Peel Engineering · 1962–present
Peel P50
The Peel P50 is a three-wheeled microcar originally made from 1962 to 1965 by the Peel Engineering Company on the Isle of Man, and then from 2010 to present. It was listed in the 2010 Guinness World Records as the smallest production car ever made. The original model has no reverse gear, but a handle at the rear allows the very lightweight car to be maneuvered physically when required. Designed as a city car, it was advertised in the 1960s 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 one headlight. Standard colours were Daytona White, Dragon Red, and Dark Blue. The 1963 model retailed for £199 when new (about £3635 today). The company produced 50 P50s, of which 27 are known to still exist, one of which was sold for a record US$176,000 at a Sotheby's auction in March 2016. In 2010 Peel Engineering Ltd. in England reinstated manufacturing of the P50 and Trident models from its premises in Sutton-in-Ashfield, England. Externally this car is very similar to the original, with the same dimensions and kerb weight as the original, but with mechanical differences in the suspension, steering, and drive-train, and a fully functioning reverse gear, ensuring they are road-legal under modern-day laws. Production included petrol models with a 49 cc four-stroke engine and electric models with an electric moped motor and gelled-electrolyte batteries. The top speed of both cars is about 28 mph (45 km/h).
Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Successor: Peel Trident
All Peel Engineering P50 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →
Specifications
- name
- Peel P50
- Manufacturer
- Peel Engineering Company and Peel Engineering Ltd. (UK-based)
- Assembly
- Peel, Isle of Man (1962–1965), Sutton-in-Ashfield, England (2010–present)
- Production
- 1962–1965 , 2010–present (EV), 2011–present (Petrol)(Gas)
- Class
- Microcar
- Body style
- 1 -door coupé
- Layout
- Side engine, rear wheel drive
- Engine
- 1963–1964: DKW 49 cc, 4.2 bhp single-cylinder, fan-cooled (top speed: 61 km/h, 2011 Petrol : 49 cc, 2.5 kW, four-stroke engine, 2011 Electric: 2.3 kW brushless DC electric motor
- Transmission
- 1963–1964: 3-speed manual; no reverse, 2010 EV: Single fixed gear ratio, 2011 Petrol & Electric: Continuously variable transmission
- Designer
- Cyril Cannell
- Related
- Peel Trident, Peel Viking Sport, Peel Manxcar
- Predecessor
- Peel Manxcar
- Successor
- Peel Trident
- Kerb weight
- 1963-1964: 59 kg , 2010 EV: 105 kg , 2011 Petrol & Electric: 98 kg
Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.
More photos
Sources
- Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q771181CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peel_P50CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1359158543 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peel_P50_at_Beaulieu.jpgCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: John Dalton · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.