![img025[1].jpg](http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big-lorry-blog/img025%5B1%5D.jpg)
Mike Davies in Waterlooville sends me another 'Black Cat shot and says: "Hi Brian, good to hear from John Ormandy about the Forden Demos and to know John's still around. Here's a photo of a 6x2 tag axle version supplied whilst working with John during the 1980's. The customer was Yeomans Transport Portsmouth and the vehicle was operated on regular trips to Gilbralta, mainly for Marks & Spencer. The big Cat engine with the 13-speed Fuller box and Jake brake just about blew everything else away on the run down through Spain! And the driver - who had previously driven V8 Swedes - reported they just got in the way on the same run. Surprisingly all the customers drivers raved about the 4000 high roof cab compared to the European vehicles. If only the Falcon had landed things would have been a whole lot different and would probably have given Paccar a step into Europe earlier and imagine what they could have done in the Aussie and Kiwi B double markets.Maybe Foden could have returned to OZ after all? Regards to John O. Mike." Well click through here Mike and all you Foden fans because I can assure you the Foden Falcon HAS landed!
And here it is... The official (or more likely unofficial!) design study of the Foden 'Falcon' - a big cab kite carrier based on the DAF XF cab but with a Cummins Signature underneath. It's a subject very close to Biglorryblog's heart as there seems to be all sorts of conflicting rumours as to whether or not a Foden 'Falcon' (based on the aforementioned XF cab) was ever actually made - or whether it was just a bit of 'photoshop blue-sky thinking' I'd be interested to hear what Brian and John have to say (assuming they're not still covered by the Moss Lane equivalent of the Official Secrets Act!). So was there ever a real Falcon 'in the metal'? If so has anyone any pictures of it?
Delighted to hear from Mike Davies again; seems like all my "old" friends are on BLB!
I was never aware of any XF-cabbed Foden being built. My understanding is that DAF UK management vetoed it as they were scared, sorry, concerned about the competition. Not that I'm prejudiced, you understand.
Regards,
John O
Hi John
I'm sure they would have sold well here in NZ if they had been offered with the big Cummins and Cat engines. You only need to look at how many Alphas sold with the smaller engines and at the huge number of 4000 series and earlier models that are still in full-time use here.
Hi Brian & John
I think John's probably right about the competition after all didn't DAF build some LHD 95's with high powered 14 litre Cummins engines which proved to be a far better and more durable truck than the pure DAF version I know Norman Offer Transport Southampton ran at least 2 on european work and I seem to remember one was sold to an AMSTRAN owner driver who came out of retirement and started running to the mid east again,I wonder what happened to him and the truck?