Peel P50
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Manufacturer | Peel Engineering Company |
|---|---|
| Production | 1963-64 (50 produced)[1] |
| Assembly | Isle of Man |
| Class | Microcar |
| Body style(s) | One-door coupe |
| Layout | side engine, rear wheel drive[2] |
| Engine(s) | DKW 49 cc, 4.2 hp, fan-cooled (61 km/h (38 mph) top speed) |
| Transmission(s) | 3-speed manual, no reverse[1] |
| Wheelbase | 1,270 mm (50.0 in) |
| Length | 134 cm (52.8 in) |
| Width | 99 cm (39.0 in) |
| Height | 120 cm (47.2 in) |
| Curb weight | 59 kg (130 lb) |
| Related | Peel Trident |
| Designer | Cyril Cannell |
The Peel P50 is a three-wheeled microcar manufactured in 1962 and 1965 by the Manx Peel Engineering Company. It retailed for £199 when new, and currently holds the record for the smallest-ever automobile to go into production.[1]
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.
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[edit] Statistics
At 54 in (1,372 mm) long and 41 in (1,041 mm) wide[3] and with an unladen weight of 59 kilograms (130 lb), the P50 holds the record as the smallest ever to go into production.[citation needed]
The P50 used a 49 cc (3.0 cu in) DKW engine which gave it a top speed of approximately 61 kilometres per hour (38 mph), 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 and users claim fuel consumption of 100 mpg-imp (2.8 L/100 km; 83 mpg-US).[1]
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.
[edit] Availability
Approximately 50 Peel P50s were sold at £199 each.[1] About twenty of the original survive, with selling prices said to be "up to £25,000". 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" by one owner in 2007 (over £35,000 at the 2009 exchange rate).[4]
Replicas are available built to order in Nottingham, UK for around £10,000.[citation needed]
[edit] Legal status
The Peel P50 was and is road-legal in the UK, being in the "three-wheeler" category, less than 8 long cwt (900 lb; 410 kg). Cars were exported to other countries,[5] sometimes being classified as a moped, e.g. the P50 that went to Finland.[6]
[edit] Appearances in the media
On 28 October 2007, the P50 was featured in a segment of the BBC motoring programme 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 possible, 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. He then drove the P50 through the corridors of the office building to a meeting, which he attended inside the P50. 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".[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "BBC Isle of Man - History - The small car with the big reputation". Douglas, Isle of Man: BBC Isle of Man. 20 March 2008. http://www.bbc.co.uk/isleofman/content/articles/2007/11/01/peel_p50_feature.shtml. Retrieved on 2009-05-23.
- ^ "The World's Smallest Production Car - The Peel P50". Vince's Worthwhile Website. http://www.vincelewis.net/smallcar.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-23.
- ^ a b Top Gear. "Tiny A-Peel". Series 10 Episode 3. London: BBC Worldwide. http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/tiny-apeel. Retrieved on 2009-05-23.
- ^ Andy Carter. "Peel Microcars - Replicas". Peel Microcars. Andy Carter. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andy.carter/replicas.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-23.
- ^ "PEEL P50". Register of Unusual Microcars. http://www.rumcars.org/c-p50.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-23.
- ^ "Maailman pienin auto - Pirteä Peel P50" (in Finnish). http://plaza.fi/moottori/kulkupeli-x/maailman-pienin-auto-pirtea-peel-p50. Retrieved on 2009-04-11.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Peel P50 |
- YouTube video Road-tests, many details and original footage. High quality production, 5.5 minutes.
- Peel Microcars Peel microcars history and pictures.
- Peel Cars photographs of 20+ Peel Cars at a rally in their hometown of Peel, Isle of Man.
- Peel P50 Factory Movie
- Peel A little about the car and company.
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Wikinews has related news: World's smallest car enters Ripley's Believe it or Not museum |
