1970 Reliant Regal Supervan 3 Royal Mail Livery

In 1935 Reliant started by making three-wheeled vans but added a passenger car to its range in 1952, the first Regal. Initially using aluminium panels over a wooden body frame, from 1955 Regal bodies were made from glass fibre reinforced plastic. The most significant advance came in 1962 with the Regal 3/25. The 3/25 was a monocoque construction, made entirely from glass fibre and its new Reliant 600cc engine was the first all-aluminium engine in a UK series production car and later increased to 700cc.

It was the van version of the Regal, which made the model infamous. A yellow Supervan II was immortalised as Del-Boy and Rodney Trotter's delivery van of choice in the long-running BBC TV comedy series, Only Fools and Horses.

For the average car buyer, the Regal offered advantages in low running costs, good economy and lower vehicle tax, as well as being able to be driven by people with a motorcycle licence. When the Morris Minor Van was reaching the last days of its production, the Post Office investigated a number of models as a replacement for its fleet of delivery vans. In 1970, 50 Regal Supervan III's entered service with the Royal Mail on a trial basis, although the model was not selected as the Minor's eventual successor.

Engine: 4cyl, 700cc Top Speed: 75mph (121km/h) Power: 29bhp Coachwork: mail van Price New: £506