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Peel P50...
Peel P50 '62
To be sold in the Hagerty Collection (Legend Cars).
"This quirky microcar was famed for being the smallest production car ever made and was also a distinctly British pop culture icon."
As vehicle shapes and designs have begun to diversify following the end of the pre-war era, in the 1960s, most cars were taking a more neoclassical approach after the jet age of the 1950s.
But this unique vehicle from the Isle of Man, originating from the Peel Engineering Company, was an idea no one ever thought was possible, and the end result is the P50, an incredibly small three-wheeled machine designed to make mobility a little bit more "portable", as demonstrated by its theoretical ability to drive through doorways and buildings whilst indoors, although in terms of space, it was good enough for "one adult and a shopping bag".
The Peel P50 is powered by a tiny 49cc single-cylinder DKW engine producing four horsepower and six pound-feet of torque, linked to a three-speed manual and can reach a top speed of 37mph (60km/h).
However, its reputation of being the smallest verified production car could come with safety issues, especially on the highway, and was also notable for lacking a reverse gear, although a handle at the rear of the car could be used to maneuver the car physically if necessary.
Only 50 of these cars were ever produced, and it's said that only 27 examples still exist today, making the P50 rare as it was rather quirky. It was also famously featured in Top Gear where Jeremy Clarkson showcased the car's portability prowess by driving through the BBC production campus with it, and set out to create a similarly inspired one-off vehicle.
The Peel P50 will need a different workaround with the physics as it is a three-wheeler and has no reverse gear.Be careful, PD might read this thread 😉
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