KEEP your eyes peeled for Ireland's smallest car.

The Peel P50, a three-wheeled microcar manufactured in 1962 and 1965, holds the record for the smallest automobile ever to go into production.

There are only about 20 of them left in the world, and one of them sits shining in a secret garage in Fermanagh. It belongs to the famous Monaghan family, best known for their car garage in Lisnaskea.

"It's a family heirloom - it's not for sale," explained Pat Monaghan, who takes it out on the road from time to time.

His brother Jim, who died in 1975, bought the car, which was manufactured in the Isle of Man, 40 years ago.

"He used to buy a lot of stuff in England and lorry loads would come in by the bulk load. As far as we can figure out this is only one in Ireland. It is the family's pride and joy," he said.

After Jim's death, Pat put the car away into storage before restoring it a little later for his brother's children, Stephen and Edward. Stephen recalls the difficult but rewarding task of working on his father's car.

"We had to get the engine done up, the paint work, the steering. We had to use original parts, and anything we needed restored we had to get in contact with a man in Scotland who had all the original documentation of the car. He rebuilt our engine for us, and even located a piston somewhere on the far side of the world for that engine. It's a DKW engine that was used in the pre-War 49cc Triumph Super Sport motorcycles," he explained.

As there are only a handful in existence, it's somewhat rather special to think there is one here in Fermanagh and not in a museum like the rest.

Top Gear fans will remember the time presenter Jeremy Clarkson drove the Peel P50 through BBC Television Centre, to much hilarity.

It's understood the Monaghan's car is worth quite a bit of money, but no amount of money, they say, would make them sell it.

"My father bought it, and my brother was only a year old. I wasn't born - I was a year old when my father died so that's just one of the things that was left. It has huge sentimental value to us and we would never get rid of it," said Stephen.

And yes, The Impartial Reporter couldn't resist getting a closer look at the car!