The smallest manufactured car in history is the Peel P50. The original Peel P50, manufactured from 1962 to 1965 on the Isle of Man between Ireland and England, measured 52.8 inches (134 cm) long — small enough to fit into the average elevator. The car weighed about 130 pounds (59 kg) and was designed so that the driver could physically lift the car and and turn it around. It had no reverse gear and instead had a large handle at the rear for lifting. The Peel P50 was also designed with just three wheels and was technically classified as a motorcycle.
More about the Peel P50:
- Only about 50 original Peel P50 models were produced. An original was auctioned off in 2013 for $120,000 US Dollars.
- The Peel P50 was originally a fiberglass box with wheels and was an experiment to figure out the minimum possible dimensions for a car.
- Peel Engineering company, the maker of the Peel P50, was the creator of the only automobiles ever produced on the Isle of Man.
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More Info: smithsonianmag.com
Discussion Comments
Is there a picture of the car anywhere?
Clarkson drove one around the BBC, taking it into meetings, etc.
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