Crompton’s Column
How an intriguing piece of armoured history found its way into the hands of Bruce Crompton and his team: an M8 Armoured Car
It’s always a thrill to add a classic piece to our collection, especially when the demand for vehicles in movie work ramps up. When we found ourselves in need of a solid example of the M8 light armoured car, we set out on a hunt to find the perfect one.
The M8, a 6x6 armoured car built by the Ford Motor Company during World War Two, is a bit of a legend and would undoubtedly be a superb addition to our line-up.
Back in July 1941, the US Army Ordnance Department had kickstarted the development of a new fast tank destroyer to replace the M6 37mm motor gun carriage, a ¾-tonne truck with a 37mm gun awkwardly mounted on the back. They wanted a 6×6 wheeled vehicle with a 37mm gun, a coaxial machine gun in a turret and another machine gun in the front hull.
The armour needed to withstand .50 cal machine gun fire on the glacis and .30 cal on the sides. Prototypes were developed by Studebaker, Ford and Chrysler, all with similar designs.
In April 1942, Ford’s design was selected, despite some concerns about its shortcomings. By then, it was clear the 37mm gun wouldn'…
