What Is the #1 Slowest Car in the World?

The Peel P50 is widely regarded as the #1 slowest production car ever made, with real-world top speeds reported between roughly 28 and 38 mph (45–61 km/h) depending on version and testing. While some modern micro-vehicles travel even slower, they’re typically classified as quadricycles or low-speed vehicles rather than conventional cars, which is why the Peel P50 holds the crown in most automotive rankings.

Why the Peel P50 Is Treated as the Slowest “Car”

Built on the Isle of Man in the early 1960s and reintroduced in limited continuation runs in the 2010s, the Peel P50 is best known as the smallest production car ever made—a Guinness World Records title that underscores its niche status. But it also earned a place in automotive lore for its extremely modest pace, emerging as the go-to answer when enthusiasts and publications list the slowest production cars in history. The P50’s claim rests on its status as a production, road-legal car (not a kit or a one-off) and on period-correct performance figures that are dramatically lower than even basic city cars of later decades.

Key Specifications and Performance

The original P50 used a tiny single-cylinder engine with a three-speed gearbox and no traditional reverse gear (owners physically maneuvered the car by hand). Contemporary sources cite the petrol version’s top speed at around 38 mph (61 km/h). Modern electric continuations typically top out closer to 28–30 mph (45–48 km/h), reinforcing the model’s reputation for being exceptionally slow even by city-traffic standards. Regardless of variant, the P50’s minimal power and featherweight construction translate to very limited outright speed.

Defining “Slowest”: What Counts as a Car?

Context matters. If you include vehicles classified as quadricycles in Europe or low-speed vehicles (LSVs/NEVs) in North America, there are road-legal machines capped by regulation to just 25–28 mph (40–45 km/h). However, these are not categorized as standard passenger cars under most regulatory frameworks. That distinction is why lists of the “slowest car” typically reserve the title for the Peel P50, even though some modern micro-mobility vehicles travel slower in absolute terms.

How the P50 Compares to Other Slow Road Vehicles

To understand where the Peel P50 sits in the broader landscape, it helps to look at similarly slow vehicles and note how their official classifications differ from conventional cars.

• Peel Trident: A sibling to the P50 with a similar engine and a top speed often quoted near 38 mph (61 km/h); also extremely slow for a production road car of its era.
• Citroën Ami: Capped at 45 km/h (28 mph) in many markets. It’s sold widely in Europe but is officially a light quadricycle (L6e), not a standard passenger car.
• Renault Twizy 45: Limited to 45 km/h (28 mph). The slower “45” version is a quadricycle; the faster Twizy 80 variant (up to ~80 km/h) is a heavier quadricycle (L7e), still not a conventional car.
• Aixam City and similar microcars: Common in Europe with 45 km/h (28 mph) limits, classified as quadricycles and often operable with reduced licensing compared to cars.
• U.S. LSVs/NEVs (e.g., GEM e2): Federally capped at 25 mph (40 km/h) under FMVSS 500 and intended for low-speed roads; these are not standard passenger cars.

These models illustrate that while slower vehicles exist, their quadricycle or low-speed classifications separate them from the Peel P50’s status as a bona fide production car, which is why the P50 typically retains the “slowest car” title in mainstream automotive references.

How This Determination Is Typically Verified

The Peel P50’s standing comes from a combination of period specifications, manufacturer and continuation data, and its recognition in authoritative sources like Guinness World Records (for size) that cement its production-car credentials. Automotive publications and historians routinely list the P50 at or near the bottom of the speed charts for production, road-legal cars, while carefully noting that many ultra-slow modern urban runabouts fall into separate regulatory categories.

Summary

The Peel P50 is commonly cited as the slowest production car in the world, with top speeds roughly 28–38 mph depending on the version. Slower modern micro-vehicles exist, but they’re usually categorized as quadricycles or low-speed vehicles rather than conventional cars. Within the realm of production, road-legal cars, the P50 remains the benchmark for minimal speed—and maximal notoriety.

What is the slowest moving car?

The 5 Slowest Cars In The World: A Deep Dive

1. Peel P50 (Top Speed: 38 mph) One look at the Peel P50 and one would think it’s a production model, but only for kids.
2. Renault Twizy 45 (Top Speed: 28 mph)
3. Aixam Coupe (Top Speed: 28 mph)
4. Tata Nano (Top Speed: 55 mph)
5. Smart Fortwo CDI (Top Speed: 84 mph)

Is Peel P50 the slowest car in the world?

1962–1965. The original P50 used a 3 cu in (49.2 cc) DKW single-cylinder engine, which gave it a top speed of approximately 61 km/h (38 mph), and was equipped with a three-speed manual transmission that had no reverse.

Is there a 1 of 1 car?

Yes, a 1 of 1 car is a real concept, referring to a vehicle produced by a manufacturer with a unique trim and specifications, made only once, often for a specific customer or purpose. Many such one-off cars exist, from custom-ordered vehicles to special concepts built by manufacturers like Ferrari, Aston Martin, and others, as seen with examples like the Ferrari Pinin or the Aston Martin Victor.
 
What is a 1 of 1 Car?

• Unique Specifications: A 1 of 1 car is distinguished by its unique features, which can include technical, functional, or aesthetic variations not found on any other production model. 
• Custom Orders: These cars are often created as a result of specific instructions from a customer. 
• Manufacturer Concepts: Sometimes, manufacturers produce a 1 of 1 vehicle as a concept or a special project, showcasing unique design or engineering. 

Examples of One-Off Cars

• Ferrari Pinin: An example of a one-off car, it is a unique concept from Ferrari. 
• Aston Martin Victor: Another example of a manufacturer-created one-off, highlighting design and performance. 
• Alfa Romeo Giulia SWB Zagato: A custom-built one-off that was created for a specific customer. 

What is the world’s slowest car?

The world’s slowest car is the Peel P50, a three-wheeled microcar known for its extremely low top speed of around 28-30 mph (45-48 km/h), which is about the same as a moped. Manufactured by the Peel Engineering Company, it holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s smallest production car and was originally produced from 1962 to 1965 before being brought back into production in 2010.
 
Key features of the Peel P50:

• Tiny Size: It is the smallest production car ever made. 
• Low Horsepower: The original petrol version had a 49 cc four-stroke engine producing about 3.35 horsepower. 
• Limited Speed: Its top speed is intentionally limited to around 28-30 mph. 
• No Reverse Gear (Original): The original model lacked a reverse gear, instead featuring a handle to manually move the car. 
• Low Weight: It weighs only about 130 pounds (59 kg), making it easy to maneuver. 

The Peel P50’s slogan was “almost cheaper than walking,” and its deliberately slow speed reinforced this message while making it a unique and record-holding vehicle.