The AEC ACV (Armoured Command Vehicle) was one of a series of such
vehicles built by the British Associated Equipment Company during the
Second World War. Such vehicles were essentially armoured buses based on
truck chassis and the UK was the only country to develop and widely
employ this purpose-built armoured command form of transport. Just over
400 were built in all for use by the British Army and carried the
facility for a single .303 Bren light machine gun which was carried
inside. The ACV was big and comfortable, as a result of which the troops
nicknamed it Dorchester after the luxury hotel on Park Lane in London.
To launch this piece of new tooling, Oxford has decorated the ACV in a
dark green/dark grey camouflage scheme as used by the 8th Armoured
Division in 1941. The chassis and wheel hubs are also dark green. The
Division's military number is printed on both sides of the cab and
across the back. They have also named their truck Hermann, printed
boldly in red on the bonnet, while additional military numbering appears
on the front and rear mudguards. One final detail comprises the
authentic ‘rivets' on the vehicle, which are shown up to great effect by
the dark colour scheme.