1962 Peel P50 dimensions & size guide

At just 1370 mm long, 1040 mm wide, and 1200 mm tall, the Peel P50 (1962) still holds the Guinness World Record as the smallest production car ever made. It’s shorter than most motorbikes and narrow enough to fit through a doorway (quite literally, as it has been demonstrated driving through office corridors and lifts). Its turning circle of just 4.6 metres adds to its agility, allowing it to perform U-turns almost anywhere.

Built with a single fibreglass shell mounted over a simple steel frame, the P50 weighs little more than a sturdy suitcase. With only one door on the left-hand side, one headlight, and a single windscreen wiper, it’s a study in minimalism. There’s no reverse gear either, drivers are expected to dismount and lift the car by its rear handle to manoeuvre it. It’s the kind of design decision that could only have come from the 1960s, when post-war innovation met a sense of playful experimentation.

Inside, the Peel P50 (1962) offers just enough room for one person and a very small bag. The seat is fixed, the steering wheel is close, and the pedals are compactly arranged, making the driving experience intimate, to say the least. There’s no real storage or luxury to speak of, even the concept of a dashboard is stretched to its most basic form. Yet this simplicity is precisely what makes the P50 so memorable. It captures the essence of motoring reduced to its bare minimum: one person, one engine, and the open road.

Powered by a 49 cc DKW single-cylinder two-stroke engine producing around 4.2 horsepower, the Peel P50 (1962) can reach a top speed of roughly 60 km/h (37 mph). The engine drives the rear wheel through a three-speed manual transmission, and with such little mass to move, performance is more amusing than brisk. Acceleration is leisurely, but fuel economy is remarkable, it could return over 100 mpg (2.8 L/100 km). It was marketed with the slogan “Almost cheaper than walking,” which, given its efficiency, wasn’t far from the truth.

Ground clearance is a modest 127 mm, and the wheelbase of 1090 mm gives it a surprisingly stable stance for its size. The single-seat layout and total lack of cargo capacity (officially rated at 0 litres) underline that this was never meant to be a practical family car. Instead, it was a bold design experiment, proving that mobility could be achieved in the simplest, smallest possible form.

Today, the Peel P50 (1962) enjoys cult status among collectors and enthusiasts. Fewer than 50 were built originally, and surviving examples are highly prized. Modern recreations have revived the design, keeping its quirky personality alive for a new generation. Compared with almost any other vehicle on the road, the P50 is in a category of its own, it’s a conversation starter, a cultural icon, and a reminder that innovation doesn’t always have to come in large packages.

Tiny though it may be, the Peel P50 (1962) has earned an outsized place in motoring history.