Iconic TV car sells for a 'cushtie' amount!

This past weekend saw the NEC Classic Car Show take place, and, again, it was a raging success! Classic car fans and aficionados alike descended upon Birmingham to see the sights that this year's show had to offer. 

One of the highlights of the show, year-in and year-out, is the Silverstone Auctions' Classic Motor Show Sale. The auction sees a wide variety of items passing through, from motoring memorabilia to bikes, and watches to cars. Among this years lot an iconic piece of television history went under the hammer, and sold for an amount that its small-screen owners could have only dreamed of earning ...

I'm of course talking about Del Boy's 1968 Reliant Regal which starred in the highly popular BBC comedy 'Only Fools and Horses!' A star of the legendary series, the 1968 Reliant Regal van is easily one of the most recognisable and loved classic cars of the small screen, transporting Del Boy and Rodney on their many riotous adventures in the smash-hit comedy.

'BWC 94F' was used in the 2002 Christmas Special, 'If They Could See Us Now,' and also featured in the BBC DVD 'The Story of Only Fools and Horses' as well as in several issues of the fanzine "Hookie Street".

"Del Boy's Reliant Regal is one of the most distinctive cars of BBC comedy history! Only Fools and Horses has a fan base spanning several generations and is something of a British treasure, so to have the van from the series up for auction is a real treat which will no doubt draw the crowds, " explains Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions.

Today the van appears exactly as it did on screen, complete with tiger print plush interior and 'Trotters Independent Trading Co' decals. Accessories including a 'Tax in Post' window notice, nodding tiger, roof rack with suitcase, set of furry dice, personalised rubber foot mats, and a set of blow-up plastic dolls. With a reconditioned engine, a full synchromesh gearbox, a remote control key start, a DVD player and cassette radio, and even a smoke machine which emits smoke from the exhaust.

"Disregarding its TV provenance, it's probably the most reliable example of this 'marque' that you will find and has even participated in the London to Brighton rally in 2001 and 2004," concludes Nick. 

With 71778 miles recorded, the van was supplied with its original owners handbook, an MOT until 9th June 2018, and letters in the history file from the BBC which confirm its authenticity. 

The Reliant Regal was part of Sunday's sale, and enthusiastic bidding pushed the price to an incredible £41625, drawing gasps and applause. An amazing amount of money, but worth it when you consider the car's history and relevance to pop culture.  

Although you may not be able to get your hands on this iconic car now, if you fancy restoring your own, then we have just the book for you! How to restore Reliant Regal offers a guide in how to find a suitable Reliant Regal for restoration. It then gives a fully illustrated step-by-step guide on how to dismantle the car, and fully restore the body, chassis, electrics and engine back to showroom condition! 

JANIS JOPLIN'S ICONIC PORSCHE 356C CABRIOLET SET FOR AUCTION

She may have famously sung “Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes-Benz”, but legendary singer Janis Joplin personally drove an unmistakably wild 1965 Porsche 365C 1600 Cabriolet. This December, Joplin’s iconic Porsche will be offered as a star attraction at RM Sotheby’s exclusive Driven by Disruption sale in New York City – just in time for the holidays!

“Janis Joplin’s 356C is without question one of the most important Porsches of all time,” says Ian Kelleher, Managing Director of RM Sotheby’s West Coast Division. “It’s a fantastic automobile that transcends art, pop culture and social movements, and is as groundbreaking and stunning as the renowned singer was herself.”

Joplin purchased the Porsche in September 1968 and decided that the original Pearl White finish was slightly too conservative for the Queen of Rock and Roll. She engaged Dave Richards, a friend and roadie with her band, Big Brother and the Holding Company, to customize the car with a kaleidoscopic mural. Described by Richards to represent ‘The History of the Universe’, the dramatic artwork included such graphics as butterflies and jellyfish, as well as a portrait of Joplin with members of the band. The finished product was as colorful as the singer’s personality and certainly representative of the era - a one-of-a-kind flamboyant symbol of San Francisco’s psychedelic rock age. The car quickly became identified with Joplin, who was frequently seen driving it in period.

As Janis’s sister and biographer, Laura Joplin recalls, “Janis drove the car everywhere, all around San Francisco and down to Los Angeles when she was recording there. Wherever Janis went in the car, her fans recognized it. When she parked it and returned, there was always at least one fan note under the wipers.”

Following Joplin’s untimely death in 1970, the Porsche has remained in her family’s ownership, and was enjoyed by her manager, Albert Grossman, who drove it for several years, lending it to visiting family and friends. By the early 1990s, the car was treated to a meticulous restoration, preserving the integrity of the Porsche and presenting the car precisely as it was customized in period.

The Janis Joplin Porsche went on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 1995, where it remained a permanent and popular display up until this week. Offered for sale by the Joplin Family, it is expected to bring in excess of $400,000 when it crosses RM Sotheby’s New York podium in December.

Michael Joplin comments, “Besides Janis's music and legacy, her Porsche is the most visual and important piece of memorabilia that exists. Like most people and their car of choice, her Porsche is a direct link to Janis. She drove it everywhere - and with everyone that was anyone in the San Francisco music scene - with the top down and her feathers flying. Her music, life and car are a part of rock and roll history.”

Kelleher adds, “As a titan of the creative movement of the late 1960s, Janis Joplin remains one of the music industry’s brightest stars. It is an honor to be working with her family in the sale of this magnificent Porsche and even more so to have the opportunity to showcase such an important woman’s ownership of a classic car.”

The Joplin Porsche will be joined at RM Sotheby’s December 10 sale by a carefully curated selection of some 30 creatively-styled and pioneering motor cars, and select automotive-themed artwork. The second iteration of the company’s Art of the Automobile event, the December auction has been entitled Driven by Disruption. Much like the Porsche’s groundbreaking artwork, each of the cars in the auction showcases the extremes of motoring history and the molds that were broken by engineers and designers in pushing the automotive envelope. Previously slated for November, the new December date was strategically chosen to coincide with one of the most spectacular times of the year in New York City.

“Whether it be a stunningly beautiful coachbuilt automobile, a wild, untraditional design, or a marvel of high performance engineering, the auction will present cars that break with the conventional morals of car design and production. We are delighted to showcase this exhibit during a time in New York that is truly magical,” states Kelleher.

The new sale date is perfectly suited to the tastes and interests of RM’s collector car clients, providing opportunity for them to not only spend a few days in New York during the electric holiday season, but to also enjoy other events taking place during the same period, including Sotheby’s Important Watches and Magnificent Jewels sales. As a prelude to the Driven by Disruption sale, an exclusive six-day exhibition will open over the weekend of December 5 in Sotheby’s 10th floor galleries.

More information: RM Sotheby's

Available from Veloce!
The Book of the Porsche 356
by Brian Long.

The story of the most successful sports car manufacturers first car, detailing the full and fascinating story of the Porsche 356 and the racing and rallying cars which sprang from it. With over 240 pictures and extensive, well researched text, this book is a must for any Porsche fanatic. More info.

LOVELY JUBBLY! SIR DAVID JASON’S JAGUAR XJS UP FOR GRABS

Anglia Car Auctions is offering one lucky punter the chance to grab the keys to one cushty motor – a 1991 Jaguar XJS owned by the star of TV’s Only Fools and Horses, Del Boy himself – Sir David Jason.

The 1991 4.0 XJS, finished in burgundy, with cream leather interior, has covered just 61,600 miles and was brought brand new by David Jason Entertainment, before being registered in the star’s real name of David White.

It has had one further keeper since Peckham’s favourite son and comes complete with MoT through until 1st December 2014.

The Jaguar carries an estimate of £5,500 to £6,500 and is included in the next Anglia Car Auctions Classic Sale, held at the King’s Lynn auction house, on January 25th 2014. Beat Boycie too it, get along a place a bid – you know it makes sense!

For more information on Anglia Car Auctions and its future classic sales including its new classic motorbike sale on Saturday 1st March, visit www.angliacarauctions.co.uk.

Available from Veloce!
Jaguar XJ-S – The Essential Buyer's Guide
By Peter Crespin

A practical and highly-illustrated hands-on guide, to take you step-by-step through examination and purchase of Jaguar’s longest-running production car of all – the legendary XJ-S Grand Tourer. Covering all engine and body configurations, this book shows what to look for, what to avoid, and whether the car is likely to suit your needs, plus relative values and the best places to buy. Also includes full details on back-up organisations and literature.

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