hardware
The World’s smallest car
A
t 54 in (1,372 mm) long and 41 in (1,041 mm) wide and with an unladen weight of 59 kilograms (130 lb), the P50 holds the record as the smallest ever car to go into production. The Peel P50 designed by resident engineer and inventor, Cyril Cannell is a three-wheeled microcar originally manufactured from 1962 to 1965 by the Peel Engineering Company on the Isle of Man. It currently holds the record for the smallest automobile to go into production. 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. The 1963 model retailed for £199 when new. 50 of them were produced, and only 27 of them are known to be still in existence. In 2010, production of a replica version was started by a newly formed company, called Peel Engineering Ltd based in England (not to be confused with the original Peel Engineering Company from the Isle of Man). Externally this car was very similar to the original but with many major mechanical differences in the suspension, steering and drive train. Driven by an electric motor and with a top speed of 16 km/h (10 mph),
this version was produced as a display vehicle and was not road legal. In 2011 production commenced on a new road legal petrol version. 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 six and a half foot (196 cm) tall, demonstrated that it was possible, although difficult, for tall people to get into the P50. Upon arriving at BBC White City, one of BBC’s buildings, 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, which included the background of BBC News 24 while it was on air. Clarkson stated that, if the car had a reverse gear, it would be the “ultimate in personal mobility”. Watch the videos on youtube... Jeremy drives the smallest car in the world at the BBC - Top Gear - autos Peel Trident & P50 - Worlds smallest car
Photographs: Chris Littler
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