1964 Peel P50

Specifications

Configuration: Single-cylinder two-stroke Zweirad Union engine

Engine: 98 cc

Horsepower: 4.5 hp

Transmission: 3-speed manual

Top speed: 38 mph

Weight: 132 lbs

Founded by Cyril Cannell in the late 1940s, Peel Engineering originally supplied glass-reinforced plastic parts to the marine and automotive industries before moving into microcar production. At its peak, Peel Engineering employed just 40 people.

Capable of a top speed of 38 mph, the P50 features a 49cc 4.5-horsepower single-cylinder two-stroke Zweirad Union engine mated to a three-speed gearbox. The Peel P50 has no reverse gear, simply a handle on the rear to enable the driver to pick up the car and maneuver it as required.

The Peel was advertised as being able to carry “one adult and a shopping bag” while being “almost cheaper than walking.” The original retail price of £299 and reported fuel mileage approaching 100 mpg shows that the slogan, while obviously hyperbolic, was not far from the truth. After the P50’s premiere at the 1962 Earls Court Motorcycle Show in London, an estimated 47 of these three-wheeled delights were built between 1962 and 1965, of which fewer than 30 are known to exist. There are a number of small variations which can be noticed when multiple P50’s are parked side by side, emphasizing the hand-built nature of the production line.  

The P50 shone in a variety of tests including a 15-mile road test in London, where it completed the route a full 30 minutes ahead of a saloon car of the day. On its American test run, the Bureau of Transportation Inspector rolled the car down an embankment, but as he escaped without a scratch, he passed the car as suitable for use immediately. In spite of the car’s minuscule size, a Peel P50 was famously driven through the headquarters of the BBC by the 6’5” tall former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson, showcasing the surprisingly adequate interior room.