Oxford Diecast 76DOR001

Dorchester ACV 8th Armoured Division 1941 - 1:76 Scale

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI/AI images rather than photographs

Prototype Eras
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest
Era 6 (1967 to 1972) British Rail Blue (Pre-TOPS)

Manufacturer description

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.

Catalogue listing

Oxford Diecast Dorchester ACV 8th Armoured Division 1941 – 1:76 Scale is a die‑cast model of the AEC Armoured Command Vehicle (ACV) used by the British Army in the Second World War. The model is supplied under the manufacturer part number 76DOR001 and depicts the vehicle in the dark green and dark grey camouflage employed by the 8th Armoured Division in 1941.

The ACV was based on a truck chassis and served as an armoured command transport, carrying a single .303 Bren light machine gun internally. Over 400 of the vehicles were built, and they were nicknamed “Dorchester” by troops because of the vehicle’s size and comfort, reminiscent of the luxury hotel in London. Oxford Diecast has reproduced the original vehicle markings, including the division’s military number on both sides of the cab and the rear, the name “Hermann” in red on the bonnet, and period‑accurate rivet details highlighted by the dark colour scheme.

The model is scaled to 1:76, appropriate for use with British Railway early‑crest railway modelling ranges. It is suitable for collectors and hobbyists seeking an accurate representation of a British armoured command vehicle from the early 1940s.