Peel P50 – Smaller than Small

If you too have often heard that small is cute, then this one is SUPER cute. It is actually the cutest of all, as it is officially the smallest road-legal ever produced (cf. the Guiness Book of World Records). Although I admit it does have a peculiar look…

Now, where does that thing come from?... the Isle of Man.

Never heard of? Not surprising. It is a rough island sandwiched between UK and Northern Ireland. There may be merely 80-90 thousand inhabitants, but it has still been the birth place of that record bearer: the Peel P50 – the tiniest car ever produced.

It was manufactured between 1962 and 1965 to only 50 units, of which only half remain worldwide. So although it was originally sold for less than a motorcycle, its price now competes with a Porsche! You probably think twice to ride the road at this price… at 40kph.

Here its technical specifications (I confess, I just copied from BBC…)

Manufacturer - Peel Engineering Company

Class - Microcar

Body style(s) - One-door coupe

Engine(s) - DKW 49cc, 4.2 hp

Transmission(s) - 3-speed automatic

Wheelbase - 5 in (127 mm)

Length 134 - cm (52.8 in)

Width - 99 cm (39 in)

Height - 4 ft (1.2 m)

Curb weight - 59 kg (130 lb)

Related - Peel Trident, Peel Viking Sport

Designer Cyril Cannell

But its most distinctive feature is probably the small handle at the back of the car to… go backward! Indeed, the Peel P50 had no reverse gear. So the lucky owner would have to step out of the car, lift the car and simply move it where needed. I did not know that thinking out of the box could also mean stepping out of it.

If you want to know more, you definitively have to look at this episode of Top Gear BBC. Jeremy Clarkson – who is just below 2m tall – will give you a good idea of the potential of this car. Absolutely epic!

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