Donington Auctions has reported strong results from its latest Collector & Competition Car Auction, where two rare microcars discovered in Queensland drew significant attention – including a 1964 Peel P50 that set a new Australian auction record for a microcar.
According to Donington Auctions, the Peel P50, officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest production car ever built, sold for $85,000 at its Collector & Competition Car Auction following competitive bidding from Australian and international collectors.
Manufactured between 1962 and 1965 by the Peel Engineering Company on the Isle of Man, the P50 weighs just 59 kilograms and measures 137 centimetres long by 99 centimetres wide.
Donington Auctions said the model has become one of the most distinctive and collectible microcars ever made, admired for its unique engineering and design simplicity.
The auction house reported that the example sold is believed to be the only factory-built Peel P50 in Australia. With only 49 originally produced and about 27 known to survive, Donington described it as an “extraordinary find” for the collector car community.
Both the Peel P50 and a 1962 Messerschmitt KR200 were discovered in a Queensland garage, where they had remained untouched for more than 50 years. Donington Auctions said their rediscovery generated significant interest from collectors across Australia and overseas.
Donington Auctions Head of Classic and Collector Cars, Damien Duigan, said the result highlights the enduring appeal of originality and craftsmanship among collectors.
“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,” Duigan said.
