S.21 flat bed lorry

Foden S.21 6X2 flat bed lorry, 1968. Registration no. GTU 906G, chassis no. 50922.

Foden originated in Northern England in 1856, initially manufacturing traction engines before transitioning to trucks and lorries. In 1931, Foden produced the first diesel lorry to become commercially successful in Britain. Foden’s success continued and they produced various commercial vehicles including buses, mobile crane chassis, and heavy haulage tractors. Foden’s vehicles combined with Britain’s improving road infrastructure helped remove the reliance on rail for long distance haulage. However in the early 1970s, Foden fell on hard times, due to the economic downturn and a large expenditure on a new plant, and in 1974, Foden received Government money to continue operating. Foden was eventually bought by the American company, PACCAR in 1980, which continued to use Foden as a brand name until 2006.