On seeing Andy Oughton’s 1953 Foden FE6/15 S18 V front for the first time, it’s easy to assume that, thanks to its short wheelbase it started life as a concrete mixer or British Sugar tanker. Neither of these is true, although details of the Foden’s actual history are somewhat vague.
What is known though is that this Sunderland registered Foden came out of the factory in January 1953 as a 24ft 6in flat that was supplied to the Road Haulage Executive, possibly ordered by the Midland Division in Dewsbury to become part of the BRS fleet. But the Foden ended up being registered and working in Sunderland.
According to documents, the Foden was later with Smalley & Simpson, possibly in Lancashire, and then ended up working in Yorkshire. At some (unknown) time, the S18’s chassis was shortened to convert the vehicle into a tipper. “The rear axles were moved forward with the excess chassis being cut off the back instead of cutting out the centre of the chassis,” Andy said.
The Foden was then fitted with Edbro tipping gear which was attached to a frame from another vehicle, and headboard was also fitted to the tipper frame.
Flat or Tipper
The conversion allowed the Foden toor a tipper. “The sides were not fixed,” he added, “Removable posts had been fitted and the drop sides could be removed.” The reason for the change is, however, unknown though the discovery of several lumps of coke between the chassis gearbox and engine might indicate running out of collieries or to coke works during its later life.
