The vehicles that helped win the war

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The vehicles that helped win the war

Blackout regulations, petrol rationing, tyre shortages – the Second World War brought “pleasure motoring” to an emergency stop in Britain. Car manufacturing switched to military production and most of the country’s two million cars were carefully mothballed until

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– May 8 1945.

Private motoring wasn’t banned but once petrol coupons were issued in September 1939 few could contemplate long-distance travel by road. “Stop or I’ll shoot” checkpoints were common, as the Home Guard was put on high alert to protect the nation’s carefully hidden fuel supplies from sabotage and theft.

In July 1940 it became

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without a special licence from the government, used vehicle prices soared and all forms of public transport were packed with travellers. Thumbing a lift was commonplace but the threat of invasion was a constant.

So much so that the Ministry of Transport issued a warning leaflet to motorists entitled “Immobilisation of vehicles in the event of an invasion”. The owners of petrol vehicles were urged to remove the distributor cap and leads, as well as empty the fuel tank – or even remove the carburettor. Today, most drivers would likely have to call out the AA to perform such simple tasks.

While combustion engines were largely quiet on the home front, the British Army made use of a vast array of combat vehicles. Tanks, scout cars, ambulances, even mobile baths, swelled the automotive ranks from 40,000 to 1.5 million military vehicles during the war.

As the country remembers the 80th anniversary of

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, we look back at some of the machines that helped win that war. Here’s our list of mostly military vehicles – plus some wartime cars that became famous for other reasons.

Willys Jeep

Some 639,245 Willys were built between 1941-45, with no doors and rock-hard seats – Alamy

A light, off-road vehicle built in huge numbers during the Second World War. Essential to the Allied war effort, the Jeep became an iconic vehicle, used in every theatre of the conflict. American firm Bantam created the prototype but with limited production capacity to meet the military demand, manufacture was split between Willys-Overland and Ford. Some 639,245 were built between 1941-45, despite rock hard seats and no doors. View at

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Royal Enfield WD/RE ‘Flying Flea’

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The Royal Enfield WD/RE ‘Flying Flea’ was a lightweight motorbike dropped behind enemy lines from a glider – Alamy

British paratroopers would sometimes strap bicycles to their backpack before leaping from an aircraft. Moving quickly behind enemy lines was vital, so the War Office investigated dropping lightweight motorbikes, too. Just how you parachute a 59kg machine from a glider without catastrophic consequences was finally overcome by Royal Enfield. Its design included a metal frame around the Flying Flea itself – a bike that subsequently ******-landed into the history books. A new, all-electric Flea is due on the market early next year. View at the

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M4 Sherman Firefly

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The US-designed M4 Sherman Firefly tank was a potent force for the Allies during the war – Alamy

Even knowledgeable staff at The Tank Museum, Bovington, couldn’t agree on the most important tracked vehicle of the war. As an all-rounder, the Sherman was one of the best. In 1941, the government tried to persuade America to manufacture a British tank design but instead US

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stuck to the US-developed Sherman. By 1943 the Sherman itself was becoming dated, so a more potent, British 17-pounder anti-tank gun was installed to create the Sherman Firefly. The longer barrel was often disguised to look like a regular Sherman. View at

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King George VI’s Daimler DE36

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Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh wave to the crowds as they drive a Daimler DE36 convertible during a tour of Sydney in 1954 – Alamy

The Royal family enjoyed

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. Back then, a Rolls-Royce was for businessmen – a Daimler was for a gentleman. A limousine with a straight-eight-cylinder engine, the Landaulette featured a folding hood that made it easier for the public to see their monarch in transit. Luxuries included electric windows and heated glove warmers for regal passengers. The ash-framed body was built by Westminster-based coachbuilder Hooper and used both aluminium and steel, trimming weight to a respectable 2.5 tons. A similar Royal car delivered in 1947 is occasionally on show in Scotland.View at the

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Monty’s Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith

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Field Marshal Montgomery’s staff Rolls-Royce was restored by Richard Hammond for the 2024 VE Day commemorations – Alamy

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’s staff car was the first civilian vehicle to disembark in Normandy, three days after D-Day. The landing on Juno Beach was ordered by Churchill, to reassure the French that the Allies would not retreat. Monty used the limousine in Europe right up to the ******* surrender, despite it being highly conspicuous to the enemy. The Silver Wraith was overhauled by Richard Hammond’s restoration company last year in time for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. View at

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Austin 7

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Nicknamed the ‘peoples’ car, thousands of Austin 7s were stored away during the war and dusted down for VE Day – Getty

A car that helped win the war? The ubiquitous 7 was first produced in 1922 and remained popular until 1939, when production at factories such as Longbridge on the southern outskirts of Birmingham switched to munitions. Simple and affordable, many privately-owned Austin’s were stored away during the war, being dusted down on VE Day in preparation for civilian duties once more. A true “peoples’ car”, the diminutive 7 offered hope of happier days ahead for those on the home front. View at the

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And one loser…Hitler’s Mercedes-Benz G4

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Hitler’s Mercedes G4 was fitted with a folding front passenger seat so he could stand and greet waiting crowds – Alamy

Fitted with a bulletproof windscreen and side windows, this 1939 G4 was delivered to the Fuhrer himself and survived the entire war. The imposing three-axle vehicle was used by

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in Berlin and Poland before eventually seized by the French Army. Less than 100 G4 touring wagons were built by Mercedes-Benz; Hitler’s was fitted with a folding front passenger seat, so he could stand and greet waiting crowds. A number of discreet pistol holders and gun compartments were included. View at the

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