FODEN TRUCK, FODEN S18 FLAT

This lorry, first registered 22 August 1956, was built by the British manufacturer Foden Trucks, a brand with a rich history. Foden Trucks is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, names in the British vehicle industry. The brand’s origins date back to 1856, when founder Edwin Foden began as an apprentice in a machine factory in Sandbach. From these humble beginnings, the company grew to become a pioneer in heavy haulage, first with steam engines and later with lorries.

Foden was renowned for its robust construction and innovative engineering, and played a key role in the development and transition from steam to diesel. During this period, the transport sector underwent a marked process of professionalisation, partly thanks to improvements in engine performance, ride comfort and safety. As early as 1931, the brand introduced one of the first commercially successful diesel lorries, thereby firmly establishing itself in the rapidly changing transport sector.

In the second half of the 20th century, Foden developed into a specialist in robust and often bespoke lorries. Following a difficult period in the 1970s and despite state aid from Harold Wilson’s Labour government, the company was taken over by the American firm PACCAR in 1980. Following PACCAR’s takeover of Leyland, Fodens continued to be sold for some time, featuring DAF cabs, amongst other things. PACCAR decided to discontinue the brand in 2005, and the last Foden was produced in 2006; nevertheless, Foden lives on as an icon of British industrial innovation and craftsmanship.

This Foden S18 flatbed model has been in production since 1956, although the cab design had already been in use since 1948. Foden Trucks epitomises an era in which traditional British truck-building was combined with international technology and bespoke engineering; above all, Foden Trucks made a name for itself as a manufacturer of powerful and reliable workhorses for heavy haulage. This S18 FG6/15 that you see here was originally an aircraft refuelling tanker for the British Army and is fitted with a Gardner 6LW engine, a 6-cylinder in-line diesel engine with a displacement of 8.4 litres (8,370 cc). The Gardner 6LW engine delivers a power output of 102 to 112.2 pk at 1,700 rpm.

This Foden S18, with registration number 792 BMA, came into the possession of Igmar Nooteboom in October 2010 and has been part of the collection of the RINO® Museum, the Heritage of Convoi Exceptionnel, since 5 November 2010.

Christopher J. Beckley from Oxford, UK, was the first owner from 1994 to 2007.

Geoffrey Johnson from Yorkshire, UK, was the second owner from 2007 to 2010.

Igmar Nooteboom has been the third owner from 2010 to the present day.