To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' Monterey
event, 15 - 17 August 2019.
Estimate:
$80,000 - $100,000
- One of the first ten Tridents built of approximately 86 in
total
- Extensive documentation by the consigner and former Peel
employee
- Appeared in Top Gear magazine and website
- Subject of a commemorative stamp for the Isle of Man
- The world's smallest production "passenger" car
The Peel P50 was built in 1963 and 1964 by Peel Engineering, Ltd.,
in the town of Peel on the Isle of Man. Reputed to be the world's
smallest car, the diminutive fiberglass single-seater was and still
is a marvel of space efficiency. Although exact numbers are not
known, estimates are that some 55 were produced, with the vast
majority being sent to the UK mainland to three dealers�Kings of
Leeds; Car Distributors Ltd. in Cardiff; and Two Strokes Ltd.,
Church Road, Stanmore, Middlesex.
The little company ceased building the P50 and began production of
a two-seater passenger version called the Trident between late 1964
and very early 1966. It is estimated that 86 were built in total,
of which it is thought that only 10-15 examples remain. In late
1964, the first ten Peel Tridents, five red and five blue, were
sent to Two Strokes Ltd. Thanks to exhaustive research by the
consigner and others, including George Gelling, the retired factory
foreman of Peel Engineering, this example has been confirmed as one
of those 10 cars.
The pocket-sized vehicle, measuring just 72 inches long, is powered
by a 49-cc DKW fan-cooled engine driving the rear wheels by chain
via a three-speed gearbox. The claimed consumption of nearly 100
mpg gives credence to the marketing mantra "almost cheaper than
walking."
This Peel Trident has known ownership history dating to the
consigner's uncle, when it was just a few years old. It was
acquired from him in the late 1990s and was restored by the
consigner between 1998 and 2002. It has appeared in Top Gear
magazine as well as the Top Gear website; it has even been the
subject of a commemorative stamp issued by the Isle of Man in 2006,
as well as being featured in the book P50: Peel Engineering's
Extraordinary Legacy. It is arguably the best documented Peel
Trident in existence, and the consigner's extensive documentation
is available for review.To view this car and others currently
consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo19.
