The Museum of American Armor is now home to a British World War II armor legend, the Dingo, an armored scout car that would have been found on the beaches of Dunkirk during the retreat of 1940 and helping liberate the Nazi death camps in 1945.
The Dingo is one of the vehicles found in the background of the current movie Dunkirk. Several hundred of these scout cars were left throughout France as the British were forced to abandon all their equipment while being rescued by a flotilla of Royal Navy ships and private vessels following German victories.
The Dingo had 4-wheel drive for reliable off-road travel and also 4-wheel steering, giving the compact scout car an incredibly tight turning radius of less than 25 feet. The Daimler 6-cylinder engine could power the Dingo to over 50 MPH, yet combined with a sizable fuel tank, was economical enough to give the car a range of about 200 miles. Its two-man crew, a driver and a radio operator/gunner, was protected by relatively light armor, but capable of stopping most enemy pistol and rifle rounds. The museum’s Dingo also carries a replica .303 caliber Bren Gun used by the British.
The Museum of American Armor (1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage) is open Wednesday through Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., admission is $12 for adults, $7 for children (5-12), seniors (60+) veterans, the physically challenged and volunteer firefighters with ID.
Visit www.museumofamericanarmor.org for more information.
