MEET THE OWNER – ROBBIE POOLE AND HIS NISSAN MICRA K10

It all started when I was 16, my dad was working at a garage and a customer of his owned a 1986 pre-facelift Champagne Gold K10 that I used to love the look of - it was a 1L Automatic model”. The impact of that first-generation Micra on Robbie Poole was such that today he is the proud owner of a 1986 example that looks as though it has emerged in our dimension via a time warp.

The fact that UK sales of the K10 began forty years ago this June is one of the many anniversaries that make some classic enthusiasts feel rather old. The original Micra was a crucial new model for Nissan when it debuted in 1982, as it had to rival the Honda City in its homeland. The K10 competed against a quartet of new small hatchbacks in the British export market – the Fiat Uno, Ford Fiesta Mk. II, Peugeot 205 and Vauxhall Nova – as well as the Austin Metro, Citroën Visa, Renault 5, and Talbot Samba.

In other words, the Micra had a vast array of strong competitors, but it entered the UK market with several advantages. For one, Nissan was one of this country’s major car importers, with 425 dealers nationwide, while the K10 was billed as Britain’s “most economical car”. Buyers had a choice of the DX at £3,750 and GL at £4,250, both powered by a 998cc OHC engine. When What Car tested the latter version, they regarded it as “a good, but not perfect, sound reliable buy”.

Motor seemed more positive, remarking, “Nissan’s re-entry into the small car market should be regarded with some concern by European manufacturers”. They further declared the Micra to be the victor of another test opposite the Metro, Uno and Daihatsu Charade. The K10 received the writers’ vote because “there’s so little wrong with it and a good deal that’s right”.

And tens of thousands of buyers agreed with this review. By the time the K11 succeeded the K10 in 1992, they could be seen across the country as driving school vehicles or suburban runabouts. Today, the early examples are much sought-after by connoisseurs such as Robbie. He recalls: “It was found on the ‘UK Barn Finds’ Facebook page whilst scrolling my feed after work. I initially laughed off the prospect of a K10 Micra ever being worth £3,000, never mind being “mint” at 37 years old. However, a day went by, and I still had the itch, so a phone call to the seller, Cosford Hall Classic Cars, was made, who reassured me they’re not in the business of overstating cars.”

Robbie, of course, had a long tradition with the K10 as that Champagne Gold example became his first car. “I paid £220 for it in 2010, and it was something different to the ‘car park hero’ group of Saxos, 106s and Golfs that almost everyone had”.

So, several Micras later, he could hardly wait to investigate the black 1986 model. “I’m lucky enough to work for a company that scheduled my work so I could park my truck up on an industrial estate nearby and have a look one evening”. The Nissan was indeed in mint condition – “the full asking price was met there and then”. Today Robbie finds: “The common reaction is an equal level of nostalgia that I had when I purchased it. People comment, “Oh, I used to have one of these”, “My dad had one of these”, “I passed my test in one of these” and things along those lines, which is great as I have my own story and a fantastic second chance to continue it”.

Today, the Micra is in its K14 fifth incarnation, building on the foundations created by cars such as Robbie’s. When seeing the Poole K10, its appeal is immediately apparent. Plus, it boasts one of the most stylish speedometers in the history of motoring.

With thanks to: Robbie Poole