Slowest cars
Top 40 slowest cars in the world. Updated March 2021.
Almost all modern cars can exceed legal speed limit on any public road, save for German autobahn. This extra "headroom" for speed can be considered as safety feature - the faster the car the more easily and quickly it can overtake other cars at highway speed, or the more powerful it is, the quicker it can get out of dangerous situations.
The luxury of having extra power and speed, however, is not universal to all types of cars. The classic microcar or "bubble car", such as Peel P50 or BMW Isetta, had engines so small, that they did not even have enough power to reach and maintain the standard 60 mph or 90 kph highway speed limit.
For cars like this even 40 mph required wide open throttle and favorable conditions with no headwind or road incline.
| # | make & model | Speed (mph)▼ | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 1962 Peel P50 | 38 |  |
| 2. | 1975 Zagato Zele | 40 |  |
| 3. | 1955 BMW Isetta | 53 |  |
| 4. | 1957 Fiat Nuova 500 | 53 |  |
| 5. | 1957 Glas Googomobil TS 250 | 53 |  |
| 6. | 1982 Austin FX4Q | 56 |  |
| 7. | 1965 Trabant 601 Universial | 60 |  |
| 8. | Trabant 601 | 62 |  |
| 9. | 1972 Fiat 500 R | 62 |  |
| 10. | 2009 Tata Nano | 68 |  |
| 11. | 1972 Fiat 126 | 70 |  |
| 12. | 1929 Ford Model A | 70 |  |
| 13. | 1960 VW Käfer 1200 Cabriolet | 71 |  |
| 14. | 1979 Citroen 2CV Charleston | 73 |  |
| 15. | 1948 Tucker Torpedo | 75 |  |
| 16. | 1959 NSU Sport-Prinz | 75 |  |
| 17. | 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 454 LS5 | 76 |  |
| 18. | 1960 Morris Mini Traveller | 76 |  |
| 19. | 1969 VW Käfer 1300 | 76 |  |
| 20. | 1970 Bond Bug 700 ES | 76 |  |
| 21. | 1959 Messerschmitt Tiger TG 500 | 78 |  |
| 22. | 1956 Troll Troll | 81 |  |
| 23. | 2020 Brabus Ultimate E | 81 |  |
| 24. | 1956 Morris Minor | 81 |  |
| 25. | 2020 Seat Mii Electric | 81 |  |
| 26. | 2020 Opel Zafira-e Life Medium | 81 |  |
| 27. | 2017 Smart Forfour EQ | 81 |  |
| 28. | 2019 VW e-Up | 82 |  |
| 29. | 1962 Opel Kadett 1000S | 83 |  |
| 30. | 1986 Porsche 924 S | 83 |  |
| 31. | 2017 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive | 83 |  |
| 32. | 1958 Abarth 500 GT Carozzeria Zagato | 83 |  |
| 33. | 2004 Mini Cooper S | 84 |  |
| 34. | 1991 Honda Beat | 84 |  |
| 35. | 1926 Bentley Speed 6 | 84 |  |
| 36. | 1980 Zastava Yugo 45 | 84 |  |
| 37. | 2018 Renault Zoe R110 | 84 |  |
| 38. | 2020 Renault Twingo Electric | 84 |  |
| 39. | 1984 Fiat Panda 4x4 | 84 |  |
| 40. | 1957 Lotus Seven | 85 |  |
Sources
FastestLaps.com (1-3, 8-12, 15, 19, 20, 22, 23, 29, 30, 32, 34-36, 40), Autozeitung Classic Cars (4, 5, 16, 21), Auto Bild Klassik (6, 7, 13, 18, 24), Auto Motor und Sport (14, 27), Car & Driver (17), Autozeitung (25, 26, 37, 38), Quattroroute (28, 31), EVO (33), Autocar (39)
List authored by Christian Zelcs. Last updated on 03/30/2021, last addition - Smart Fortwo Electric Drive.