And there's more, because as the country
becomes more and more crowded and the environmentalists
become more and more noisy, it makes more and more sense
than ever to have a small car. There are lots to choose from.
I've got a selection here. Volkswagen Polo, Suzuki Swift,
quite nice, actually, and the Citroen C1. The trouble is none of these cars
are really small. They are in fact... massive. Forty years ago, car makers could
sell you something much smaller... the original Mini, for example,
or the bubble car. But even these aren't small.
Not really. Not compared... to this. the Peel P50. That is 54 inches long and 41 inches wide. It is listed in
the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest production car ever. And what I'm sure you're expecting me
to do now is introduce Richard Hammond. But what I'm actually going to do...
is drive it to work. All... 6'5" of me. No, that's not going to work.
I'll have to... Hang on. Leg... Yes. Leg first and then... Yes! Built on the Isle of Man
in the early '60s, the P50 was said to be almost cheaper
than walking. It cost £198
and did 100 miles to the gallon. It sounds perfect, then,
for the roads of today. Of course there are one or two drawbacks. I can't imagine, for instance,
that it's terribly safe, not when your knees are the crumple zones. And nor is it very... fast. What I've got down here by my right knee,
in the cabin, making an awful lot of noise and generating quite a bit of heat
is the 49cc engine from a moped. Top speed rather depends
on how big you are and... actually how much
you had for breakfast. But realistically, even the skinniest,
shortest chap with the whitest of teeth will struggle to get past 35. There's something else
I've just thought of as well. I have to pay congestion charge
in this in this part of London... but the camera crew in the Lexus 4x4,
don't because it's a hybrid. How fair's that? It's not like I'm creating
any pollution at all. The Peel then is not only
a handy way of getting to work... but it's also pretty practical
when you get there. Normally, the BBC make you... moor up
in an underground car park, where the bays are only big enough
for ethnic peace bicycles and Fairtrade gee-whizzes. Well, because this is smaller
than an ethnic peace bicycle... I don't have to worry
about parking... at all. The great thing about a car this small
is that it's very light... which means that when you get to work,
you just pick it up and carry it inside. Morning! In the Top Gear office, the team were keen
to know more about the P50. I give you the future,
young men and women! Peel P50.
I think it's four and a half horsepower. You know those Little Tykes cars...
that all kids have got? That's exactly the same, one door. I have never seen the Top Gear team
so enthusiastic about any car. "Lads, I put a Koenigsegg down in
the car park." "Oh, right." "Got a new Ferrari down there."
Not interested. This... Even John Humphrys dropped by for a look. Hammond... No...
Well, can't you just clean them? Really, £4,000 to whiten them? You white...? No, well, I'll stick with the yellow ones.
Okay. Take care! Bye. Who's got the car? That's fantastic! Who's stolen the car? God, the power under this bonnet!
It's impressive! Ah, Clarkson,
you've met your match here, mate. Please don't just steal our things.
Do you mind? Thanks very much. Jolly nice of you. Soon, I was summoned
to an important BBC meeting. Most of the people going would be walking, but I was running late,
and decided to use the car. Doors closing. Fourth floor. Fiona Bruce is standing here,
the newsreader. Ground floor. -Sorry, Fiona, could you give me a push?
-A push out? Mm, please,
'cause it's got no reverse gear, so... -Thank you!
-You be all right in there? This is fine, thanks. She has got quite a nice bottom. I said that out loud, didn't I? After a short drive,
I arrived at BBC Television Centre. Unfortunately though, this is the most
complicated building in the world. I've worked at the BBC for 20 years
and I still don't know where I'm going! Tomorrow's World was cancelled, not because the programme
wasn't interesting anymore. It was simply
because Judith Hann was lost in here. Remember John Noakes, Peter Purves
from Blue Peter? They're in here somewhere, lost... Hello, can anyone help? Thanks! Which department's this? I'm really lost now. The police have held talks with
government ministers about how to handle the number of claims that have resulted
from last month's floods. The total bill is estimated at about
£1.5 billion. Mark Simpson is here... Sorry! Sorry, everyone! Sorry! Eventually though, I made it
to the top-level BBC seminar. I believe we've already made significant
inroads into the implementation of an open and inclusive policy for the ethnocentrically homogenous
objectives of this department. But I'd like to say that climate change
is the biggest threat ever to face the peoples of this world. And minimising our carbon footprint
through functional usage is a key responsibility
of anyone who uses a photocopier. I hope that in this session
we can discuss and address... Sadly the meeting went on so long, there
was no time left for any programme-making. ... policy for the ethnocentrically... So, I headed home. I really think that today
I have seen the future and it comes from 1963. This Peel P50
really is absolutely brilliant. If it had a reverse gear, I would describe
it as the absolute ultimate, really, of personal mobility. You can't... That's Dermot Monaghan! Oi! It is! Monaghan! Monaghan! Oh! Thanks! Thanks for that! Sorry...
Probably one of my favourite Top Gear moments (comedy wise, at least). This and driving across the American Deep South in their "decorated" cars.
I would like to see a convertible version.
so if this was a driving lesson situation, the instructor would be going next to you in one of those as well?
Does anyone know if that BBC news shot was actually real?
That 380p encode is seriously fantastic.
No penis jokes? I am disappointed.
not the smallest car in the world...