After the success of America’s WW2 Jeep, the British Army was eager to obtain a multi-purpose light truck.

Despite competition from the Nuffield Organisation, Austin was awarded the contract to build 15,000 vehicles from a former aircraft factory at Cofton Hackett.

Produced from 1951 to 1957, the Champ was 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 with an Austin A90 engine, the vast majority were built for military use.

Although wearing a number plate issued the previous decade, this Champ was first registered for road use with the DVLA during 1982.

Presumed to have been de-mobbed the same year, the Austin entered the current ownership i...