Peel Trident

Infobox Automobile
name = Peel P50 sport
manufacturer = Peel Engineering Company
production = 1965-1966
Approximately 45 producedCite web|url=http://lanemotormuseum.org/show_vehicle.php?veh=PEELTRIDENT1965|title=1965 Peel Trident|work=Lane Motor Museum]
class = Microcar
body_style = One-door coupe
engine = DKW 49 cc, 4.2 hp + some cars made with Triumph Tina 99 cc
transmission = 3-speed manual
length = convert|183|cm|in|1|abbr=on
width = convert|107|cm|in|1|abbr=on
height =
weight = convert|90|kg|lb|0|abbr=on
wheelbase =
successor =
designer = Cyril Cannell


related = Peel P50

The Peel Trident was the second microcar made by the Peel Engineering Company on the Isle of Man, first produced in 1965. This new model featured two seats or the option of one seat and a detachable shopping basket instead of the single seat of the previous Peel P50, though it retained a three-wheeled design. The car also had a clear bubble top. It has been described as "a terrestrial flying saucer".

The car is convert|72|in|mm|0|abbr=on long and convert|42|in|mm|0|abbr=on, with a weight of convert|198|lb|kg|0|abbr=on. Like the P50, it uses a convert|49|cc|CID|1|abbr=on DKW engine, but has a greater top speed at 46 mph. It was advertised that the Trident got 100 miles to the (UK) gallon (35 km to the litre, 2.8 L/100 km), "almost cheaper than walking". The original retail price was £190

The Trident made a late transatlantic media appearance in the American television series Monster Garage, when a team of engineers and fabricators attempted to fit a high-performance Hayabusa superbike engine into the bodywork of a Trident, mounted onto a conventional go-kart frame. The project was a failure, and the unfinished car was destroyed by the show's host Jesse James with a single shot from a .50 caliber sniper rifle. [http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/monstergarage/episode/season3/episode_58.html Monster Garage Season 3 Episode 58] ] This car was actually a replica built by Andy Carter in Nottingham, UK [http://www.modernmicrocars.co.uk/ Modern Microcars] ]

All engines supplied to Peel from Zweirad Union (for both the P50 and Trident) were of the 49 cc 3 speed 4.2PS 804-1600 type. However uniquely the Peel engines had the 9th digit as a 4. Thus being 80416004***. The picture above shows the Peel Trident on display at the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee.Availabilty and value. Only a few genuine Tridents remain and the majority are still in Great Britain and all are in the hands of serious collectors. Only approximately 80 were sold in the UK over '65 and early '66.

Trident values are approx twice the price of the P50.

References

External links

* [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andy.carter/ Peel Microcars]
* [http://www.peel.hu Peel Engineering Company]
* [http://www.microcarmuseum.com/video/peel-trident.html Peel Trident Factory Movie]
* [http://www.peel-cars-p50.co.uk/ Peel Cars] photographs of 20+ Peel Cars at a rally in their hometown of Peel, Isle of Man.
* [http://home.clara.net/peterfrost/peel.html A little about the car and company]
* [http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/peel-trident.html Information and pictures]