The story which has long accompanied this Jeep is that it served on Base Air Depot No.2 (Station 582 of the US 8th Air Force) during WW2.

Forming the basis of both RAF Warton and RAF Freckleton once peace came, BAD-2 handled 45,000 aircraft movements during the conflict.

A vital conduit for American operations in the European Theatre, it was home to three runways and 10,000 service personnel.

Thought to have been a ‘Follow Me’ Jeep guiding P-51 Mustangs and B24 Liberators around the labyrinthine site, the Ford is rumoured to have had its unique hardtop crafted by the Seabees to provide protection against the English weather.

Boasting the highest average age and pay packet in the American forces, the Seabees comprised architects, engineers and skilled tradesmen.

Tasked with establishing outposts in active combat zones, the construction of a plywood and doped canvas hardtop would have been well within their skill set (though, the rear reading lamps are a nice touch).

A hand painted...