ON THE ROAD
Del Boy’s iconic three-wheeled ‘grubby’ yellow van sells at auction for £26k
Watch the van's appearance on Only Fools and Horses
DEL Boy's three-wheeled van that appeared in the epic chandelier episode of Only Fools & Horses has sold at auction for £26,000.
The yellow Reliant Regal Supervan III with "Trotters Independent Trading Co" on the side was featured in the first two seasons of the beloved BBC sitcom.
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This includes the iconic 1982 episode "A Touch of Glass," where Rodney drives the van into the countryside, leading Del and Grandad to encounter the lady of a nearby manor house whose car has broken down.
Upon entering the stately home, Del pretends to be a chandelier expert and offers to clean Lord Ridgemere's Louis XVI chandelier, resulting in disastrous yet hilarious consequences.
When the priceless piece crashes to the floor Del, Rodney and Grandad make a quick getaway in the battered-looking yellow van.
The 1972 van was one of six bought by the BBC for Only Fools & Horses.
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The van, which has a top speed of 55mph and has done 97,000 miles, was acquired by the late BBC film producer John Mansfield after it was no longer needed for filming.
It later passed into the hands of a private collector who sold it at Classic Car Auctions, of Ashorne, Warks, for more than £8,000 over the estimated price.
The three-wheeled motor, which is in good running order, sold along with props from the show including a market suitcase, fluffy dice and an inflatable doll.
The auctioneers said it belonged in the top echelon of British TV vehicles.
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A Classic Car Auctions spokesperson said: "The van was used for two series which included the famous chandelier scene.
"The little van must rank alongside Inspector Morse's Jaguar Mk2 and Jim Bergerac's Triumph Roadster as one of the most readily recognised vehicles on British television.
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"In the TV series, the Reliant Regal was owned by Trotter's Independent Traders – aka Rodney & Del Boy Trotter.
"The grubby yellow Reliant was in effect a co-star with David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst.
"Serving as the Trotters' main mode of transport, the van was used to store Trotters Independent Traders & Co stock and transport the family to several destinations.
"Only Fools & Horses remains in the hearts of so many of us with the stage musical drawing record audiences to this day and due to go on tour nationwide very soon."
Only Fools & Horses' first series was broadcast in 1981.
The 1996 episode 'Time on Our Hands' attracted a record 24.3million viewers.
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The iconic Only Fools three-wheeled van had previously been on sale for £18,000.
And a rarely seen motor that was once hugely popular in the UK can be yours for a bargain price.
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