Find out more about the Isle of Man motor museum:
https://www.isleofmanmotormuseum.com

Thank you Darren and Steve from the museum team - you are a brilliant duo!

Check out channel sponsor Bidding Classics to buy yourself a classic, or perhaps sell the one in your garage at home to free up the space for something new: http://bit.ly/BiddingClassicsIDriveAC...

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PEEL P50

Certified by the Guinness Book of World Records, the Peel P50 is the world’s smallest production car ever made.

At 52.8 inches (134cm) long, 39 inches (99cm) wide, 39.4 inches tall (100cm), it is absolutely teeny tiny and not one for somebody who is claustrophobic!

But who and why were these made? Well first of all, this wasn’t a one off or a special vanity project. It was a microcar designed by Cyril Cannell and Henry Kissack and although it was a car, it was actually launched at the Earls Court Motorcycle Show.

The 49cc powered car made from 1962 until 1966 and was capable in her heyday of doing 37 mph top speed.

In fact, Peel sold these along with the Peel Trident with the strapline ‘cheaper than walking’ because they were reported to give you 100mpg.

Peel Engineering Company, the makers of these little cars, were based in Peel on the Isle of Man and had traditionally used their business for making fibreglass boats and fairings for bikes. In their heyday, Peel Engineering Company employed around 40 people.

Priced at £199 new, the lack of reverse gear on these meant that punters in the UK at least, could drive them on a motorbike license and dodge the car sales tax. It’s also worth mentioning, comparatively at the time, £250 would’ve bought you a fairly good motorbike.

Oh and I should mention, if you wanted to reverse, you had to pick up the car with a little handle at the back end and turn it around yourself.

It’ll probably horrify some of you at home to know, this was a completely road legal vehicle, although you’ll see when we’re out on test the slightest touch of the steering wheel gives a dramatic response, so they were prone to tipping.

Very few of these remain today, so I feel especially lucky and thankful to the Isle of Man motor museum for lending us this car.