Amelia Island, Florida - A rare example of the world's smallest production car, the tiny Peel P50, comes under the hammer in Florida next month, where it is expected to fetch more than 100 000 dollars (R1.54m).
About the size of a small refrigerator, the fibreglass-bodied Peel P50 weighs only 59 kilograms and fits into the tiniest of parking spaces, said RM Sotheby's, which is auctioning the bright red car on March 12 at its Amelia Island classic car sale.
“It is the conversation piece to end all conversation pieces, and its fun factor is as astounding as its fuel economy,” reads the sale catalogue.
A 49-cubic-centimetre moped engine was enough to power the Peel P50 which had no reverse gear or need of one. A grab handle mounted at the rear allows the owner to turn the car around by hand before driving off again.
Top speed depended on the driver's weight and “what he had for breakfast,” quipped cult TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson when he took a different Peel survivor on a hilarious test drive through the BBC offices for a Top Gear show. The film of the event has been viewed on YouTube by nearly 12 million people.
The Peel microcar was first shown at the 1962 Cycle and Motorcycle Show in London. Only 50 were made and the car being offered - chassis D535 - was previously owned by the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum.
DPA