Nissan Cherry 2-door Deluxe
The Cherry was Nissan's first front-wheel-drive production car, fitting a useful cabin into a body only 3.61 metres long.
1972 Datsun 100A Cherry · Ultragamer2009 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Nissan launched the E10 Cherry in October 1970 and built a new Cherry dealer channel around it. This page follows the regular 988 cc two-door Deluxe, not the twin-carburettor 1.2-litre X-1 or the coupé added later.
Look a little closer.
Nissan described its rounded outline as a ‘capsule shape’ and gave the side windows a distinctive J-shaped line.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Nissan turns its powertrain around
Earlier Nissan passenger cars had normally driven the rear wheels. The Cherry moved the engine and driven wheels together at the front, an arrangement that was spreading through small cars because it packaged a roomy cabin into less road space.
Source: Nissan Heritage Collection · Cherry 2-door Deluxe ↗Independent suspension at every corner
Struts guided the front wheels and trailing arms guided the rear wheels. The layout helped the 630 kg Cherry ride and steer like a modern small car while front discs handled most braking and rear drums completed the system.
Source: Nissan Heritage Collection · Cherry family ↗Where these facts come from
- Nissan Heritage Collection · Cherry 2-door Deluxe
- Nissan company heritage · 1970
- Nissan Heritage Gallery · Cherry production ceremony
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.