The Guinness Book of Records is not a publication that we often quote in our vehicle descriptions, however, the Peel P50 has been officially recognised by that august body as the 'World's Smallest Production Car'. From its harbourside base in the town of Peel on the Isle of Man, the Peel Engineering Company was a GRP specialist producing boats and motorcycle fairings for the likes of Norton and BMW.

Dreamed up by the company's founder, Cyril Cannell, the P50 was designed as a 40mph city car for 'one adult and a shopping bag' and was unveiled at the 1962 Earl's Court Cycle and Motorcycle Show with one wheel at the front and two at the rear.

This layout was soon switched and with a 49cc two-stroke Zweirad Union/DKW engine driving the rear wheel through a three-speed manual gearbox, the production model was launched in 1963.

There is no reverse gear, the required change of direction being enabled by a handle at the rear which lets the driver lift the tail and swing the car round by han...