Here’s how the Excel launched the Hyundai brand in America

In this episode I provide the history of the Hyundai Excel, the first car that Hyundai sold in the United States. The Excel was based off of the Mitsubishi Mirage and was a near clone of the Mitsubishi Precis, and the Dodge and Plymouth Colt. Although once compared to the Yugo, Hyundai eventually improved their products and quality to become one of the great automotive success stories of today.

Link to my other channel on the Plymouth Prowler:

[brianhuggins]

My brother owned an '87 Excel back in the day. That car was fresh squeezed lemonade. It spent more time in the repair shop than on the road. 🍋🍋🍋

[bryco]

FUn story ..One of the old timers at my shop bought one of these new the first year they came out. Everyone gave him crap saying it was a sardine can. He drove it everywhere. One day on the way to work at 4am he was hit on a 35mph road by a truck traveling over 75mph. The car was trashed and in a ditch. The truck hobbled back to life and drove off. He was in the Hosp for a few days and had pain from it until he retired. After realizing the police weren't going to help much because they had nothing to go on he told the lot holding the car he needed to get something out of it and after that it could be scrapped. He had bare minimum insurance on it since he paid cash for it new. Lucky for him the lot had a new neighbor and they were leveling a hill with earth moving equipment in the driest and dustiest part of the year. He arrived at 7am and him and lot manager noticed a perfect imprint of the trucks front license plate in what was left of the rear bumper that was slapped on the roof of the car. The combination of dust and dew showed the plate numbers clearly. The sheriff of the county the wreck happened in came and took pics. It was clear as day.. Within 2 hours the sheriff had the guy arrested for felony hit and run at a business he owned.. He also towed his truck that had already been fixed and Painted all within 2 weeks or so. The mangled front plate was re attached to the new bumper... My buddy went after his insurance and the driver. Once it was said and done his car was replaced and all of his medical bills were taken care of.. Till the day he retired he always kept a polaroid of the bumper in his tool box. He always drove big ass cadillacs after that..

[snoopingaroundwithjb]

In 1991 I bought a 4 door excel with hatchback for $2, 500. It only had 27, 000 miles. My parents drove it to Mexico, flipped it over and the car made it back to California. Good little car.

[the_kombinator]

I have four Korean cars right now - Two 87 Ponys (one heavily modified), a 1999 Daewoo Matiz, and a 2005 Sonata. They're all pretty good.

[davidandclara]

Those new Genisis are no joke. Fast and luxurious. If I could afford one I'd get one.

[cesarcastro]

My mother had one of these, I learn to drive in one, once I was rear-ended at 15-ish mph, I was scared to get out of the car and check the damage but the other car got destroyed and the Excel was like nothing had happened; another time my dad crashed it, my mom crashed it too, I burnt the clutch, we rebuilt the engine, alternator was crap, sunroof leaked, but that little car was always coming back to life, I learnt a lot from it, it took it to college, good memories. At the end we sold it, we had it for more than 10 years. Glad to know there's a proper history video about it.

[RichieRouge]

And look how big Hyundai is today being a real contender against the establishment. One of my favourite brands now. Great video

[vapsa]

Thank you for taking up on my suggestion. I really do appreciate it. It was a fun experience to remember my Hyundai Excel GS. It only caught fire LOL! It got me through University and the first few years after. I put 200, 000 miles on it. Yes, things did fall off it, but I remember that car with great affection. LOL.

[starskyhutch]

I remember in 1987, my dad and I drove from our small west Texas town to Red McCombs Hyundai in San Antonio to pick up a new 4-door BROWN with grey interior Excel. We had it for a few years until we moved to Houston and my parents got rid of it because they were easy to break in to, and someone had actually broken into our car and stole the Panasonic stereo that it came with LOL. I still remember the little chime the car made when a door was open

[ryanfgrantjr]

Oh I remember of these on the roads in 1987 first new car was a 1986 Honda Accord 2 door hatchback, white it in 1989 on 18th b day, used w/ 5 even back then I saw how these tiny Excels would crush easily and I had my Accord until 1997

[heathcuster]

I had a 85 renault encore. I loved that POS.

[seand]

I can't even remember the last time I saw an Excel. They used to be everywhere in the late 1980's.

[boowiebear]

Great story of continually improving products and digging into a market. Their last 20 years have been amazing in terms of quality and sales. I have owned Hyundais, Kia's and now own a Genesis. Loved them all. Thanks!!

[bikingD]

Beyond the Pony Canada also in 85 got the Stellar so the Excel was actually the 3rd Hyundai for Canada.

[luvr]

My first brand new car was a 1991 Cavalier Z-24, love to see that featured.

[GALANTXVR]

Since you already brought up Mitsubishi in this episode. How about doing a episode about the Mitsubish Galant!

[Jorge-Tamacas]

I owned a 1987 Hyundai Excel GL 4-door sedan. A car that served me well for 10 years. I bought it in 2004 and sold it in 2014. This was the car I used in a trip to the beach when I asked my now wife to be my girlfriend. Oh, she loved that old car, she was very sad when we sold it. Cheers from El Salvador!

[JO-kuuc]

I was just talking about the Excel the other day. Way back in 1987, I turned 16. My dad saw an ad in the paper for the Excel and its bargain bottom price caught his eye. Went out the next day with my mom and they bought one. I believe it was a hatch. Anyway, I remember how impressed I was with it having a digital clock as well as noticed how noisy the engine was at any speed. A 4-cylinder Singer sewing machine on wheels. Anyway, got home and took my brother and his friends for a ride not knowing it would be short-lived. It conked out around the corner in the middle of a busy intersection, requiring us to push it to safety. My dad was furious and despite the promise of a generous rebate, stopped the check and had it towed back to the dealership. I think the cotter pin came off in the transmission. Never owned another to this day. Would love for you to do a story on the Colt. I owned two back in the early 90s. Great cars with fond memories of both!!!

[mida]

You're at 7, 790 subs now, but it won't be long until you celebrate 100K subs! Looking forward to seeing this channel reach 100K subs!

[joshpalacio]

That was my very first car. 1988 Hyundai Excel GL 4 door hatchback. With 5 speed manual transmission.