Another popular Foden regularly spotted around Australia at truck functions and events is Frank Latorre’s 1965 twin steer S21. Edwin Foden enjoyed a good relationship with his employer George Hancock and for many years lived next door to him. In 2005, Paccar announced that Foden production was likely to cease in 2006. Sprys Transport Service in Griffith, NSW, carted wine, produce and related product between states and were emblazoned with the logo “Speed it thru Spry” Len Wright in Mt. One of those historic companys was the Gascoyne Trading Co. whose deep red fleet ran the length and breadth of the west coast for many years through many owners carting general, wool, perishables and just about anything and everything. The Association had been formed to better manage freight connections to and from the Alice Springs railhead under contract with Commonwealth Railways. On the retirement of George Hancock in 1887 the company was renamed Edwin Foden Sons & Co. Ltd. Later he operated the Mt Prophecy Mine at Marble Bar with what he called his “side-kick”, the Foden.

Foden struggled as its home market continued to be depressed. The first Foden GRP cab was the distinctively-styled S21 model. Fodens were found in just about every sector of industry.

Previous to WWII the small Americans; Ford, Chev, GMC rules the road. Family patriarch John O’Neil (Denis’s grandfather) had established White Rock Quarries in Western Australia. S21 Cab production continued until 1969. In an effort to kick start their post war economy the British Government did everything they could to increase export to other countries of the Commonwealth.

The 6WL Gardner engine was swapped for a more powerful 130hp two stroke GM with oversized injectors boosting it to 180hp. Copyright © 1995-2020 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. This truck did much to enhance Foden’s hardy reputation for durability and reliability in the Outback albeit, in its final form, it was far from original. It can often be found at truck shows where it is proudly displayed by the Abood family in memory of Cedric Abood who was renowned for his ability to rebuild his fleet from the ground up using whatever components he had available.

As a matter of interest Vince and Domenica also bought the first Peterbilt in Western Australia (and second into the country) in 1963 and it remains the pride and joy of that organisation to this day. Most Foden steam lorries were overtype but some undertypes were also produced. It was an era of turmoil with poor developmental decisions, mergers and take-overs. Len Houlahan from Attadale (WA) also operated an impressive fleet throughout the 1950s and 60s that included Foden trucks. Powell decided that he would need to pull in roadtrain configuration if he was to make a decent living. The first truck released with the GRP cab was the distinctive S21 model which was nicknamed the 'Mickey Mouse’ cab by some. The completely new FE and FG lorry ranges were introduced in 1948, along with the new Foden FD6 two-stroke diesel engine, which became the standard engine for certain Foden heavy lorry models, such as the S18 FE6/15 Rigid Eight-Wheeler.

Dump trucks then became a standard part of the Foden range. This tray truck was used on the Alice Springs to Darwin run usually towing two or three trailers behind and is powered by an eight cylinder Gardner. Bus and coach production ceased in 1956, but the last chassis only left the works in 1959, when it was registered 367CKA and received an early Plaxton Panorama body. He later took a job at the Crewe Railway Workshops before returning to Plant and Hancock where at the young age of 19 he was made shop foreman. Expand your options of fun home activities with the largest online selection at eBay.com. They won a mail contract almost immediately and carting mail through the outback was to stay a part of the business for most of its duration. The S21 was initially nicknamed both "Spaceship" and "Sputnik" by the commercial vehicle press but was more popular by the "Mickey Mouse" nickname. Edwin left school at the age of 13 to become the local postboy before undertaking an apprenticeship as an iron founder at the local agricultural engineering firm of Plant and Hancock which had been founded in 1856.