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'{{Infobox Automobile | image = [[Image:1965 Peel P50, The World's Smallest Car (Lane Motor Museum).jpg|250px]] | caption = The Peel P50 | name = Peel P50 | manufacturer = [[Peel Engineering Company]] |assembly=[[Isle of Man]] | production = 1963-64<br>50 produced<ref name=bbc>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/isleofman/content/articles/2007/11/01/peel_p50_feature.shtml The small car with the big reputation]</ref> | class = [[Microcar]] | body_style = One-door [[coupe]] | layout = side engine, rear wheel drive <ref name="Lane Motor Museum">[http://www.vincelewis.net/smallcar.html World's Smallest Car]</ref> | engine = DKW 49 cc, 4.2 [[horsepower|hp]], fan-cooled ({{convert|61|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}} top speed) | transmission = 3-speed manual, no reverse<ref name=bbc/> | length = {{convert|134|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|99|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} | height = {{convert|120|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|59|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} | wheelbase = {{convert|1270|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} | successor = | designer = [[Cyril Cannell]] | related = [[Peel Trident]] }} The '''Peel P50''' is a three-wheeled [[microcar]] manufactured in 1962 and 1965 by the [[Isle of Man|Manx]] [[Peel Engineering Company]]. It retailed for [[pound sterling|£]]199 when new, and currently holds the record for the smallest-ever automobile to go into production.<ref name=bbc/> Designed as a [[city car]], it was advertised as capable of seating "one adult and a shopping bag." The vehicle's only door was on its left side, and equipment included a single windscreen wiper and only one headlight. Standard colours were Daytona White, Dragon Red and Dark Blue. ==Statistics== [[Image:Peel P50 at Beaulieu.jpg|thumb|left|Peel P50]] At just {{convert|134|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|99|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} wide, with a [[weight]] of only {{convert|59|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}, the car holds the record as the smallest automobile ever to go into production. The P50 used a {{convert|49|cc|CID|1|abbr=on}} [[DKW]] engine which gave it a top speed of approximately {{convert|61|km/h}}, and was equipped with a three-speed manual transmission that had no reverse gear. Consequently, turning in a confined area could only be achieved by pushing, or lifting the car using the handle on the rear and physically pulling it round. The makers claimed it was capable of an impressive {{convert|100|mpgimp|abbr=on}}.<ref name=bbc/> At least one prototype, the ''Peel P55 Saloon Scooter'', has also survived. Unlike the production Peel P50 (along with all developments and replicas thereof), this prototype used the less stable layout of a single wheel at the front and two at the back. ==Availability== Approximately 50 Peel P50s were sold at £199 each.<ref name=bbc/> About twenty of the original survive, with selling prices said to be "up to £25,000" by one owner of five Peels, adding "only a handful are road-worthy in the UK". A running example of the later and bigger-bodied Peel Trident was said to be "not for sale at €40,000"[http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=07ub5rBdrE4] by one owner in 2007, this is over £35,000 at the 2009 exchange rate. A number of replicas have been built (in several different moulds around the world) and it is still possible to buy a body-shell for self-build or have one made to order.<ref>[http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andy.carter/replicas.html Peel P50 replica]</ref> ==Legal status== The Peel P50 was and is road-legal in the UK, being in the "[[Three wheeled car|three-wheeler]]" category, less than 8 cwt (406Kg). Cars were exported to other countries<ref>[http://www.rumcars.org/c-p50.html Peel P50 at Rumcars]</ref> sometimes being classified as a motorcycle, eg the P50 that went to Finland.<ref name="plaza.fi/moottori">{{Cite web|url=http://plaza.fi/moottori/kulkupeli-x/maailman-pienin-auto-pirtea-peel-p50|title=Maailman pienin auto - Pirteä Peel P50|accessdate=2009-04-11|work=plaza.fi/moottori}} {{Fi icon}}</ref> == ''Top Gear'' feature == On 28 October 2007, the P50 was featured in a segment of the [[BBC]] motoring programme ''[[Top Gear (current format)|Top Gear]]'' on [[BBC Two]], during which the presenter, [[Jeremy Clarkson]], entered the car and drove through central [[London]] to work. Clarkson, who is 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) tall, demonstrated that it was possibile, although difficult, for tall people to get into the P50. Upon arriving at the BBC, he drove past the car parks, between bollards, to the front of the building, after which he pulled the P50 behind him to his office. The ''Top Gear'' staff were amused by the presence of the P50 in their office. The P50 was then driven through the corridors of the BBC, first by Radio 4 presenter [[John Humphrys]], apparently without Clarkson's knowledge, and then by Clarkson, who claimed to be late for a meeting. He drove it into a lift, after which news reader [[Fiona Bruce]] had to push him backwards out of the lift, as the car has no reverse gear. Clarkson arrived at the meeting, about [[environmentalism]], and remained in the P50 during the meeting. At the end of the meeting Clarkson drove out of the building and stated that, if the car had a reverse gear, it would be the "ultimate in personal mobility". As he was saying this, another presenter, [[Dermot Murnaghan]], approached the car. Murnaghan then picked up the back of the very light car, using the same handle Clarkson had earlier used to pull the car to his office, and spun it around, leaving Clarkson facing the traffic behind him with no reverse gear.<ref>[http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/tiny-apeel Top Gear: Tiny A-Peel]</ref> ==See also== *[[Peel Trident]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=07ub5rBdrE4 YouTube video] of Andy Carter (owns 5 Peels) and Grant Kerney owner of an original Trident. Road-tests, many details and original footage. High quality production, 5.5 minutes. *[http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andy.carter/ Peel Microcars] Peel microcars history and pictures. *[http://www.peel-cars-p50.co.uk/ Peel Cars] photographs of 20+ Peel Cars at a rally in their hometown of Peel, Isle of Man. *[http://www.microcarmuseum.com/video/p50.html Peel P50 Factory Movie] *[http://home.clara.net/peterfrost/peel.html Peel] A little about the car and company. [[Category:Microcars]] [[Category:Three-wheeled motor vehicles]] [[Category:Peel Engineering Company]] [[Category:Vehicles introduced in 1962]] [[es:Peel P50]] [[nl:Peel P50]] [[pl:Peel P50]] [[sv:Peel P50]]'