Peel Engineering Company

A modern racing classic-category motorcycle with a Peel-type fairing having enclosed handlebar ends

The Peel Engineering Company was a manufacturing company based in Peel village on the west coast of the Isle of Man that primarily made fibreglass boats through its subsidiary company West Marine Ltd and fairings for motorcycles.[1]

The sports fairings were recognisable for their styling with integral 'blisters' enclosing the handlebar-ends and rider's hands, and were available for racing, named Mountain Mile, with a similar sports-style for road use incorporating a distinctive, large rectangular Cibié headlamp, named Peel 707. A different design was for touring, aptly named TT Tourer.[2][3]

The company built an experimental hovercraft design in 1961 powered by a 500 cc Triumph engine.[4]

In 1965, Peels arranged for all fairing production to be transferred under licence to Mike Ivory of Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Prototype and development work continued in the Isle of Man.[5]

Peel Engineering developed the Peel Manxcar concept vehicle, Peel P50, and Peel Trident three-wheeled microcars, in addition to the Peel Viking Sport and prototype GRP Minis for BMC. These models constitute the only automobiles manufactured on the Isle of Man; the company ceased manufacture in 1969.

A red Peel Trident and a blue Peel P50

A limited-run Peel Manxkart go-kart was also produced.

The Peel P50 was once in the Guinness record as the world's smallest production car, it has been replaced by the Wind Up.[6][7]

The Peel Engineering Company referred to in this article later became Peel Engineering Ltd in 1965 and was finally dissolved in 1974 and is not the Peel Engineering Company registered in the United Kingdom in 2010.

See also

References

  1. The small car with the big reputation, bbc.co.uk, 29 March 2008, retrieved 9 December 2011
  2. Motor Cycle, 23 September 1965, Advert p.18 Peel Race-Bred Fairings. TT Tourer, 707 Sports, Mountain Mile Sports, 351 Dallow Road Luton Beds. Accessed and added 2014-10-26
  3. Motor Sport Magazine archive, October 1976, p. 54 A visit to Cibié Retrieved 26 October 2014
  4. "I.o.M. Hovercraft". The Motor Cycle. Coventry: Illife Specialist Publications Ltd. 106 (3007): 119. 26 January 1961.
  5. Motor Cycle, 23 September 1965, p.433 Brighton Show. Accessed and added 2014-10-26
  6. Guinness World Records Retrieved 26 October 2014
  7. Guinness Certificate Retrieved 26 October 2014

External links


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