Nissan’s first Cherry arrived in 1970, when the company’s UK-sold products were still badged as Datsuns.

A small front-wheel drive car like its successors, the original Cherry was the company’s first model to achieve volume sales in the UK, establishing its reputation for quality and reliability.

The Cherry was periodically revised and restyled throughout the 1970s and into the ’80s, arriving at its final form in the autumn of 1982.

Available as a three- or five-door hatchback, the new Cherry could be had with any one of four different overhead-cam engines, the largest 1,488cc unit being a new introduction.

Topping the range was the 1.5-litre Turbo, which produced an exciting 114bhp.

A relatively rare model, just 1,630 Cherry Turbos were imported into the UK, of which a little over 500 are still registered with the DVLA.

Like other low-volume rarities they enjoy something of a cult following today, catered for by the Nissan Turbo Owners’ Club, and are becoming increasingly collec...