Crossword Genius

Battered cars would smoke on field (3,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

war clouds

'smoke on field' is the definition.
(omens of war)

'battered cars would' is the wordplay.
'battered' is an anagram indicator.
'cars'+'would'='carswould'
'carswould' is an anagram of 'WAR-CLOUDS'.

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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