Tiny car... The 1964 Peel P50 4.5hp

The Peel P50 was a three-wheeled microcar manufactured in 1962 by the Manx Peel Engineering Company. It was designed as a town car and was advertised as capable of seating "one adult and a shopping bag". The car currently holds the record for the smallest-ever automobile to go into mass production, at just 134 cm (53 in) long and 99 cm (39 in) wide, with a weight of only 59 kg (132 lb). The vehicle's only door was on its left side, and equipment included a single windscreen wiper, and only one headlight...

The P50 used a 49 cc DKW engine which gave it a top speed of approximately 61 km/h (38 mph), and was equipped with a three-speed manual transmission that had no reverse gear. Consequently, reverse motion could only be achieved by pushing, or lifting the car using the handle on the rear and physically pulling it round. Despite its diminutive stature, the Peel P50 is street legal in the UK.

The prototype for this model was referred to as the Peel P55 Saloon Scooter.

On October 28, 2007 the car was featured in a humourous segment on the popular BBC motoring programme Top Gear on BBC Two, during which the 6ft 5in (196cm) tall presenter Jeremy Clarkson was seen shoehorning himself into the car and driving through central London to work and through hallways of the BBC's offices. Clarkson revealed that the tiny P50 is subject to the London congestion charge, while some much larger hybrid vehicles are not.


Manufacturer Peel Engineering Company
Class Microcar
Body style(s) One-door coupe
Engine(s) DKW 49cc, 4.2 hp
Transmission(s) 3-speed manual
Wheelbase 50 in (1270 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

sursa: wikipedia