World’s smallest car returns
2010-08-26 08:54
The 1962 Peel P-50 is still the smallest car ever produced in history.
On some of South Africa’s oversized roads these miniaturised P-50s seems would certainly ease traffic. In fact, the 60kg vehicle could most certainly come in handy for driving across campus for students too.
For those who struggle with big traffic on little roads, Peel Engineering has decided to bring out new versions of its mini-me cars – tallying a production volume of about 50.
Along with the P-50, holding the smallest car record in the Guinness Book of Records, the line will also be made up of the bubble-roofed Trident.
The Peels teensy-sizes trump all other little cars since the 1960s, including brands like Mini and Smart. The total length of the P-50 is about four and a half ruler lengths 1.34m, while the width is just under a metre. The car is also just over a metre high.
So tiny in fact that both the P-50 and the Trident have made the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not museum in Piccadilly Circus, London.
The micro-cars, built in Peel (on the Isle of Man), only come with one door and one seat – perfect for some ‘me-drive time’. And best of all...it takes very little to keep it going – the P-50 sporting only a 49cc with a three-speed manual transmission. The Trident extends to a two-seater.
The invigoration of Peel cars came after Gary Hillman, a car enthusiast, saw one of them at a vehicle auction. He partnered up with Faizal Khan and set to task the business of reintroducing the P-50 and the Trident, now with an electric motor.
Top Gear brought the line new found publicity when Jeremy Clarkson crammed himself inside one for an episode, driving all over the BBC head office. The idea was sold and James Caan signed a deal with Hillman and Khan of R900 000 for 30% of the company.
The new models are said to cost about R140 000. Perhaps there will also be some new colours from the standard three options of the old models: red, white and blue.
The micro-cars also have their own Facebook page and are already available to order on the Peels Engineering website.
