miles in this time. The car changed ownership in 1994 to a new owner, who drove it until a gearbox failure rendered it immobile in 1998, with just 48,000 miles on the clock. It then failed to move from its resting place until its ownership passed to me. The car hasn't driven on the road since 1998, and although structurally fairly sound, is mechanically in need of a full restoration.
On the lawn (unplanned) on 30th December 2010. We towed it with my Nissan X-Trail to get it on the trailer, so I didn't know the brakes were seized solid until I tried to get it off! Once I have emptied the junk out of the garage over the next few days, I will unseize the brakes and get it out of the elements.
The Yugo family, complete with large divot removed from lawn by seized brakes. The wife says she'll shout at me next week! So I have until then to hide the damage. In the background is my step son Calum's Seicento and my son Luke's 1991 Yugo 45.
It's taken some time to get going, but it's 2nd May 2011 and work is now underway. After some time clearing room in the garage, it was clear that the room was too small to fit the car in, so she'll stay on the drive while the space in the garage will be used for the cleaning and rebuilding.
The rear seats are still wrapped in the original factory plastic, having never been used. Unfortunately, the plastic has started to disintegrate, so will have to come off.
The underside looks very scabby, and both rear wheel wells are in need of surgery. Not too bad considering its length of dormant time spent outdoors though.
August 29th 2011. Interior now stripped to the floor ready for underside preparation and rustproofing all the cavities.
Irretrievable front seats. New one's being sourced from Serbia. Carpet in remarkable condition still.
Interior before and after removal of sound proofing. Under the sound proofing were: 15 washers, 11 nuts, 3 bolts and about 30cm of wiring insulation, in 6 pieces, clearly just left there with the sound proofing put on the top. No intention to clean the car out first. Hand built doesn't always equate to quality. And we say UK car builders were shoddy!
Fully stripped underside, from the bulk head to the rear end, ready for preparation, welding and rustproofing, completed September 2nd 2011.
Underside looks quite scappy, and most of the underseal is peeling off, but thanks to efficient rustproofing early in its life, it's not actually that bad, save for a very rotten rear wheel well and scuttle panel.
Next job. Strip and rebuild rear suspension, get the welding done, and fully paint and rustproof the underside.
Keep watching this webpage for updates on progress. If you have a project, let me know and I'll add it here.