The PEEL, world’s smallest car, now available new
Originally made on the Island of Man Isle of Mann (Ed. Note – fixed. Damn, we though they were churning these out at the Charles Barrett compound) in the 1960s, PEEL cars were available in four different flavors. They retailed for £199, with the P50, recently made famous by Top Gear, holding the Guinness Book of Records as the World’s Smallest Production Car.
Recently, several businessmen thought it would be a good idea to reinvest into the company and start up the production of the iconic (?) cars again. Peel Engineering is now taking orders on the limited production of the P50 and Trident. In addition to the conventional gasoline engines, the new PEELs will be available with electronic motors with regenerative braking, and assumingly, a plug. The spec sheet also calls out disc brakes, which I doubt were available on the original PEEL.
The most astonishing thing however, is that the PEELs are road legal in the U.K. and all of European Union. Price start at £6995, which is about $10,772. Which powertrain you get for that money is unspecified. Also unspecified are the options. If you really want one, you can place a £999 deposit for one of the fifty cars to be made.
This is going to be interesting to watch. I have a feeling that there will be a few follow up posts for these renewed PEELs.
Related posts:
As I type this, only 9 out of 50 are left…
It's not the "Island of Man", it's the "Isle of Man"- though I forgive you because Wikipedia is down today.
I came here to say that, as much as it pains me.
/Obersturmbannfuhrer
fixed, thank you
fire whoever wrote that
Ohnoyoudiddnt!
It's "Man" not "Mann."
And while we're here, not that it's in the article, but it's driving me crazy around the internet.
"Lose" means something is getting lost. "Loose" means something is becoming unfastened. You can't "loose" $20 from your pocket. GAHHH!
Yeah, but if you loose something, you might lose it.
"Loose the hounds!"
"We can't loose the hounds, sir; we've lost them."
"How did you lose the hounds?"
"We loosed them, and they didn't come back."
I'm gonna get me one of the electric ones. Just you wait until I upgrade the motor in that little bad ass. I'll smoke you all like jerky.
<img src="http://oi41.tinypic.com/e5jift.jpg" width="500"/>
Yeah, that's right. Tekin 4.5 turn brushless, bitches! Suck it.
You can do that, but I'm gonna put an Emrax in mine. Whooo!
Turbonique.
You guys will still win, as mine will just produce a giant cloud of smoke.
And debris! Don't forget the debris.
Oh yeah. Must not forget the debris. I may have strongly implied that smoke was coming from the tires, but I wouldn't rule out oil, fuel, bodywork and pretty much anything in, on or around the car capable of burning.
Where was the big bang? There was supposed to be a big bang!
Did you forget where these are from? The smoke comes standard in the wires, with a "W", not tires.
<img src="http://www.rrbew.co.uk/FeaturePics/Lucas-smoke.jpg">
Damn, beat me to it!
Awwwww, PEEL OUT
This car…not chic
Awww, peel out
This car, it's geek
Have you heard
'Bout the small car craze
Listen to us
I'm sure you'll be amazed
Big fun, driving 'round the office for fun
Hold the door! Someone show me the way
we need more lyrically based comments 'round here. Nicely done.
Thanks for that. I'm still a noob around here, so I appreciate it.
I have a rather odd taste in music which ranges from the mid-50's to the early-90's, so I should be able to conjure something up.
FWIW, That Chic song was on the MP3 disc in the car on the way home, yesterday, so I was already thinking about it.
What? The Cadillacs? Got it. Parliament? Got that too. Need some Deep Purple? Can do. Van Halen? Sure thing. ELO? Which album.
Oh, and if it's Steely Dan, I very likely have the lyrics committed to memory. Don't know why, but Fagen makes music I dig.
You and I think alike. Not only do we both like Cadillacs, but I'm a Steely Dan head myself. Good on you.
You're really not alone on the Dan. Hell, I know the lyrics to "Yellow Peril."
I'm excited! Always wanted a car I can park at my desk!
[youtube dJfSS0ZXYdo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJfSS0ZXYdo youtube]
Just the fact that Jezza at 6'-5" can actually fit in AND drive the P50 speaks volumes about its capabilities as a city car. And you could drive it on the sidewalk when traffic became congested without killing pedestrians.
it also points out that most tall folk are whiny cry babies with regards to new cars…
THIS. I'm 6'2" and could fit comfortably into my CRX with the seats three inches forwards from the back of the rails. The new Miata is a little tighter, but I've still got room to spare. The only issue a tall person might have with either is… well, it's a long way down to the seat.
You and I are going to end up alienating all of them.
if your British, wealthy and feeling nostaglic, there are worst things to waste your pounds on….
Still one of my favorite Top Gear segments. I love when he is cruising in the BBC offices. I know I should have expected that, but it kills me every time.
Didn't Monster Garage try to put a SBC in one?
With dwarfs working the shop? I can't investigate with wikipedia offline.
Announcement: For only $8,000 American each, I will personally handbuild any quantity of these you require. Just send your deposits to me instead of those suits with above next to the Rolls Royce.
With about a $3,000 profit margin based on the high costs of limited volume.
<img src="http://s.sears.com/is/image/Sears/07128034000?wid=500&hei=500&op_sharpen=1">
Hey, its the 1966 Aston Martin Cygnet!
It couldn't be, this is somewhat attractive.
You could get a Peel for years now, Andy's Modern Microcars sells finished replica Peels and five other microcars. I think people mostly just buy new bodyshells from Andy, but he does do finished cars as well. Of course one of his handmade Peels will run about double what the new company is charging.
http://www.modernmicrocars.co.uk/prices.html
Personally, I'll pass on the Peels and take a replica Goggomobil Dart. Or maybe a Bruetsch Mopetta:
<img src="http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/mllhjd.jpg">
Or this…
<img src="http://hooniverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/1936Harley-DavidsonSideCarCustomSv.jpg" width="512">
<img src="http://www.rockinghammemories.net/images/bumpercar02.jpg">
<a href="http://www.rockinghammemories.net/bdbumpercarsrecycled.html” target=”_blank”>http://www.rockinghammemories.net/bdbumpercarsrecycled.html
Finally, a use for this:
<img src="http://hooniverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IMG_1284.JPG" width="550">
As originally seen here:
<a href="http://hooniverse.com/2009/10/23/redneck-fabulous-unique-world-edition/” target=”_blank”>http://hooniverse.com/2009/10/23/redneck-fabulous-unique-world-edition/