Only Fools and Horses: The reason David Jason ‘hated’ Del’s iconic yellow Reliant Regal van
The canary yellow three-wheeler is one of the most recognisable cars in TV history
When you think of Only Fools and Horses there are a few different images that will pop into your head. Whether it’s the character of Del Boy chomping on a cigar with his ring glinting underneath, or Rodney’s messy hair and camo jacket.
If it’s neither of those two though, then it’s probably a canary yellow Reliant Regal with full tiger print seats, a fair lick of rust, and a pair of absolute plonkers sat inside.
Despite the association of the Reliant with one of the fondest periods of his life though, Del Boy actor Sir David Jason has said he wouldn’t drive it again ‘even if you paid’ him.
Explaining his surprising distaste for the icon on BBC Breakfast, David said: “The Reliant we had to drive in Only Fools was hell on three wheels.
“It was probably the most uncomfortable, noisy, smelly car ever. It had a crashed gearbox and the seats were all ripped but we had an affection for it.
“It was a genius idea by the writer John Sullivan to get the Trotters driving around in a cheap little vehicle, but I wouldn’t drive one now if you paid me.”
Despite Del Boy’s contempt for the little three-wheeler, the Trotter’s Independent Trading van has become one of the most enduring images of the show, with the vehicle used in a 2001 episode of the show selling for over £40,000 at a 2017 auction.
What’s more another version of the famous vehicle was once owned by boxing World Champion Ricky Hatton, who bought it in 2009 for £4,000, showing just how obsessed even the most high profile fans of the show remain with the novel car.
