World’s smallest car?

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum in London, England, is about to get a new exhibit.

It has certainly got itself into a tight squeeze, but the world’s smallest car has every right to be there.

Tucked in between two vans in London’s Piccadilly Circus, the Peel P50 is parked squarely by its new home.

The miniature vehicle goes on display today at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum, which promises visitors the ultimate insight into the world of the odd and bizarre.

The micro car boasts the record for the smallest ever automobile to go into production.

And while it may not look quite up to 21st century safety standards, the lightweight three-wheeler is legally allowed to be driven on British streets.

It was originally manufactured in 1963 and 1964 by Peel Engineering Company, with a production run of about 50 vehicles that sold for just under £200 [US $296].

That was clearly a bargain, given the remaining 20 originals command anywhere from £35,000 to £50,000 [US $51,800 – $74,000].

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! will add the Peel P50 to over 800 exhibits already on display.

The three-wheeled wonder was designed as a city car. It was advertised as capable to seat one adult and a shopping bag.

It has a single door, on the left hand side, a single windscreen wiper and just one headlight.

It is no surprise the tiny car makes tourists and commuters alike do a double take.

It looks like it belongs more on an episode of the 1980s cartoon Postman Pat than the streets of England’s capital city.

At just 134cm [4′ 4¾”] long and 99cm [3′ 3″] wide and weighting just 59kg [130 pounds], it barely fits a grown business man inside.

I’d love to try driving that through a traffic jam in New York . . . just to see the outrage on the cab drivers’ faces as it nips into spaces far too small for them!

Peter