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Now you can build with your own hands one of the smallest cars in the world

The challenges of current urban mobility are many and all kinds of companies are coming up with the most original solutions, such as the electric pedal vehicle from Canyon or Walkcar, the vehicle that fits in your backpack and can go 16 kilometers per hour . There are also those who look to the past to recover and modernize design jewels such as the P-50, once the smallest car in the world, now also sold as a DIY kit.

[Nimbus, el vehículo eléctrico que mezcla coche y moto para reinventar la movilidad]

The origin of this tiny car dates back to 1962, when the designer Cyril Cannell thought of building a vehicle that could transport two people of average height. First he capsized with the Trident, an ultra-compact two-seater molded in fiberglass, also nicknamed “bubble car”. That was a luxury model, and to make it more affordable, Cannell also designed its ‘little brother’, the P50.

Con less than a meter and a half in length, the P50 became the world’s smallest car, ideal for fitting into tiny parking spaces. Not that he mass-produced them, either: Fewer than fifty original P50s and some 80 Tridents were created, before his company, Peel Engineering, closed in 1974. Now, nearly half a century later, the P50 is back at it again under careful scrutiny. recreation of most of its original components.

The company P50 Cars, in charge of renovating this mythical model, says that it took them a decade to understand how they could recreate it. To do this, heThe pieces are handmade by their team of artisansused to producing parts for vintage Rolls Royce and Bentleys.

The P50 car DIY kit

P50 Cars

Homicronous

The redesign combines the style of the 1960s with more modern lines and components. In addition, they have also brought back the original spirit of the Trident bubble car in three variants, red, blue and yellow. The round-shaped cover completes the two-seater, three-wheeled vehicle, which has an high-torque electric motor that can reach speeds between 50 and 80 km/h.

“If you’ve ever wanted to build your own car, this is your chance.” This is the new slogan of P50 Cars. You need to be a little handy and have some knowledge of cars, but if you dare the P50 kit comes with all the necessary parts and componentselectric motor included.

According to the company, potential build time is about 50 hours, although it varies a lot depending on the experience and knowledge of the assembler or if he has the help of third parties. Over 90% of all parts and designs are made by hand at P50 Cars London premises, so a kit can take between four and six weeks to build, and a factory-built car close to eight.

Regarding the height of the driver, the tallest person the company has ever had in one of its cars was 1.90m tall, while the largest weighed 136 kilos. The new P50 and Trident models also have more legroom: 5 centimeters more, which seem vital in such a small space.

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