Donington sets Australian auction record for microcar

This past October, a rare example of the world’s smallest production car, the Peel P50, sold for what’s believed to be the highest price ever achieved in Australia at Donington Auctions’ Collector & Competition Car Auction.

The 10-day, timed online auction saw 49 lots offered, covering cars, collectables and automobilia. Vehicles varied from an aero-engined M.A.B. veteran to a late model Mercedes-Benz B200, with some of the more popular lots including an MGA 1600, Mercedes-Benz 350SL convertible, and a classic Fiat 500.

Greater interest was directed to the pair of microcars in the auction - the aforementioned Peel P50 and a Messerschmitt KR200. Both had come to Australia from the UK in 1988 and spent most of their time here in storage at an undisclosed location on the Gold Coast.

In the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s smallest production car, the Peel P50 was built on the Isle of Man from 1962 to 1965, with less than 50 produced in that period. Powered by a 49cc single-cylinder two-stroke engine driving the single rear wheel via a three-speed manual transmission, the P50 had no reverse gear, requiring the driver to exit vehicle, lift it via a handle at the rear and point it in the direction they wanted to go. With a single seat and only one door on the near side, the P50 measured 137cm long x 99cm wide, with an unladen weight of 59kg.

Originally red, the auction P50 had been repainted mustard brown at some point. Despite needing restoration and being non-operational as offered, the P50 attracted spirited bidding, both from Australia and overseas, before hammering for $85,000. Donington Auctions are claiming this as a new record price, not just for a P50, but for any microcar auctioned in Australia.

“This result reinforces that rarity and unrestored originality remain key factors for collectors in today’s market — and that they’re willing to pay a premium for it,” said Donington’s Damien Duigan.

The Messerschmitt sold for $22,500. For more details from Donington Auctions’ Collector & Competition Car Auction, go to: doningtonauctions.com.au