Foden FG 1954 (Tate & Lyle Sugar Refinery)

What is your favourite lorry of all time?

In the 1950s was at the forefront of heavy lorry manufacture. The products of the period were distinguished by the postwar redesigned cab and radiator grille. Large numbers of this type were sold for all classes of heavy work. One of the classics was the 1954 FG 6/15 8-wheel tanker, in the livery of Tate & Lyle Sugar Refiners. The tank body was of double-skinned, insulated construction on a hardwood frame. To load the tank it was first tipped to 45 degrees and was then filled through the central filler.

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ERF KV (Edwin Richard Foden) 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961

What is your favourite lorry of all time?

Edwin Richard Foden was the youngest son of Edwin Foden who founded the famous Foden steam wagon whose history dates back to 1856. In 1933 ER, as he was called, broke away from the family Foden concern and started building diesel-powered lorries, using proprietary units such as Jennings cabs and Gardner engines. ERFS KV models were introduced in 1954, featuring a striking new style cab with an oval grille and panoramic windscreen. It was common on all the KV models and lasted until 1961 when another new cab was introduced.

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Atkinson L1786 1950s

What is your favourite lorry of all time?

Although engaged in the motor business for many years it was not until 1933-34 that Atkinson really began to manufacture vehicles on any significant scale. At first a 6-ton four-wheeler was produced but this was quickly followed by six and eight-wheelers which appeared in 1937. Using Gardner diesel engines and the same cab for all models, they soon became a familiar sight on British roads. The 1956 L1786 17-tonner represented the archetypal British eight-wheeler of the 50s.

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AEC Mammoth Major Mk5 1958 (Shell Oil)

What is your favourite lorry of all time?

In 1958 the Mk III range was replaced by the Mk 5 (there was no Mk4 except on the bus models) which was a completely new design. The MkV had a very stylish cab built mainly by Park Royal Vehicles. AEC built only the chassis with front panels so that customers could specify their own choice of cab. In 1962 AEC was taken over by its arch-rival, Leyland Motors Ltd. Very soon a new range was launched featuring a common style of Leyland Group cab, the Ergomatic.

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AEC Mammoth Major Mk3 1940s-1950s (Fina Fuel Oils)

What is your favourite lorry of all time?

The Mk 3 Mammoth Major was a hugely popular eight-wheeler from the late 1940s through to the 1950s. It was renowned for its powerful air-assisted brakes operating on the front, third and fourth axles. The Mark 3 was normally powered by AEC’s tried and tested 9.6-litre six-cylinder diesel, but after 1949 the larger 11.3-litre engine was sometimes specified, particularly for drawbar use, and at 150bhp made this one of the most powerful eight-wheelers of its day.

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Rotinoff GR7 “Atlantic” (6×4) ( Stunter Bros Ltd )

What is your favourite truck of all time?

Sunters were probably the best-known operators of these massive Rotinoff GR7 road tractors. The Rotinoff marque was produced between 1952 and 1960, being offered as the Atlantic GR7 and the Super Atlantic GR7. After 1960 they were marketed as Atlantics until their demise in the 1962. Engines were six or eight-cylinder Rolls-Royce, producing 275 and 366bhp respectively.

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Thornycroft Antar (6×4) ( Elliot Ltd )

What is your favourite truck of all time?

Thornycroft built over 1000 Antars, although few ever entered the UK heavy haulage scene, so the Elliot of York examples are something of a rarity. Originally conceived as a tank transporter the ex-military Antar Mk3 model used the 330 bhp Rolls-Royce straight-eight engine. Fitted with a six-speed overdrive gearbox, the Mk 3 Antar was capable of a sedate 30mph, its specification also including very good breaks.

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Scammell Contractor (6×4) Pickfords

What is your favourite truck of all time?

There is probably no more famous name in the annals of heavy haulage than that of Pickfords. One of the lorries that Pickfords employed was a Scammell Contractor 6×4 ballasted tractor rated at 240-tons and fitted with the four-door crew cab. Weighing in at 16-tons, up to 30-tons of ballast could be added to the rear compartment taking the operational weight to a massive 46-tons unladen. The impressive lines of Scammell’s premier product are evident in this all-time classic of the heavy haulage.

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Foden FGTU 8/80 (6×4) ( McKelvie and Co Ltd )

What is your favourite truck of all time?

McKelvie added the Foden FGTU 8/80 to their fleet in 1957. Having the eight-cylinder Gardner engine, eight-speed gearbox and two-speed rear diffs, these Fodens offered one of the best available heavy haulage crew cabs of the period. Although heavy haulage is not today a McKelvie speciality, during the 1950s and 1960s they had risen to become Scotland’s largest operator in this form of traffic.

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Scammell Constructor (6×6) ( Siddle C. Cook Ltd )

What is your favourite truck of all time?

The company Siddle C Cook Ltd were founded in 1945 beginning their operations in Consett, County Durham. One of their best known machines was “SPT 600”, a 6×6 Scammell Constructor purchased new in the mid-fifties and fitted with the Rolls-Royce C6NFL 12.17-litre engine. Although originally built as a ballasted tractor, Siddles demanded that SPT 600 took on a variety of roles, converting it as and when desired to a 100-ton artic.

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