Reliant Regal

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Reliant Regal 3/30 with detail of front suspension

The Reliant Regal van belonging to the Trotters in Only Fools and Horses

The Reliant Regal was a small three-wheeled car manufactured by the Reliant Motor Company in Tamworth, England. Being a three-wheeler, and lightweight, the vehicle could be driven on a motorcycle licence in the United Kingdom.

There were many forms of Reliant Regal from the Mk 1 in 1953 followed by the Mk II, Mk III, Mk IV, Mk V, Mk VI and the Regal 3/25 and 3/30.

Reliant three-wheelers enjoy something of a special place in British culture as symbols of British eccentricity. The most famous example of a Regal is the iconic van belonging to Del Boy and Rodney Trotter in the long-running BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. The van is frequently and incorrectly often referred to as a Robin, but is actually a Regal Supervan. The Trotters' original van is now on display in the "Cars of the Stars" motor museum, while one of two 'back-up' vans was sold in 2007 for over £44,000[1]. In another TV comedy, Mr. Bean, the lead character frequently comes into conflict with a light blue Reliant Regal Supervan III, which gets tipped over, crashed into, or bumped out of its parking space. The vehicle from the Mr Bean series was later destroyed[2].