Vehicle Description
The Peel P50 is a three-wheeled microcar originally manufactured
from 1962 to 1965 by the Peel Engineering Company on the Isle of
Man. It was listed in the 2010 Guinness World Records as the
smallest production car ever made. It had no reverse gear, but a
handle at the rear allows the very lightweight car to be physically
manoeuvred when required. The P50 used a 49 cc DKW engine, which
gave it a top speed of approximately 37 mph and was equipped with a
three-speed manual transmission that had no reverse gear.
Consequently, turning in a confined area could be achieved only by
pushing, or lifting the car using the handle on the rear and
physically pulling it round. Designed as a city car, it was
advertised in the 1960s as capable of seating "one adult and a
shopping bag". The vehicle's only door was on its left side and
equipment included a single windscreen wiper and one headlight.
Standard colours were Daytona White, Dragon Red, and Dark Blue. The
1963 model retailed for �199 when new (about �1,400 in 2010, or
US$2,200). The company produced 50 P50s and only 27 are known to
still exist, one of which was sold for a record US$176,000 at a
Sotheby's auction in March 2016. This model offered in red, may
well hold the record for endurance having completed a 240 mile
round trip to a microcar meeting in one day and having to navigate
through London in the process. A great car for the collector and
iconic in its innovative design. For sale by auction on Saturday 23
September 2017 with Historics at Brooklands, Brooklands Motor
Racing Circuit, Weybridge, Surrey, Call 01753 639170
