This is an original 1969 Reliant Supervan III from the iconic British comedy TV series Only Fools and Horses starring David Jason as “Del Boy” Derek Trotter, as well as Nicholas Lyndhurst and Lennard Pearce.
Though a handful of Reliant three-wheelers were used in the series, this was the only one used in all 13 episodes of the show’s first two series. It presents today just like it did on screen back in the day, and it’s road-registered and ready to go.
Fast Facts: The Supervan III From “Only Fools and Horses”
- This is an original 1969 Reliant Regal Supervan III used in the iconic British sitcom “Only Fools and Horses,” starring David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst. Registered APL 911H, it was the only van to appear in all 13 episodes of the show’s first two series, broadcast in 1981 and 1982.
- Reliant developed its three-wheeled vehicles to take advantage of British tax regulations that classified them as motorcycles, making them cheaper to own and operate. Introduced in 1953, the Regal evolved from an aluminum-bodied vehicle with a wooden frame into a lightweight fiberglass design, with over 105,000 examples built between 1963 and 1972.
- The bright yellow Supervan III became one of the most recognizable vehicles in British television, carrying the fictional Trotters Independent Trading Co. branding. Its fiberglass body was often decorated with fake rust for comedic effect, while its modest performance and unconventional three-wheeled layout contributed to its enduring popularity.
- This particular Supervan appeared in many memorable episodes including Big Brother, The Russians Are Coming, and A Touch of Glass. Recently refurbished with period-correct cosmetic details and mechanical servicing, it reportedly starts and drives well. It is being offered at auction without reserve, accompanied by a collection of Only Fools and Horses memorabilia.
Why Three Wheels And Not Four?
Although three-wheeled Reliants have long been a popular target for British comedy, featuring in Mr Bean, Top Gear, and Only Fools and Horses to name just three, the vehicles were built entirely seriously and used extensively in Britain in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
Although three-wheeled Reliants have long been a popular target for British comedy, featuring in Mr Bean, Top Gear, and Only Fools and Horses to name just three, the vehicles were built entirely seriously and used extensively in Britain in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Image courtesy of the Reliant Motor Company Ltd.
Due to a tax loophole, the UK has been spawning unusual three-wheelers for over a century. Morgan three-wheelers were being produced all the way back in 1911, and they were the first vehicles produced by the storied marque.
The tax loophole is that three-wheeled vehicles are classed as motorcycles rather than cars. This means it’s far cheaper to buy them, register them, and insure them.
History Speedrun: The Reliant Regal
Reliant developed almost their entire business model around this loophole and they achieved no small amount of success – over 105,000 Regal vans and saloon cars were built between 1963 and 1972, and that number doesn’t include the company’s other models.
The Reliant Regal first appeared in 1953 to replace the earlier Reliant Regent. The Regal initially had a wooden frame with an aluminum body all mounted to a steel box section chassis, and it was powered by a 747cc side-valve, water-cooled engine.
These cars were entirely built by hand and were cheap to run, so they became moderately popular and Reliant continued developing them over the 1950s and 1960s with a slow shift to cheaper fiberglass bodies and increasingly powerful engines – though the term “increasingly powerful” is being used loosely here, most Regals produced between 20 and 30 bhp.
Reliant became industry experts in the use of the still new material called “fiberglass”, by 1956 they were building the Mark 3 Regal with a 100% fiberglass body. In 1962 they debuted the Regal 3/25 with a fiberglass body of unit construction doing away with the wooden frame entirely and making the bodies in two main parts – the inner and outer body, which were then bonded together to form a rigid, lightweight structure.
Unlike some later production vehicles, APL 911H had its genuine registration plates fitted when on screen, making its identity and television history easy to verify.
The optimistically named Supervan III used by Derek “Del Boy” Trotter and his younger brother Rodney Trotter was one of these 100% fiberglass Reliants, in many episodes of the show you can see that the props department has applied fake rust to the body of the car to give it a more rundown look, which of course amused the people who knew the car was made of glassfiber and therefore couldn’t rust.
Reliant offered the Supervan in three variants including the Supervan, the Supervan II, and the Supervan III. The use of the word “super” in the model name has been the subject of much comedy over the years due to the somewhat limited performance capabilities of the vehicles.
That said, later versions of the Supervan III could reach speeds of 70+ mph (112 km/h), although you’d need to be a much braver man than me to try it.
What Is Only Fools And Horses?
Only Fools And Horses was a British sitcom that ran between 1981 and 2003. The show featured two hapless brothers named Del Boy and Rodney Trotter, Del Boy was the wheeler dealer and Rodney was the younger brother who was invariably pulled into Del Boy’s schemes.
Above Video: This is a series of highlights from the first season of “Only Fools and Horses.” It originally debuted in 1981.
The graphic on the side of Del Boy’s bright yellow Supervan III said “Trotters Independent Trading Co., New York – Paris – Peckham.” The Reliant was the family’s only form of transport for much of the show and it was central to many plot lines.
A number of Supervans were used over the course of production, one was blown up, another jumped over a bridge and fell apart, and some just broke down.
The Reliant Regal Supervan III Shown Here
This Reliant Supervan, registration number APL 911H, is an original screen-used vehicle from the British television sitcom Only Fools and Horses. It was the only van used throughout all 13 episodes of the show’s first two series, filmed in 1981 and 1982, making it one of the most historically significant surviving vehicles associated with the program.
The van first appeared in the show’s debut episode, Big Brother, in 1981, with its registration becoming visible in The Russians Are Coming. It also featured in the famous chandelier-cleaning scene in the 1982 episode A Touch of Glass. Unlike some later production vehicles, APL 911H had its genuine registration plates fitted when on screen, making its identity and television history easy to verify.
Before being bought by the current owner in early 2026, the Reliant had spent time in a private collection, where it reportedly received a light restoration, including fresh paint and signwriting. The current owner, a dedicated Only Fools and Horses enthusiast, subsequently returned several details to their original television appearance, including gray primer on the bonnet hatch, bumpers, and wings, along with red-painted door interiors.
This Reliant Supervan, registration number APL 911H, is an original screen-used vehicle from the British television sitcom “Only Fools and Horses.” It was the only van used throughout all 13 episodes of the show’s first two series, filmed in 1981 and 1982, making it one of the most historically significant surviving vehicles associated with the program.
Recent mechanical work includes a new old stock carburetor, cleaned fuel lines, replacement brake cylinders, fresh engine, gearbox, and differential oils, new antifreeze, and a replacement battery. The seller reports that the van starts easily, drives well, and that its equipment appears to function correctly.
The sale also includes a collection of Only Fools and Horses memorabilia, including a replica John Harrison watch, a novelty £6.2 million cheque, and a sun visor bearing apparent cast signatures. The vehicle is being offered at auction without reserve and you can visit the listing here if you’d like to read more or register to bid.
Images courtesy of Iconic Auctioneers
Articles that Ben Branch has written have been covered on CNN, Popular Mechanics, Smithsonian Magazine, Road & Track Magazine, the official Pinterest blog, the official eBay Motors blog, BuzzFeed, Autoweek Magazine, Wired Magazine, Autoblog, Gear Patrol, Jalopnik, The Verge, and many more.
Silodrome was founded by Ben back in 2010, in the years since the site has grown to become a world leader in the alternative and vintage motoring sector, with well over a million monthly readers from around the world and many hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.
