Austin Champ

The Truck, ¼ ton, CT, 4x4 cargo & FFW, Austin Mk 1 was more frequently referred to by its civilian designation “Champ”.

It can trace its origins to the late 1940s for a British produced vehicle to supplement the numerous US made Jeeps then in service. Initially the prototypes were prepared by Nuffields and known as the “Nuffield Gutty”.

This design proved inadequate during testing and the Fighting Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (FVRDE) embarked on a series of modifications. The improved version entered limited production with Wolsey Motors as the “Mudlark” before being further refined and a contract awarded to Austin for full production of 15000 vehicles.

The Champ had excellent cross-country performance but it was too expensive and too complex for its envisaged role and the increasing production of the cheaper and more versatile Land Rover resulted in the contract with Austin being reduced to 11,000.

The Champs in use with airborne forces included being adapted for heavy drop and a modified variant mounting the 106mm Recoilless Rifle.

The Champ was withdrawn from service in 1967.

Length 3.66m (12ft) Width 1.65m (5ft 5in) Height 1.87m (6ft 1.5in)