Described by some as "barely qualifying as a car," it has the distinction of being one of the worst vehicles ever imported to the States--and for good reason. It was notorious for engine trouble, especially timing belt and transmission issues. Drivers suffered through every bump and jolt in the road, leading passengers to feel like "human shock absorbers." While driving, the cab would fill with gasoline and exhaust fumes.

The reviews of the Yugo were scathing. Car & Driver magazine wrote that its transmission was like "trying to shift a baseball bat stuck inside a barrel full of coconuts." Consumer Reports said consumers were "better off buying a good used car than a new Yugo." Worst of all, NPR's Car Talk dubbed it the "worst car of the millennium."

It's a wonder the vehicle was ever cleared to drive on American roadways. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the vehicle that performed worst in 1986 crash tests was--you guessed it--the Yugo, sustaining over $2,100 (more than half it's value) in damage during slow speed crash tests.

Known in Serbia as the "Zastava Koral," the subcompact hit U.S. markets in 1986 for under $4,000. Since 1978, over 800,000 Yugos were created, with 140,000 exported to the United States. It has been discontinued to make way for Fiat to begin assembly of its own compact, the Punto.

On the final day of production, Zastava workers attached a handwritten sign on the tailgate of the last Yugo on the production line: "Goodbye--no more."

If there's one thing the Yugo excelled in, it's humor. The car is responsible for many of the funniest automotive jokes out there. Here are a few of the best:

• What's the difference between a shopping cart and a Yugo? A shopping cart is easier to push!

• How do you get a Yugo to go 60 miles per hour? Push it over a steep cliff.

• How do you double a Yugo's value? Fill up the gas tank!

• What comes with every Yugo owner's manual? A bus schedule.

And my personal favorite: Why does the Yugo have a defroster on its back window? To keep your hands warm while you push it!