The original butcher’s van from Dad’s Army has been restored by a team of apprentices in east London.
The 1935 Ford BB Box Van featured in the first colour episode of the comedy series on September 11, 1969, and became a fixture of the show.
The two-ton vehicle, emblazoned with the logo of Corporal Jones’s family butchers, has undergone various restorations in recent years but it has only now been returned to its original state.
The restoration, which includes a full engine rebuild, replacement clutch and new wiring looms, was completed by Ford apprentices in the same Dagenham building it would have left more than 80 years ago.
Paul Neighbour, Ford Dagenham engine plant manager, said: “It has been wonderful to see the van back at Dagenham after all these years, and we're delighted that our apprentices have had the opportunity to get involved with getting such an iconic vehicle back on the road.”
The project coincides with the release of the new film of the classic television series and the vehicle will now be housed at the Dad’s Army Museum in Norfolk.
Stuart Wright, from the museum, said: “This vehicle has a special place in British entertainment history, and is enjoyed by the many visitors to the Dad's Army Museum.
“It's fantastic to see the van operational again and we hope it will capture the imagination of the younger visitors less familiar with Dad's Army, as well as triggering happy memories for the older generations.”
