An original Reliant three-wheeled van used in the iconic British comedy series Only fools and horses is going under the hammer for the third time in as many years – and even Del Boy will find it hard to turn down the chance to snap it up for a bargain.
The instantly recognisable Regal Supervan III dates from 1972. It was purchased by the BBC when the classic comedy began in 1981 and is one of six examples used in the filming of the popular hit series during the 22 years it ran on our televisions.
When the car goes under the hammer at a classic car auction in Warwickshire on September 28, it will be the third time the car has appeared at auction since 2021.
Three years ago the object sold for £36,000. The guide price for the upcoming auction is less than half that amount.
A ‘comfortable’ deal for a collectible piece of TV memorabilia: this 1972 Reliant Regal Supervan III – one of six used in the filming of Only Fools and Horses – is going under the hammer for the third time in as many years. But the guide price is half what it fetched in 2021, This is Money can reveal
The Reliant Regal Supervan III was originally used in the first two seasons of the hit series, and was purchased by the BBC when the classic comedy began in 1981.
It is not known which specific episodes the three-wheeled van appears in, but it is believed to have been used in the first two seasons, including the famous ‘chandelier’ episode A touch of glasswhich originally aired in 1982.
It was previously owned by the late BBC director John Mansfield, who was the custodian of several of the six original Regal Supervan IIIs from the series.
In 2017, he also successfully sold another van through Silverstone Auctions (now Iconic Auctioneers). This van was reportedly the most expensive of them all when it changed hands for £41,625 seven years ago.
The top speed during filming was only 55 mph (88 km/h) and the actors often described the vehicle as a ‘worthless old three-wheeled van’.
But despite being the butt of jokes, the van proved incredibly reliable, and is said to have withstood the rigors of long filming days with commendable success.
The crew members could even cover great distances with it during location shoots.
It is not known which specific episodes it appeared in, but it is thought to have been used in the first two seasons, including the famous ‘chandelier’ episode A Touch of Glass, which first aired in 1982.
Included in the sale are fluffy dice, a ‘Tax in Post’ sign on the windshield and a roof rack with a market trader’s suitcase on it
Despite being the butt of jokes, the van proved to be incredibly reliable and survived the rigours of long filming days. Pictured (left to right) Buster Merryfield (as Uncle Albert), David Jason (Del Boy) and Nicholas Lyndhurst (Rodney) in the show
When the show ended in 2003 after the Christmas special, the van was sold to a collector.
Between 2015 and 2021 it was held by an enthusiast before being offered to the highest bidder, sold at Silverstone Auctions for a ‘comfortable’ £36,000.
And it wasn’t long before it was back in the auction room, when the Reliant Regal Supervan III was offered at CCA last summer.
Although it appeared to be sold for an unknown amount, This is Money understands the prize was just over £19,000 – nearly half of what the previous owner paid for it two years ago, representing a loss of about 45 percent.
The auction house expects it to sell for between £15,000 and £18,000, a fraction of the £36,000 paid at auction in 2021 (seen here on the website of Iconic Auctioneers, formerly Silverstone Auctions and a sister company of CCA)
The three-wheeled van is sold with an inflatable doll in the boot, a tribute to one of the show’s most popular episodes, ‘Danger UXD’, which originally aired in 1989 – and centres on Del Boy trying to sell a batch of faulty inflatable sex dolls
The bus features Del Boy’s favourite tiger print interior, along with many other features installed by the BBC in the early 1980s
When the show ended in 2003 after the Christmas special, the van was sold and has been owned by various enthusiasts (above the van is fitted with a BBC key fob and on the right some of the vehicle’s controls)
According to CCA, this example has been used for several charity events in recent years.
But at the end of the month it will go under the hammer again.
Auction experts estimate it could even sell for a lower price than a year earlier.
The guide price is £15,000 to £18,000. If it sells for the region of the lower estimate, it would have lost 58 per cent of its value in just three years.
The bus’s bodywork has been painted to appear damaged and the side features the words ‘New York, Paris, Peckham’ and ‘Trotters Independent Traders’.
It has seen quite a few miles in its 52-year history. According to the auction house, registration number “JPL 725K” has 97,000 miles on the odometer – the same number as when it was sold in 2023.
Recently, however, new tires have been fitted, the brakes have been overhauled and the fuel system has been renewed.
The bus bodywork has been painted to appear damaged and the side features the words ‘New York, Paris, Peckham’ and ‘Trotters Independent Traders’
The stars of the show pose for the 1981 Christmas special, including Lennard Pearce, who played Grandpa, on the right
It comes as it was when used for filming, complete with the roof rack, the market trader’s suitcase, the soft dice and even an inflatable sex doll in the back, as seen in Season 6, Episode 2, Danger UXD.
The ‘Tax in Post’ sign on the windscreen and Del Boy’s favourite tiger print interior are still there.
The Trotters van, along with Inspector Morse’s Jaguar Mk2 and Jim Bergerac’s Triumph Roadster, is one of the most recognisable vehicles on British television.
A spokesperson for CCA told us: ‘Only Fools and Horses still lives on in the hearts of many of us. This musical still attracts record audiences today and will soon be touring the country.
‘Memorabilia from the original show is certainly good news (for sellers and collectors alike) and this van is no exception. It’s certainly a great opportunity to own a piece of British comedy history.’
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