Peel Trident - the smallest two seater car in the world!

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Find out more about the Isle of Man motor museum:

Thank you Darren and Steve from the museum team - you are a brilliant duo!

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PEEL TRIDENT

Last week we looked at the Peel p50, this week we’re back with the Isle of Man motor museum borrowing the second three wheeled microcar put into production by Peel - the Peel Trident.

Another Cyril Cannell design, the Trident was on the face of it, a little more sociable. The new Trident was a two seater design made from 1965 to 1966.

Described as an occasional two seater, so perhaps not a permanent alternative to a motorbike and side car, the Trident was a new design but powered by the same engine as the Peel P50: the 49cc DKW engine giving 4.2hp.

It’s worth noting this is noted as being the world’s smallest two seater car and is 73 inches (185cm) long and 39 inches (99cm) wide. To give you an idea of the space around you, the seat inside for the two passengers is 31 inches wide, so if somebody hits this fibreglass shell, the odds probably aren’t in your favour.

There’s no in-built crash protection or even a vague crumple zone, so again, today’s test is not taking us out on the roads but rather a closed car park where the chances of us being wiped out by an SUV are limited.

Although it was only made for one year and less than 100 ever made, it’s somehow found its way into the Forza Horizon games, so it might be a familiar one to gamers watching out there!

You’ll see today that steering is a bit more normal on this one and it has a traditional steering wheel as you might expect on a normal car which then turns the two front wheels - which are coil sprung, undamped with a single wheel to the back.

We discussed the rise of microcars and three wheelers in the 60s last week in our P50 video, but in short, the petrol crisis and the taxation brackets for three wheelers putting them into the same lower tax bracket as motorcycles meant people were a little more openminded.

Microcars might seem daft little death traps today, but without cars like this testing out the limits, pushing the boundaries and exploring possibilities; I doubt we’d have anything like the Smartcars or the wonderfully wacky electric Ami.

Oh and if you’re wondering how you get in and out of this rather space age looking microcar, you have to lift from behind you and then push up. If I’m honest, the perspex was a lot heavier than it looked and I was quite concerned I was going to trap my fingers - so I had help from a third party each time I entered and exited the vehicle. Goodness knows how solo travellers managed!
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As an Australian I just keep thinking how quickly you would cook under that perspex dome. Mid-February, 38 degrees, cloudless sky. Done to perfection in about ten minutes 😊

davidhynd
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Too perfect! Like a cross between a fighter jet and a ride-on lawnmower.
Wonderfully quirky and charming, great video!

MrCheesywaffles
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It's like something from the Jetsons cartoon series I think in the 1970's and looks a lot of fun Steph.

Vince_uk
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Room for two, plus a bit of shopping or a takeaway. Perfect.
If only that mystery switch activated anti-gravity mode.

nigelh
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Very Jetson like, and looks like you enjoyed this Peel as well.

scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain
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Luvluvluv these tiny car reviews as of late.
Aunt Barbara adores you!

auntbarbara
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It really does look amazingly retrofuturistic! Hats off to Peel for turning, what would essentially be a concept car, into a small production run. I guess people do compare the safety of these against a car, but perhaps it would be fairer to compare them to a scooter or motorbike, neither of which offers much in the way of crash protection?
Excellent review, great to see one of these driving around!

gord
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The Trident is Pure Genius! I have known about this car since I was 14 I bought a classic car magazine back in the late 80's and there was a feature with micro cars. Most were owned by Andy Carter the Micro Car King. He created replicas, and you could buy the shell from him or a complete kit. The trident is my dream car!!

Farney-gyqo
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I've wanted to see someone's review of driving one of these for years! You looked like you had a great time, Steph. You are very lucky!

iana
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I bought one of these circa 55 years ago. Drove it round Belfast for 6 months. Rolled it twice. I was a little bit crazy. Managed to get 4 people into it one evening! It was one of the many vehicles I destroyed, which also included an Honda S800 and a CB450 Motorcycle.

rose-eyct
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Istg this woman manages to brighten up my day even here In Germany by doing these silly little vids😂❤️

mikatimmermann
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Just brilliant - Thanks for another great film Steph. Showed my daughter who couldn't believe these were real cars - another great slice of history.

neilbedford
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I laughed in the opening shot of the video Steph, thanks for posting 😊😂👍

allanmollison
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Very unusual I've not seen those before. I'm going to take in a trip to that museum after seeing these reviews. Thank you Steph.

tonyinit
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Well Steph, that was hilarious ! I thought last week couldn't be beaten, but I was wrong ! You really do these videos so well, and no matter what you find to show us, you get it right, every time. Thank you so much for all the entertainment you give us. Take special care 🙂 X X

michaeltreadwell
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Wonderful to see my two Peels that I acquired in the mid 70's, I purchased the Peel P50 in Birmingham and the Trident I acquired in Liverpool, I had a few spare DKW 49cc engines at the time so I used one for the Trident, I traded a spare P50 body for the Trident and so of course I used one of my spare engines, If he knew I had a few spare DKW 49cc engines at that time he would of wanted much more for the Trident body, I also displayed the Peel P50 on Southern television on a childrens game show called .Runaround' maybe it was around 1976-77, good luck with my old treasures and

davidbalbert
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Well Steph, I think that was your cutest video so far. And the car's pretty sweet too! :) Now can you try it on the M25 in the rush hour...

ibs
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Oh wow! What a fab little groovy 1960s 'jetson' inspired little car.👍

pdtech
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That car went " Beep Beep, Beep!!!😮

keithacenas
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The ultimate Bubble Car. Looks like it should be bolted on the side of the Bat Bike. Safer for Robin than his little open gocart.

lancerevell