Whose Cherry Europe is this?

[Alfamet]

Seen recently at Spring Alfa Day. Info on owner needed for photo caption in a forthcoming magazine article. Thanks in advance.

[PETROLHEAD]

Thats a fella near me Colin, Nottinghamshire, beauty isnt it!

Ill see if i cant dig up some contact angle from a historic conversation we had a few months back.

[Alfamet]

Thats a fella near me Colin, Nottinghamshire, beauty isnt it!

Ill see if i cant dig up some contact angle from a historic conversation we had a few months back.

Appreciated! It's a lovely example and for sure the owner deserves the credit.

[Alfamet]

Not Ed Rattley is it?

[PETROLHEAD]

Thats him, ed ratley.

I've just had a quick exchange with him, and he's all good.

Do you have a contact route Colin?

[Alfamet]

No I don't but would appreciate being able to have a chat with him.
The car seems familiar. I think it was previously badged as an ARNA?
Cheers Shrew.

[PETROLHEAD]

I'll pm you his email address Colin,

Yes the car has been badged either way previously, sadly i think as a result of coming across some less than positive reactions to the cherry europe designation from some alfa folk, he also specs it up as the Arna when appropriate,

So I'm told

[920]

Yes, this is my Cherry Europe. The previous owners (Dave Hood and Richard Rees) had it badged as an Arna Ti for the AROC concours and for the NEC in 2011 but I prefer to keep it as it was originally sold. I think this car always had a confused identity, because although it's registered as a Nissan, it was originally sold by Roadtune, an independent Alfa Romeo specialist. I'll wager Roadtune got it from Nissan at a knockdown price. In old pics of it I have from ten years ago, it had no Nissan badges, just an Alfa sticker on the back. I suspect the first buyer got it because it was sold at the point where the Nissan badged versions were dropped and UK sales of the Arna started. At that point Nissan would have been selling the last stocks it had for far less than a new Arna Ti.

Nissan UK were always less than enthusiastic about this model and were probably happy to drop it from their lineup, although the shift to them being sold through Alfa dealers meant Nissan were left with some very hard to sell cars. Despite being officially dropped in December 1984, the last Europe GTi wasn't sold until April 1987!

-Ed

[PETROLHEAD]

Nice one Ed,

Good to hear from you bud

[PETROLHEAD]

I think this is the aforementioned event Ed, as keenly captured by Keith

[Spacenut]

I remember it well - it was in Dave Hood's tenure at the time...



The event was NAD 2011, at Basildon Park House - which as everyone from Essex knows is near Reading

Great looking car, particularly the grey/green interior trim. I've recently become a big fan of small Japanese classic cars, and here's one with our favourite boxer engine - what's not to like

[PETROLHEAD]

Agreed!

[920]

The 5 door versions are pretty plain looking but to me the Arna Ti and Cherry Europe GTi look great. Perhaps they should have only marketed the sporty models here like they did in Spain and Austria? I don't think this car would have have half as much criticism if this design had come from Alfa Romeo themselves and not Nissan. The entire reason for the Cherry Europe existing is that Alfa considered the car to be too "down-market" for the UK. I don't think they meant the styling but rather the association with Datsun/Nissan!

I also have an interest in small Japanese cars (I have several from the 60s, 70s and 80s). When I get it fettled and on the road, it'll be interesting to compare the Cherry Europe with this, its nearest Japanese built counterpart. I know one thing for certain... it will have much poorer handling than its Alfa brethren! I drove one once years ago and it was fast but quite a handful!

[Sud 145]

That's a rare beast.

[KevJTD]

I was there too with VJM

[Kegsti66]

Here you go Kev.

[Spacenut]

I was there too with VJM

Yes you were - didn't you win a prize in the concours event? Or was the prize just being able to enter?

I always remember that show as having a stellar turnout of Alfasuds and 33s, outnumbering the Giulias and Spiders...

[920]

Wow, that's a fantastic lineup there. I don't think I've ever seen that many in one place!

[PETROLHEAD]

Thats the power of kev that is!

[920]

If all goes to plan there might be 3 Arna/Europes at NAD. Three!

[PETROLHEAD]

I won't believe it till i see it Ed!

But jeepers i do hope so!



Is it any involvement from Peter, Alfasudparts?

[920]

I won't believe it till i see it Ed!

Bu jeepers i do hope so!

Is it any involvement from Peter, Alfasudparts?

No, I've only ever spoken to him once and that was a few years ago. I've no idea if he has a roadworthy one.

[PETROLHEAD]

So would all 3 be yours then Ed, finished and done?

[920]

So would all 3 be yours then Ed, finished and done?

No, I'll get my Europe GTi and hopefully the 5 door 1.2 SL there. The 5 door needs some welding and a bit of fettling as it's been layed up for so long butit does at least work. I doubt it'll be pretty though! The other car attending should be the only remaining Europe 1.2 SL with a bit of luck. They are probably the only three cars that are roadworthy anyway.

It'll be a while before I tackle restoring my Arna Ti as it's in awful shape and will be a major ground-up resto. It'd be a good time to buy shares in MIG wire just before I start it too. I've got a few in the queue to do before that one though!

[Kegsti66]

Wow, that's a fantastic lineup there. I don't think I've ever seen that many in one place!

viewtopic.php?f=36&t=713


This got a good turn out.

[KevJTD]

I was there too with VJM

Yes you were - didn't you win a prize in the concours event? Or was the prize just being able to enter?

I always remember that show as having a stellar turnout of Alfasuds and 33s, outnumbering the Giulias and Spiders...

Yes, won a couple of trophies that day, hence why I missed out on seeing so many folks & cars.
Won the class for Suds in the Concourse, bit of a hollow victory though...only car entered in that class!
Most pleased though with winning the Robert Gharibi trophy which is awarded to the best car that has been restored by the owner, no cheque book restorations are allowed to enter. Was a very close call between me and the 105 that was parked next to me, think the amount of rust that had to be chopped from VJM swung it in my favour

One day I may enter it again....