Gold trader and Only Fools and Horses fan splashes out £38k on Del and Rodney's yellow van

Dale Biddle, 32, snapped up the iconic van which was one of a fleet of six used during the show’s 22-year-run.

The self-confessed “wheeler dealer” uses the van to commute to and from his work as a gold trader and parks it outside his shop in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter.

Dale said: “It wobbles like crazy when a lorry goes past, black smoke comes out the back, the horn beeps when it goes over a pothole and there’s no reverse so I have to

push it back - otherwise it runs like a dream.”

Dale, of Stoneleigh, Warks., forked out on the Trotters Independent Traders van after spotting it for sale online.

The businessman, who runs The Bullion Room, said: “I saw an advert for the auction and me and my dad started laughing about the show.

“I remember Only Fools and Horses very fondly like so many people do.

“We still watch it when they put re-runs on TV. I’ve always wanted to own a three-wheeler. Owning Del Boy's three-wheeler is a dream come true.

“The one I’ve got was in the sixth series episode five which is entitled Sickness and Wealth and aired in 1989.

“It’s got the branding on it and the log book.

“I parked it outside my shop for a joke but loads of people started taking pictures of it.

“I went out with a charity box and raised about £300 in an hour-and-a-half which I donated to the Children’s Hospital.”

The 1972 yellow Reliant Rebel Supervan III was bought by the BBC when the comedy began in 1981.

Dale now plans to collect a fleet of iconic TV cars with the next on his list being a Batmobile.