Why Does Mr. Bean Hate the Blue Car? The Reliant Regal Explained
The “blue car” in Mr. Bean is a 1972 Reliant Regal Supervan III, a small three-wheeled van driven by an unnamed rival — it is not Mr. Bean’s own car. Across several episodes of the original ITV sitcom, Mr. Bean rams it, tips it over, or steals its parking space, and the driver is never named or explained on screen. It’s a scripted running gag built for physical comedy, not a real feud with a backstory.
Mr. Bean’s own car, by contrast, isn’t blue at all. His most iconic ride is a green (originally orange) classic Mini, and mixing up the two cars is one of the most common points of confusion among fans searching for the story behind this joke. Below is what the blue car actually is, who’s (not) driving it, and every episode where the two vehicles collide.
Quick Answer
The blue car is a 1972 Reliant Regal Supervan III, a three-wheeled van driven by an unnamed rival in the Mr. Bean series — it does not belong to Mr. Bean. His own car is a green (originally orange) classic Mini. The rivalry between them is a recurring physical-comedy gag, not a real feud with a backstory.
What Is the Blue Car in Mr. Bean? (1972 Reliant Regal Supervan III)
The blue car is a 1972 Reliant Regal Supervan III, a small three-wheeled van built by the Reliant Motor Company in Tamworth, England. The Regal was produced from the early 1950s through 1973, when it was replaced by the better-known Reliant Robin. In the show, the van is painted a pale, light blue and is instantly recognizable by its single front wheel and lightweight fiberglass body — both of which make it easy for Mr. Bean’s Mini to push, ram, or tip it over for a laugh.
A common point of confusion: many fans and even some official Mr. Bean merchandise refer to the car as a “Reliant Robin.” Technically, the Robin is a separate (later) Reliant three-wheeler model made from 1973 onward. The car actually used in the original 1990s episodes is a Regal Supervan III, though “Robin” has become the informal catch-all name fans use for any three-wheeled Reliant — similar to how “Xerox” gets used generically for photocopiers.
Who Drives the Blue Car? (There’s No Confirmed Named Character)
The driver of the blue car is never named or formally identified in the original live-action Mr. Bean series. He’s a background rival with no dialogue, no credited character name, and no confirmed backstory — fan wikis simply refer to him as “the Reliant Regal driver” or “the blue car driver.” If you’ve seen claims online that name him or identify a specific actor playing him, treat those with caution: there is no verified, official Mr. Bean source (BBC/Tiger Aspect, the show’s original production companies) that names or credits the driver.
The 2002 animated spin-off series gives the character more screen time and a proper rivalry arc — including episodes like “The Sofa” and “Car Wars,” where the Reliant driver actively gets revenge on Bean — but even there, he remains unnamed. One recurring fan theory suggests the driver might be implied to be a mechanic trying to scam Mr. Bean, but this is speculation rather than something confirmed on screen.
Why Does Mr. Bean “Hate” the Blue Car? The Real Reason
There’s no in-universe explanation for the rivalry — no childhood trauma, no prior incident, no rational motive. It’s purely a scripted physical-comedy device. According to MINI’s own official retrospective on Mr. Bean’s car, a Reliant three-wheeler was chosen specifically as the recurring target partly because star and co-creator Rowan Atkinson reportedly had little regard for the car as a driver’s machine, making it a natural comedic foil for his accident-prone Mini.
The joke also works mechanically: a three-wheeled vehicle is inherently less stable than a four-wheeled one, so it tips over believably (and safely, for the stunt team) whenever Bean bumps it, brakes near it, or overtakes it. That visual gag — the vulnerable little three-wheeler getting knocked around by a clumsy but oddly confident driver — became one of the show’s most repeated sight gags rather than a storyline with any real “hatred” behind it.
Every Episode Where Mr. Bean Clashes With the Blue Car
The rivalry appears across multiple episodes of the original series and returns, expanded, in the animated spin-off:
| Episode | What Happens |
|---|---|
| “Mr. Bean” (pilot, 1990) | Bean speeds past the Reliant, causing it to drift off the road, then later pushes it out of a parking space. |
| “The Curse of Mr. Bean” (Episode 3) | Bean rams the van, causing it to reverse and accidentally tip over. |
| “The Trouble with Mr. Bean” (Episode 5) | Bean pushes the Reliant out of a parking spot he wants for himself. |
| “Tee Off, Mr. Bean” | The Reliant driver offers Bean a hitchhike; Bean rudely ignores him. |
| “The Sofa” (animated series) | The Reliant driver steals an old sofa (with Bean’s TV remote still inside) after Bean sells it for 10p. |
| “Car Wars” (animated series) | The rivalry escalates into a full revenge arc, ending with Bean’s Mini getting crushed at a junkyard. |
Mr. Bean’s Own Car vs. the Blue Car
Because the two vehicles get confused so often, here’s a direct side-by-side:
| Feature | Mr. Bean’s Mini | The Blue Car |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | 1977 Leyland Mini 1000 Mark IV (first on-screen car was an earlier orange Mini) | 1972 Reliant Regal Supervan III |
| Color | Citron/olive green with a matte black bonnet | Pale, light blue |
| Wheels | Four | Three |
| Owner | Mr. Bean (protagonist) | Unnamed rival driver |
| Role in the show | Bean’s beloved, comically abused personal car | Recurring target of Bean’s driving mishaps |
Are Reliant Regals Still Around Today?
The Reliant Regal was built by the Reliant Motor Company in Tamworth, England, from the early 1950s until 1973, when it was succeeded by the Reliant Robin. Its lightweight fiberglass body and three-wheel layout meant it could, in the UK at the time, be taxed and licensed more cheaply than a comparable four-wheeled car — part of why the model sold well to budget-conscious drivers in period.
Surviving Regals are now a niche but genuine collector interest in the UK, kept alive by small three-wheeler owners’ clubs and classic car shows. Because of the Mr. Bean connection, well-preserved examples (and especially the Supervan III model) can carry a premium over an ordinary Reliant Regal saloon among fans looking for a piece of TV history, though prices vary widely by condition and originality.
More TV and Movie Car Trivia
If you enjoyed untangling the real story behind Mr. Bean’s blue car, these other on-screen car mysteries are worth a look: what car Columbo actually drives, the real car that inspired Doc Hudson in Cars, and every car featured in Tokyo Drift.
Our Top Pick
Hot Wheels Matchbox Mini Cooper — Mr. Bean Edition
Best for: Fans who want the actual on-screen Mini as a licensed diecast collectible.
Why we picked it: It’s an officially branded Mr. Bean model, not a generic Mini lookalike.
Main drawback: Small scale, so it’s a display piece rather than a detailed model kit.
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KiNSMART Mini Cooper S 1:28 Diecast (Green) Best for: A bigger, more detailed classic Mini in a similar green shade. Why we picked it: Larger 5-inch scale shows off more body detail than the Mr. Bean-branded model. Main drawback: Not officially Mr. Bean-branded. Check on Amazon |
Mr. Bean — The Whole Bean (Complete Set) Best for: Rewatching every blue-car rivalry episode in order. Why we picked it: Includes the full original series where every blue-car gag actually appears. Main drawback: DVD format only, no streaming code included. Check on Amazon |
NJ Croce Mr. Bean Bendable Figure Best for: Displaying alongside the diecast Mini for a complete shelf set. Why we picked it: Officially licensed, poseable, and includes Bean’s signature look. Main drawback: Figure only — no Teddy bear or car included. Check on Amazon |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the blue car Mr. Bean hates?
It’s a 1972 Reliant Regal Supervan III, a small three-wheeled van. It is not owned by Mr. Bean — it belongs to an unnamed rival driver who repeatedly ends up parked near or in front of him.
Who owns or drives the blue car in Mr. Bean?
The driver is never named or identified on screen in the original series. Fan communities simply call him “the Reliant Regal driver” or “the blue car driver.” There is no officially confirmed character name or credited actor for this role.
Is the blue car’s driver named Rupert?
No. There’s no official source confirming the Reliant driver is named Rupert or played by a specific credited actor. That name does not appear in the show’s credits for this character. If you’ve seen this claim elsewhere, it isn’t backed by an official Mr. Bean production source.
Why does Mr. Bean hate the Reliant?
There’s no in-story reason given — it’s a scripted running gag rather than a real feud. A three-wheeled Reliant was reportedly chosen partly because star Rowan Atkinson had little regard for the car, and because its unstable three-wheel design made it an easy, safe vehicle for slapstick tip-over stunts.
Is Mr. Bean’s own car blue?
No. Mr. Bean’s own car is a classic Mini, most iconically a 1977 Leyland Mini 1000 Mark IV painted Citron/olive green with a matte black bonnet (his very first on-screen Mini, in the pilot episode, was orange). The blue car belongs to a different, unnamed rival driver.
What’s the difference between a Reliant Regal and a Reliant Robin?
The Regal is the earlier model, produced from the early 1950s until 1973 (the Supervan III version is the one featured in Mr. Bean). The Robin replaced it from 1973 onward. Fans commonly call the Mr. Bean car a “Reliant Robin” out of habit, but the vehicle actually used in the original episodes is a Regal Supervan III.
The Bottom Line
Mr. Bean’s “hatred” for the blue car isn’t a real feud with a real backstory — it’s a scripted physical-comedy device built around a 1972 Reliant Regal Supervan III driven by a rival who is never named on screen. The recurring joke works because the little three-wheeler is easy to tip, push, and ram, giving Bean’s Mini plenty of chances for slapstick mischief across the original series and its animated follow-up.
