1964 Peel P50

Coupe
Chassis number: D535

The Peel P50 was produced by the Peel Engineering Company, located on the Isle of Man, situated between England and Ireland, from 1962 to 1965. It was listed in the 2010 Guinness Book of Records as the smallest production car ever made. It was designed as a city car and advertised as capable of seating 'one adult and a shopping bag'. It had one door, located on the left side, a single windscreen wiper, one headlight, and no reverse gear. To move the vehicle backward, a handle located at the rear allowed the lightweight vehicle to be physically maneuvered when required. The standard colours were Daytona White, Dragon Red, and Dark Blue. Just 47 original examples were produced, and only 27 of them are known to still exist.

The P50 was built using the minimum possible dimensions needed for a functional car. It was first shown at the 1962 Cycle and Motorcycle Show at Earls Court where it was nothing more than a fiberglass box. The publicity it earned allowed Peel to develop an actual product. The production examples were given a molded fiberglass cabin enclosing a single seat for one. In the front were two tiny wheels and a third wheel was located in the back. The back wheel was responsible for the propulsion. It was capable of achieving 100 miles to the gallon.

This particular example was once part of the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum in Madison, Georgia. While in his care, it was given a restoration. It is finished in red paint, has chrome pieces, and natural white rubber bumper strips at all four corners. The engine is a 49cc two-stroke single-cylinder Zweirad-Union engine fitted with a three-speed manual transmission. There are cable-operated three-wheel drum brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe

The Peel P-50 holds the distinction of being the world's smallest production car by the Guinness Book of World Records. It was built on the Isle of Man, a small island that had small roads. Production began in 1963 and lasted for a year, with 55 examples built. They had a 1.2-gallon fuel tank, a 50cc, air-cooled 2-stroke engine, and a top speed of 30 mph. With a sticker price slightly above a scooter, it came with very few creature comforts.

The engine was from a scooter which meant there was no need for reverse. Instead, a handle was located in the back of the car and was called a reversing handle. Instead of a kickstart to start the engine, the lever on the floor on the right side of the seat has to be pulled up to start the car.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: D536

The Peel P50 has been certified as the smallest production automobile in the world by Guinness World Records. They were built by peel Engineering - founded by Cyril Cannell in the late 1940s, and had a top speed of nearly 40 mph. Power was from a 49cc 4.5-horsepower single-cylinder two-stroke Zweirad Union engine mated to a three-speed gearbox. The Peel P50 had no reverse gear; a handle on the rear allowed the driver to pick up the car and maneuver it as required.

The Peel P50 had an original retail price of £199 and reported fuel mileage approaching 100 mpg. They made their debut at the 1962 Earls Court Motorcycle Show in London and an estimated 47 of these three-wheeled vehicles were built between 1962 and 1965. Currently, fewer than 30 are known to exist.

This particular example is a four-owner vehicle that was sold new in the United Kingdom. The current caretaker acquired it in March 2014. It left the factory finished in Sunshine Yellow but has been restored and finished in period-correct Daytona White.

The P50 was originally available in just four colors: Dragon Red, Daytona White, Capri Blue, and Sunshine Yellow.

by Dan Vaughan

Peel is a city located on the Isle of Man located between England and Ireland where the famous motorcycle TT course is run every year. The main business of Peel Engineering Company (PEC), was making fiberglass molds for motorcycle fairings and boat hulls. The company entered the car market in 1955 with the P50. Peel's best-known car, the P50, is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the smallest road-legal car ever produced. It is also the only car ever manufactured on the Isle of Man.

The engine is a 49cc 2-stroke Zweirad Union DKW single Moped cylinder unit that provides adequate power (4.2 horsepower) to the 250-pound P50. The top speed was in the neighborhood of 38 to 40 mph. The fuel consumption was claimed to be around 100 miles per gallon.

The P50 is a very small vehicle, measuring just 4 feet 5 inches long, 3 feet 3 inches wide, and four feet tall. The three-wheeled vehicle used 5-inch wide Avon Kart wheels and tyres. There is a single headlight and the body is basically just a one-piece fiberglass shell. The chassis was constructed from welded tubular steel. Inside, there is seating for just one individual. The company offered three standard colors of Dragon Red, Daytona White, and Capri Blue.

The P50 had no starter motor on the ignition; instead, a cranking lever was provided. There was no speedometer or other traditional instrumentation as the designers believed the car would never exceed any road speed limit, thus it was deemed unnecessary. There were, however, normal pedals to brake, accelerate and change gears.

When the need arose for going in reverse, there is a 'reversing handle' attached to the rear body. This allows the operator to simply pick up the rear of the car and move it as needed.

In total, there were around 50 examples produced between 1962 and 1966. Though extremely creative, the P50 was cramped, noisy, uncomfortable, and unstable. Its acceleration was not very fast and it did not provide adequate protection to the driver in the case of an accident.

Despite their shortcomings, they were economical and easy to repair and maintain. Finding a parking space would never pose a challenge, as the P50 could literally be picked up and placed into the smallest of spaces.

The Peel Company produced a second model called the Peel Trident. This was a more successful endeavor, with around 100 examples produced. This was a two-seater car that had a bubble canopy allowing ease of access.

by Dan Vaughan