[cmperry4]

I think that may be a PERS-2 variant, but more likely PERS-1 - it is definitely not the '45 PERS-3 Staff Car: As Phil notes, no door handles, Monsanto not glass body windows, square roof hatch, the POW, not the stepped jerry-can, storage rack on the running board, so that maybe even makes it a PERS-1 to which the slinging hubs were added. I think I see penthouse hooks on the roof sides, too, so does that make it PUTR? If you could see around the other side, it might not have the spare tire carrier either. Spare tires are probably under that roof tarp.

It would be interesting to see when running changes were brought in - I thought the spare tire carrier, at the very least defined the PERS-2, with jerry can rack, and then the U.S. features, round AA hatch, gauges, wood wheel coming in during '44.

I think it's a staged shot - if they were really running the thing in the desert, they would probably want to have the cowl air vents open. Doesn't look that stuck, either.
I'd be really impressed if they had the girl cranking the engine backwards to get it up a huge sand dune.