The AEC Matador 4×4 tractor first appeared in 1939, and was built to a War Office specification to tow 4.5-in (114-mm), 5.5-m (140-mm) and 6-in (152-mm) howitzers. The requirement was for a four-wheel tractor with seating for the crew and ammunition stowage. The early production vehicles had a cab roof of different shape to that of later production trucks, the latter having a circular hatch for air observation; when not in use this was covered by a small canvas sheet. The basic design of the cab was very simple and robust, being built on a wooden frame with steel sheets. The body was of conventional timber construction with a drop tailboard and a side door for use by the gun crew. Special runners were fitted to the floor to allow shells to be moved to the rear tailgate for unloading. The Matador was powered by a 6-cylinder 7.58-litre AEC engine producing 71 kW (95 bhp), allowing a top speed of 58 km/h (36 mph). For pulling purposes (for example extracting guns from mud) a 7-ton winch was fitted with 76 m (250 ft) of wire rope. The Matador was used in most theatres of the war. In the desert it proved to be extremely popular with the gun crews for its reliability, and photographic evidence shows that some had the tops of the cabs cut down to door level.

An armoured command post was also built on this chassis, called the Dorchester, in which accommodation was provided internally for high-or-low-powered radio transmitting and receiving equipment, and an external penthouse could be erected. As these vehicles were considered prime targets they were carefully disguised to look like general-service trucks.

A much better cross-country car was the Horch, shown here in North Africa while its crew inspects a dummy M3 Stuart light tank abandoned by the British in March 1942. It is covered with yellow-sand camouflage paint over the standard dark gray and carries the palm and swastika emblem of the DAK painted above and to the right of the license plate WH 228970. The Horch was produced in many versions of three different models (Kfz.15, 16 and 17) which were heavier and stronger than the Kfz.2 and 4, so they could carry more men and equipment over the same sort of terrain.

Most popular among all the troops was the VW Type 82 Kübelwagen, the best German vehicle of its type because of its cross-country capabilities, speed and manageability. The VW Type 82 was also simple to service and economical to produce, which were just as important as its capabilities. This is a Kübelwagen in North Africa belonging to the 3rd battalion of Art.Rgt.90 of 10.Panzer-Division, identified by the markings visible on its left mudguard. The tactical signs are painted in white while the divisional emblem is yellow, both on the original dark gray paint. The same combination is repeated on the driver’s door. The license plate shows a black WH-1377895 painted on a white background with a black border. The Kübelwagen has also been fitted with the desert balloon tires.

A group of Fallschirmjäger from Division Hermann Goring travelling in Tunisia on a captured Canadian made Chevrolet gun tractor marked with a swastika on the radiator to indicate the nationality of its new owners and “W.L.” on the bumper for the branch of service. All the soldiers are wearing tropical uniforms with splinter pattern camouflage smocks or zeltbahn shelter quarters over them. Most of them wear the standard M1935 helmet with sand camouflage paint although one has a camouflage cover. The man at the left front has the standard paratroop helmet as well as the man in the center near the rear who also has a camouflage cover as well.