The iconic three-wheeled Reliant van from the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses is set to go under the hammer at the NEC Classic Motor Show in Birmingham, with auctioneers expecting bids of between £30,000 and £40,000.
The 1972 Reliant Regal Supervan III, registration APL 911H, is famously emblazoned with the words "Trotters Independent Trading Co" and boasts of branches in "New York, Paris, Peckham". It was one of six vehicles bought for the show but is the only one to have appeared in all 13 episodes of the first two series, broadcast between 1981 and 1982.
The van featured alongside Del Boy and Rodney in the very first episode, 'Big Brother', and in one of the most memorable episodes, 'A Touch of Glass', in which Del, Rodney and Grandad famously shattered a chandelier.
A Midland-made television icon
Built by Reliant at its Tamworth base, the three-wheeler has a top speed of 55mph and has clocked up 97,000 miles. It has been painstakingly restored to its original condition, with recent mechanical improvements including a new old stock carburettor, brake cylinders and battery, along with work carried out on the fuel system.
The van has also had fresh tyres fitted and its brakes overhauled so it could attend charity events. The owner has restored several features to match its television appearance, including the grey-primer bonnet hatch, bumpers and wings, alongside red-painted door interiors. The leopardskin print interior remains a distinctive feature.
Now owned by a private collector, the van will go under the hammer at Iconic Auctioneers' Classic Sale in November. The auctioneers described it as among the elite of British TV vehicles.
Going under the hammer at the NEC
The van is being auctioned alongside other show props, including a replica Harrison watch and a novelty £6.2 million cheque made payable to D Trotter and R Trotter.
Iconic sales manager Gary Dunne said: "This Reliant is a good reminder that significance is not always measured in performance or panache."
"There can't be many vehicles as instantly recognisable as this APL 911H. Its connection to the very earliest years of Only Fools and Horses makes it particularly special, and for the right fan, you might even say 'lovely jubbly'," he added.
Auction details and expectations
The Classic Sale is scheduled at the NEC Classic Motor Show in Birmingham on November 15. Bidding for the van is anticipated to reach between £30,000 and £40,000. The van, which featured in all 13 episodes of the first two series, remains a sought-after piece of television memorabilia for collectors and fans of the show alike.
