Only Fools and Horses van is nice little earner for a good cause
A BIRMINGHAM businessman is on to a nice little earner – after snapping up an iconic three-wheeler from Only Fools and Horses.
Dale Biddle paid £38,800 for Del Boy and Rodney’s yellow Reliant Regal van after seeing it advertised for auction online.
Now it is parked outside his firm, precious metals and bullion specialist The Bullion Room, in Warstone
Lane in the Jewellery Quarter, where passers-by have been taking pictures.
He said: “It wobbles when a lorry goes past, smoke comes out the back, the horn beeps when it goes over a pothole and there is no reverse so I have to push it back – otherwise it works like a dream.”
The model bought by Mr Biddle was among a fleet of half-a-dozen made by Tamworth-based Reliant and featured in the sixth series.
The 32-year-old, from Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, said: “I saw an advert for auction and me and my dad started laughing. The show is in everyone’s childhood, it’s always on TV on a Sunday, we always have it on. I thought I would buy it for a bit of fun. It’s an original.
“It’s got the branding on it. On the log book, there were six made for the show and this one is in the sixth series in episode five.
“I parked it outside the shop in Warstone Lane and everyone was taking pictures. We collect for the Children’s Hospital and took the charity box out and people were being generous. Some people were getting inside and having a bit of a laugh. We must have raised around £300 in 90 minutes. It’s for everyone to look at, if they want to, they can donate to charity.”
In the meantime, Mr Biddle has his sights set on another iconic motor. “I might have to get Batman’s car next,” he said.
The Reliant Regal van was first rolled out from Reliant’s Tamworth factory during the 1970s UK heyday of low-price three-wheel motoring.