Nissan · 1970–1986

Nissan Cherry

The Datsun Cherry (チェリー), known later as the Nissan Cherry, is a series of subcompact cars which formed Nissan's first front-wheel drive supermini model line. The Nissan Cherry featured the front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. The Cherry line includes the E10 and F10. Nissan's direct successor was the Nissan Pulsar worldwide, which continued to use the Cherry name in certain markets. In Japan, the Cherry was exclusive to Nissan Cherry store locations. On the UK market, it debuted just before the company's surge in sales, which saw it sell just over 6,000 cars in 1971 and more than 30,000 the following year. Although its successor was launched in 1974, such was the original model's popularity on the UK market that it was not replaced there until 1976.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Successor: Nissan Pulsar

All Nissan Cherry data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Background

Originally, before combining with Nissan Motors, the Prince Motor Company plan of development was to mass-produce a front-engine, front-wheel drive car. Subsequent to the Prince and Nissan merger of 1966, the Cherry was released in 1970 as Nissan's first front-wheel drive car instead. In Asian markets there was also a "Cherry Cab" cabover truck model (C20), which was closely related to the Nissan Sunny — it was also marketed as the "Sunny Cab".

First generation (E10; 1970)

The E10 generation featured four-wheel independent suspension. The E10 was fitted with two varieties of inline four-cylinder Nissan A-series OHV engines: 1.0 L (988 cc) A10 1.2 L (1,171 cc) A12 Although the car used a Nissan engine, the powertrain dated back to Prince's original concept – which was in essence inspired by the "transmission-in-sump" layout pioneered by the British Motor Corporation in the Mini, but with the key difference that the transmission was housed separately and therefore did not share lubricating oil with the engine. However, the similar use of transfer gears gave the E10 a very distinctive transmission whine which was characteristic of this mechanical configuration. The sporting Japanese domestic market Cherry X-1 model featured twin-carburetted A12T engine with dual-sidedraft Hitachi carburettors. In Europe, the A10-engined E10 Cherry was called Datsun 100A (the Datsun brand being used in place of Nissan in the European market at that time) or Datsun 120A (A12, but this engine was only available with the coupé body style or as a semi-automatic version of the ordinary car available in 1978). The names "Cherry" and "Datsun 1000" were also used in advertising, however the Datsun 1000 name was associated with the early Nissan Sunny and Nissan Bluebird. The Cherry was introduced in Japan at a specially established dealership sales channel called Nissan Cherry Shop, whereas the Sunny was sold at Nissan Satio Shop, and the Bluebird was sold at the Nissan Bluebird Shop. As the Cherry F-II successor flagged in the market, the somewhat smaller E10 Cherry continued to be sold up until 1977 in many places. With the launch of the Cherry in 1971, Datsun's prominence in the UK market grew. In the early 1970s, as the British auto-industry faltered, Datsun led

Second generation (F10; 1974)

The second-generation Cherry was known as F-II in Japan and "Datsun F10" in North America. It was Nissan's first front-wheel-drive model to be sold in North America. Four-wheel independent suspension continued to be used. Sales of the F-II were generally disappointing, and the "Cherry" nameplate was retired in Japan after this generation. The F10 Cherry was fitted with three types of inline four-cylinder Nissan A-series OHV engines, the A10, A12, and A14, displacing 1.0, 1.2, and 1.4 litres respectively: A two-pedal type semi-automatic transmission was offered called the "Sportmatic", which used a torque converter obviating the need for a clutch. In Europe, the Cherry F10 was officially known as the Datsun 100A F-II (with A10 engine) or 120A F-II (with A12 engine), but period marketing material also included the "Cherry" nameplate. The A12 powered 120A F-II was the most common model, with the coupé only being available with the larger engine in the UK. National importers had significant leeway in this period and names often varied between markets; in Switzerland, for example, the FII station wagon was marketed as the "Hobby". In New Zealand the 100A four-door sedan (1.0-litre A10 motor) was assembled from CKD kits as a price leader for the Datsun range – due to the choice of engine, it was the smallest engined car assembled in New Zealand at the time, the engine (988 cc) being smaller than the Mini's 998 cc unit. Production continued well after the N10 model replaced it overseas, eventually being discontinued in late 1980, with the N10 5-door hatchback replacing it in 1981. In the US, only the coupé and wagon were offered, and only with the 1.4-litre engine. In Canada, the two-door sedan was also available. It was not launched in the UK market until 1976, due to the p

Third generation (N10; 1978)

The N10 model Pulsar was introduced to Japan in May 1978, with European sales beginning in March 1979. While known as the Nissan Pulsar in Japan, it was called Cherry in Europe and many other export markets. The body styling was more boxy, and influenced by designs coming out of Europe at that time. It came at a time when small hatchbacks were enjoying rising sales across Europe, with the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Renault 5 and Fiat 127 being particularly popular, along with the General Motors product which was known in Britain as the Vauxhall Chevette and on the continent as the Opel Kadett City. It continued to sell well in Britain, and the most popular foreign car there in 1981. In the American market it was sold as the Datsun 310, slightly upscale from the old-fashioned rear wheel drive Datsun 210. Engine choices were carried over from the previous model, consisting of Nissan's A-Series motor in 1.0 L, 1.2 L and 1.4 L forms. At some point, the A12 was replaced by the marginally larger A12A in export markets as well. Production of the N10 series ceased in mid-1982, to be replaced by larger N12 Cherry/Pulsar, which was sold in Europe from September 1982.

Fourth generation (N12; 1982)

The Cherry name was still used in Europe on the model N12, an angular, three- or five-door hatchback design which was introduced in September 1982. The new model was somewhat larger than earlier versions of the Cherry, with the new Micra taking its place in the supermini sector on its European launch in June 1983, leaving the Cherry to compete in Europe against the new-popular hatchback designs like the Ford Escort and Volkswagen Golf, while the Sunny gave buyers a traditional saloon and estate option. Wheelbase and track all increased by about 20 mm (0.8 in). While being somewhat larger, Nissan lowered the weight of the car by the new E-series engines being lighter than the ones used in the previous model, and through the extensive use of high-strength low-alloy steel (HSLA) as well. Further improving fuel economy were much improved aerodynamics, although at drag coefficient of Cd=0.38 they were no more than average for the segment. Occupant comfort was also improved through better seats and a redesigned suspension. Sound levels dropped as a result of the improved aerodynamics, advancements in door seal technology, and the use of a sandwiched firewall. An interesting feature was that the three-door's rear windows could be opened with two levers on the center console; these controlled the child safe rear locks on five-door versions. A special model mainly sold in Europe was the one-litre E10-engined version. This was sold where tax regulations suited smaller engines, and was usually only offered with the lowest (DX) trim and a four-speed manual transmission. The little 1-litre engine had a higher fuel consumption figures than either the 1.3 or the 1.5, as it had to work a lot harder to keep up with traffic. A diesel model arrived in export markets in early 1983. In 1985

Replacement by Nissan Sunny

In most export markets, the Nissan Sunny name replaced the Cherry starting with the N13 Pulsar model. In certain markets such as Greece, however, the N13 Pulsar retained the "Cherry" nameplate. In Japan and some Asian markets, the Pulsar name was used until the N15 model. == References ==

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Nissan Cherry
Manufacturer: Nissan
aka: Datsun Cherry
Production: 1970–1986
Assembly: Japan: Oppama Plant, Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Greece: Volos (TEOKAR), Ireland: Dublin
Class: Supermini/Subcompact car
Layout: Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Successor: Nissan AD/Wingroad (station wagon), Nissan Pulsar (Europe), Nissan March/Micra (Japan)