Peel P50
| Peel P50 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Peel Engineering Company (Isle of Man) |
| Production | 1962-66 100 produced[1] |
| Designer | Cyril Cannell |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Microcar |
| Body style | One-door coupe |
| Layout | Rear engine, rear wheel drive [2] |
| Related | Peel Trident, Peel Viking Sport |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | DKW 49 cc, 4.5 hp, fan-cooled (Template:Auto mph top speed) |
| Transmission | 3-speed manual, no reverse[1] |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | Template:Auto in |
| Length | 134 cm (52.8 in) |
| Width | 99 cm (39.0 in) |
| Height | 4 ft (1.2 m) |
| Curb weight | Template:Auto kg |
The Peel P50 was a three-wheeled microcar manufactured in 1962 by the Manx Peel Engineering Company, retailing for £199 when new.[1] 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. Standard colours were Daytona White, Dragon Red, and Capri Blue. The prototype for this model was referred to as the Peel P55 Saloon Scooter having one front wheel and 2 rear wheels - the opposite way round from the production Peel p50.
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, although was capable of an impressive 100 mpg‑imp (2.8 L/100 km; 83 mpg‑US).[1] 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. Despite its diminutive stature, the Peel P50 is street-legal in the UK. Some of the cars have been exported to other countries outside the UK[3], although it isn't known whether the cars are street legal in these countries.
The original production run of about 50 cars were sold at retail for just under 200 Pounds[1]. As only about twenty Peel P50s survive, originals now command prices in the region of £20,000 to £35,000. However, reproductions produced by Andy Carter, Nottingham UK sell for about £10,000.[4]
Top Gear feature
On October 28, 2007, the car was featured in a humorous segment on the popular BBC motoring programme Top Gear on BBC Two, during which the 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) 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. During the segment, Clarkson incorrectly stated that the tiny P50 is subject to the London congestion charge, unlike the much larger Lexus RX vehicle used as a camera platform, which qualifies for exemption from the charge on the grounds of its petrol-electric hybrid powerplant.[5] In fact the P50 also qualifies for exemption, under a provision allowing three-wheeled vehicles of less than 100 cm (39.4 in) width and 200 cm (78.7 in) length to enter the Congestion Charge Zone without charge.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e The small car with the big reputation
- ^ [1]
- ^ Peel P50 at Rumcars
- ^ Peel P50 replica construction
- ^ "Small and perfectly formed". Auto-it.co.uk. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
- ^ "100% Discount for Motortricycles" (PDF). Transport for London. Retrieved 2008-01-08.
External links
- Peel MicrocarsPeel microcars history and pictures.
- Peel Cars photographs of 20+ Peel Cars at a rally in their hometown of Peel, Isle of Man.
- Peel Engineering Company
- Peel P50 Factory Movie
- Peel A little about the car and company.
- Jeremy Clarkson reviews the P50 on "Top Gear".