What Is the Weakest Car in the World?

There isn’t a single, universally accepted “weakest car,” because it depends on how you define a car and which era you consider. Historically, the Briggs & Stratton Flyer (1919–1925) is widely cited as the least-powerful production car at roughly 2 horsepower; among postwar road-legal microcars, the 1960s Peel P50 produced about 4–4.5 horsepower; and in today’s market, ultra-low-power vehicles like the Citroën Ami (6 kW/8 hp) are among the feeblest—but they’re legally classed as quadricycles, not cars.

Why “weakest” needs a definition

“Weakest” is usually shorthand for the lowest power output, but the answer changes with context. Some contenders are century-old cyclecars with tiny engines; others are microcars designed for minimal urban use; and modern ultra-compact electrics may be rated as quadricycles (EU L6e/L7e) or neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) rather than passenger cars. Regulation, homologation class, and even whether peak or continuous power is quoted can all shift the rankings.

Leading contenders by category

The following list maps “weakest” to clear categories—early production cars, postwar road-legal microcars, and modern ultra-compact vehicles often mistaken for cars—so you can see where each contender sits and why it’s cited.

• Overall least-powerful production car (early era): Briggs & Stratton Flyer (1919–1925) — A minimalist “cyclecar” built around a fifth “motor wheel,” typically quoted at about 2 hp. Top speed hovered around 20–25 mph (32–40 km/h). It’s rudimentary, but it was sold as a production vehicle and is frequently referenced as the weakest car ever made by horsepower.
• Postwar, road-legal microcar: Peel P50 (1962–1965) — Generally credited with about 4.2 hp from a 49 cc single-cylinder engine. Street-legal in its day in the UK and some European markets, the P50 is often cited as the feeblest postwar “true car” to reach the road, with a top speed around 37–38 mph (60–61 km/h).
• Low-power mass icon: Citroën 2CV (early versions, from 1948) — The initial 375 cc models produced roughly 9 hp. While not the absolute weakest, the early 2CV set the template for ultra-frugal, low-power motoring and was sold in large numbers worldwide.
• Modern ultra-low-power urban vehicles (not legally “cars” in the EU): Citroën Ami and Renault Twizy 45 — The Ami’s electric motor is rated at 6 kW (about 8 hp) with a 45 km/h limit; the Twizy 45 variant has 4 kW (about 5.4 hp). Both are legally quadricycles, which is why they don’t dethrone the weakest “cars,” even though their outputs are tiny by contemporary standards.
• Emerging-market quadricycle: Bajaj Qute — With a 216 cc engine producing about 8.08 kW (10.8 hp), the Qute demonstrates how low power can go in modern, lightweight four-wheelers—but it’s classified as a quadricycle in many regions, not a passenger car.

Taken together, these examples show that if you emphasize strict “car” status and historical production, the Briggs & Stratton Flyer leads on minimal horsepower, while the Peel P50 is the standout in the postwar era. Today’s ultra-low-power four-wheelers generally fall into quadricycle/NEV categories rather than full passenger cars.

The role of regulation and design

Power isn’t just an engineering choice—it’s a regulatory target. European quadricycles are capped by weight and speed rules that keep outputs low for easier licensing and urban safety. Postwar microcars pursued the lightest, simplest builds to keep costs down and meet narrow mobility needs. Modern passenger cars, by contrast, usually start around 20–30 kW (27–40 hp) at the very low end globally, far above the microcars and cyclecars of the past.

Other ways to think about “weakest”

Horsepower figures alone can be misleading. Weight-to-power ratio, gearing, torque delivery (especially with small electric motors), and governed top speeds all shape real-world performance. A very light microcar with 9 hp can feel livelier in a city than a much heavier vehicle with more power but dull gearing.

Bottom line

If you mean absolute lowest horsepower in a production four-wheeler commonly regarded as a car, the Briggs & Stratton Flyer (about 2 hp) is the usual answer. For a postwar road-legal car, the Peel P50 (around 4–4.5 hp) is the classic benchmark. Among current ultra-low-power four-wheelers, models like the Citroën Ami and Renault Twizy 45 are even weaker on paper, but they’re legally quadricycles rather than passenger cars.

Summary

There is no single “weakest car” without defining terms. Historically, the Briggs & Stratton Flyer is often cited as the least-powerful production car (~2 hp), while the Peel P50 holds the postwar microcar crown (~4.2 hp). Modern vehicles that look like tiny cars but deliver comparable or lower power—such as the Citroën Ami (6 kW) and Renault Twizy 45 (4 kW)—are classified as quadricycles, not passenger cars.

What is the #1 slowest car in the world?

The Peel P50 is considered the world’s slowest car, a three-wheeled microcar manufactured by the Peel Engineering Company from 1962–1965. With a 49cc engine producing around 3.35 horsepower and a top speed of approximately 28-30 mph, it holds the Guinness World Record for the smallest car ever made and is slower than most moped or Olympic runners.
 
Key Characteristics of the Peel P50

• Top Speed: Around 28-30 mph (45 km/h). 
• Engine: A tiny 49cc single-cylinder engine. 
• Horsepower: Just 3.35 horsepower. 
• Size: It’s the world’s smallest production car, only large enough for one adult and one shopping bag. 
• Unique Features: It lacks a reverse gear; its lightweight design allows it to be manually pushed and turned around by the driver. 
• Fame: Gained wider recognition after a Top Gear segment where Jeremy Clarkson drove it through the BBC offices. 

Why it’s so slow
The Peel P50’s incredibly low horsepower and small displacement engine give it a top speed comparable to or even slower than many mopeds. This, combined with its small, lightweight frame, contributes to its status as the slowest car ever produced.

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. 

Which is the world’s lowest car?

The lowest drivable car in the world is a modified Fiat Panda created by the Italian group Carmagheddon, which sits just 1.2 inches (3 cm) off the ground. This street-legal vehicle was built by cutting a Fiat Panda horizontally below the windows, replacing its original frame with a go-kart frame, and using miniature wheels to achieve its ultra-low profile. The driver lies horizontally inside the car to operate it, making it seem like it’s floating on the road.
 
How the “lowest car” was built

• The Foundation: The team started with a Fiat Panda, choosing its lightweight body and high roof to maximize space for the engine, wheels, and driver. 
• The Cut: The car was sliced horizontally, just below the windows, to create a much shorter vehicle. 
• The Frame and Wheels: The original frame was replaced with a go-kart frame, and miniature wheels (like those from a shopping cart) were installed to achieve the extreme low height. 

This video shows how the Fiat Panda was modified to become the world’s lowest car: 42sMillionaire GarageYouTube · Jul 29, 2025
Driving the car

• The Position: The driver must lie down on their stomach inside the cramped vehicle to operate it. 
• Controls: They steer using controls similar to those found in arcade machines. 
• Performance: The car is extremely slow, with a maximum speed of around 30 mph. 

Other notable low-profile cars 

• The Flatmobile: In 2007, American Perry Watkins created a flattened version of the Batmobile called the Flatmobile, which was the lowest car in the world before 2013.
• The Mirai: In 2013, Japanese students from Okayama Sanyo High School debuted the Mirai, which was even lower than the Flatmobile.

Which is the weakest car?

Cars with the Worst Value Ratings

• 168. Jeep Wagoneer.
• 167. Ford Explorer.
• 166. Chevrolet Silverado EV.
• 165. Nissan Pathfinder.
• 164. Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
• 163. Subaru Solterra.
• 162. Chevrolet Traverse.
• 161. Jeep Wrangler.