A somewhat sad Nissan Sunny EX Saloon, seen on south Beijing. The not so sunny Sunny seemed abandoned. It also had one of the oldest black license plates I have ever seen.
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The 7th generation B13 Nissan Sunny was manufactured from 1990 until 1993. EX Saloon was a trim level, used in various Asian and North American markets. The Sunny was available with various engines, the most common one was a 1.6 liter petrol unit, good for 105 hp.
The wheels are likely period after market, I haven’t been able to find any other picture with a Sunny EX Saloon on the same wheels. The look cool, with propeller-like spokes and a shiny rim.
This particular car was likely originally exported to North America. See this ‘Excellence in Quality OK’ sticker and the license plate are further below.
The interior was in a decent shape. The steering wheel is truly gigantic, almost truck-like in size. The radio is after market. Four-speed automatic gearbox in this car. A five-speed manual was available as well.
The original 1990’s mud flaps!
Chinese license plate is too wide for plate area, indicating an North American car.
Black license plates were issued to foreign owned companies from the 1980’s to the early 00’s. These companies could buy a car locally, and they were also allowed to import their own cars.
In the old days black-plated cars had some privileges comparable to diplomatic cars; no police officer would dare to stop them and they could basically park wherever they wanted without fear of a fine.
Nowadays, a black-plated car is counted just like all the others. The government does not issue new black plates anymore but those who have one can keep it until eternity.
The plate on this Nissan Sunny is one of the oldest I have ever seen. Black license plates were numbered in the easiest way. The first black-license car in Beijing would get 京A·00000, the second one 京A·00001, the third one 京A·0000, and on up. So this Nissan is the 428th black license car in Beijing!
Badge is almost gone; EX Saloon.
A great old Nissan Sunny in Beijing, with an even better license plate.
Have you seen a similar Nissan in China? Show us! You can now upload images in the comments.
It’s not a North American. The car does not have the orange and red reflectors on the bumpers, and the Sunny was sold there as a Sentra.