A 1964 Peel Trident car, built in the island will go under the hammer with Sotheby’s in California with a guide price of up to $100,000. (£82,330)

The trident was a two-seater version of the world famous Peel P50, the smallest motorcar ever to have gone into production.

It went into production between 1964 and 1966.

The Examiner was made aware of the auction by reader Peter Verstage.

Sotheby’s website listing for the car said: ’It is estimated that 86 were built in total, of which it is thought that only 10-15 examples remain. In late 1964, the first 10 Peel Tridents, five red and five blue, were sent to Two Strokes Ltd.

’Thanks to exhaustive research by the consigner and others, including George Gelling, the retired factory foreman of Peel Engineering, this example has been confirmed as one of those 10 cars.

’This Peel Trident has known ownership history dating to the consigner’s uncle, when it was just a few years old.

’It was acquired from him in the late 1990s and was restored by the consigner between 1998 and 2002.

’It has appeared in Top Gear magazine as well as the Top Gear website.’

The pocket-sized vehicle, measuring just 72 inches long, is powered by a 49-cc DKW fan-cooled engine driving the rear wheels by chain via a three-speed gearbox. The production of the cars ceased in 1969, but they have remained popular both in and away from the island.

Peel Engineering Ltd which then dissolved in 1974. However, the brand relaunched in 2010.

The auction takes place between August 15 and 17 at the Monterey Conference Centre in California.