Peel Trident

Peel Trident
Overview
Manufacturer	Peel Engineering Company (1965–1966) Peel Engineering Ltd. (2011–present)
Production	1965–1966 (Approximately 45 produced[1]) 2011–present
Designer	Cyril Cannell
Body and chassis
Class	Microcar
Body style	Flip-top (no-door) coupé
Layout	Rear-engine, rear-wheel drive
Related	Peel P50, Peel Manxcar, Peel Viking Sport
Powertrain
Engine	DKW 49 cubic centimetres (3.0 cu in; 0.049 L) Triumph Tina 99 cubic centimetres (6.0 cu in; 0.099 L)
Power output	4.2–4.5 brake horsepower (4.3–4.6 PS; 3.1–3.4 kW) 6–8 newton-metres (4.4–5.9 lb⋅ft)
Transmission	3-speed manual
Dimensions
Length	190 cm (73 in)[1]
Width	99 cm (39 in)[1]
Kerb weight	150 kg (330 lb)[1]
Chronology
Predecessor	Peel P50
Successor	Peel Viking Sport

Trident with its three-pronged Trident badge, exhibiting how the shell opened to permit entry, unlike the P50 which had a side-door

The Peel Trident is the second three-wheeled microcar built by the Peel Engineering Company on the Isle of Man. An all-new design from its one-seat counterpart the Peel P50, the Trident has two seats.

History

The Trident was launched at the 1964 British Motorcycle Show held at Earls Court. The seat, stated as being 31 in (79 cm) wide, was intended to provide for use as an occasional two-seater.[2]

A completely new design from the earlier side-engined Peel P50 microcar, the Trident was manufactured in 1965 and 1966.

In 2011, Peel Engineering Ltd. reinstated manufacture of the Peel Trident and P50, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, near Nottingham, England. All vehicles are hand-built to order in petrol and electric form.[3]

Description and specifications

The glass-fibre shell was a monocoque with coil-sprung, undamped wheels.[2] It featured a clear bubble top[4] and either two seats or one seat with a detachable shopping basket.

The Lakeland Motor Museum observes that the Trident's bubble top constituted grounds for its sobriquet "The Terrestrial Flying Saucer."[5] Like its predecessor, it was marketed as a "shopping car" or a "Saloon Scooter".^[citation needed]

The car is 73 in (185 cm) long and 39 in (99 cm) wide, with a weight of 330 lb (150 kg).[1] Like the P50, it uses a 49 cc (3.0 cu in) DKW engine which generates 4.2 hp (3.1 kW), and a top speed of 28 mph (45 km/h). It was advertised that the Trident got 100 miles per imperial gallon (2.8 L/100 km; 83 mpg_‑US), "almost cheaper than walking". The original retail price was £190.[1]

All engines supplied to Peel from Zweirad Union (for both the P50 and Trident) were of the 49 cc 3-speed 4.2 hp 804–1600 type. Uniquely, however, the Peel engines had the 8th digit as a 4, thus being of the form 80416004***.^[citation needed] This car is one of the smallest in the world.[5]

References

1. "1965 Peel Trident". Lane Motor Museum. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
2. "Earls Court Parade". The Motor Cycle: 858–859. 10 November 1964.
3. "p50cars.com – Remanufacturing the World's Smallest Car!". p50cars.com. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
4. Neil, Dan (2007). "50 Worst Cars Ever". Time. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
5. "Meet the World's smallest motor cars". lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk. Lakeland Motor Museum. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013. The Peel Trident has its own claim to fame as being accredited as the World's smallest two seat motor car.

External links

• Information, photos and factory movie at MicroCarMuseum.com
• Peel Cars, includes photographs at their hometown in Isle of Man
• Multi-make Microcar Club
• Manufacturer of reproduction Tridents P50CARS.com
• Peel Microcars, Isle of Man.
• Peel Owner's Club Peel Owner's Club - Website for owners of original Peel Tridents and faithful replicas, a source for history, image gallery and spare parts.