During the First World War Vauxhall supplied over 1,500 D-type Staff Cars for military use. These cars went to the Western Front, East Africa, Russia and Palestine.

Based on the Vauxhall A-type, the Staff Car played a vital role in the conflict, able to deal well with poor road conditions and still perform, whilst also being relatively quiet and reliable. D-types in service were known to carry high-speed mail dispatches, as well as senior officers, and even King George himself!

At the time Vauxhall used the slogan “the finest car in active service”. The number on the side, IC-0721, is the military number for the vehicle. There are only two known D-types that have survived since 1918. The Staff Car was also the first vehicle to cross the Rhine following the Armistice in 1918.

This particular vehicle was saved from a scrapyard in 1946 and, following its restoration, it appeared in the film War Horse alongside the Vauxhall Heritage Collection’s ‘Prince Henry’.