The 3rd generation of Nissan’s compact front wheel drive car, was introduced in Japan in late 1978 as Nissan Pulsar. In 1979 this model arrived in Europe as Datsun Cherry. Partly because the small Datsun was now available as a hatchback, it was very popular.

The top of the range was was the Cherry GL with, among other things, a tachometer, variable intermittend wipers, a rear wiper, split folding rear seats, headlight washers  and a remote release on the hatch and fuel flap.

Based on this GL version, the Dutch importer released a limited edition, the X-type. That added a few things to the already lavish equipment: Rear side windows that can be operated from the center console, a stereo cassette player, aluminum wheels, an X-type badge on the center pillar and luxurious velor upholstery with a colored stripe, which is normally only available for the Japanese and American models.

In 1980 Mrs. Slot-van der List, when she was visiting her daughter, saw a car in the street which she fancied very much.  And so a Datsun Cherry 1.2 GL X-type was purchased from Leendert van den Born in Breda. For 20 years she took good care of the Cherry. When health issues forced her to stop driving, she gave the car to her daughter; Mrs Sol-Slot.

She in her turn enjoyed driving  around in the Cherry for another 18 years,  clocking up 42.000 kilometers between them.  But alas, getting in and out of the low Cherry became problematic for her. In the end, the silver Datsun was allowed to leave the family, in the knowledge that it found a caring home in our collection.