The Guinness Book of World Records: The Peel P50, World’s Smallest Production Car
January 13, 2026 – March 8, 2026
On loan from the Tucson Auto Museum, the 3-wheeled, 2017 Peel P50 is a modern, electric-powered, continuation model of the original 1960s microcar, the world record winner for the smallest production car ever made! This adorably tiny car was designed to seat “one adult and a shopping bag,” and is small enough to drive right into an elevator! Our museum will spotlight this famous microcar from the collection of the Tucson Auto Museum in our lobby. To celebrate our two unique museums, visitors can show their admission receipt from one museum to receive half off admission at the other, from January 13th – March 31st, 2026.
Microcars, as they came to be known, were produced in Europe following WWII, from 1940 – 1970. There was tremendous demand for economical, fuel-efficient, personal transportation that could also provide weather protection – unlike motorcycles and bicycles. Microcars were a creative solution, with many models featuring only 3 wheels, which meant that in many countries they could technically be licensed as motorcycles and fall under the same regulations. They were an ideal method of transportation for European roads, which are frequently narrow and winding. Microcars remained very popular in Europe until the 1960s, when larger automobile models started becoming more affordable.
