After the success of America’s Jeep in the Second World War, the British Army was eager to have a multi-purpose light truck of its own.

In spite of competition from the Nuffield Organisation, Austin was awarded the contract to build 15,000 vehicles from a former aircraft factory at Cofton Hackett, on the outskirts of the Longbridge works, which was specially adapted for the purpose.

Built from 1951 to 1957, Champs were quite unlike anything Austin had attempted previously.

A four-wheel-drive quarter-ton truck, it utilised the straight-four, 2838cc Rolls-Royce B40 engine.

The Rolls-Royce B-series engines were developed specially for use in British Army vehicles and, in their various guises, also powered the Daimler Ferret, Humber Pig and six-wheeled Alvis’.

Although a civilian version of the Champ was offered, the vast majority were built for military use.

Champ was actually the civilian name; officially the military version was the less catchy ‘Truck, ¼ Ton, 4x4, CT, Austin Mk

I...