Solved - NEH 1152: Wolseley FV1800 'Mudlark'

[Carnut]

1 point for the correct identification of this:

[Siata1]

Nuffield FV 1800 series, 1949 pre-production model, made at Wolseley Works (Ward End, Birmingham). Also known as Wolseley GP Vehicle, 5-cwt, 4x4 or "Mudlark".

[Carnut]

That is indeed the car.
Well done.

Another pic:

[fnqvmuch]

what relationship to the 'Champ' ? smaller? no RR?

[Carnut]

what relationship to the 'Champ' ? smaller? no RR?

Very close in fact.  It's one of the prototypes from which the production Champ grew.
After WW2 the UK military awarded the Nuffield Group (pre-BMC Morris/Wolseley) a contract to design and build a new all-purpose 4x4 to take over from the old US Jeep.  The Mudlark was one of the first fruits of the new project and was in fact the first to be fitted with the Rolls-Royce engine that eventually went into the Champ and was to help in its downfall, as it was much too expensive..

Apparently 12 Mudlarks were produced, at least 2 and possibly 3 of which still exist.