Dying 'Gardner Engines' Foden FG . . .
I've come across many instances where someone has bought an old vehicle at the end of its working life and parking it up perhaps with the intention of one day restoring it. For whatever reason this then hasn't happened and inevitably the vehicle has sadly deteriorated over the decades. I don't agree with the usual crys of 'what a waste' and anger towards the owner who perhaps refuses to sell. The only reason it survives is because it was saved at a time when it would otherwise have gone for scrap and I have enjoyed many an hour photographing such wrecks which I find fascinating.
This place however felt very different. 1940's and 50's trucks left in a field should have long since completely disintegrated. Something wasn't right. It quickly became apparent that this collection of trucks have on the whole been acquired relatively recently (so from the preservation scene) and then left here to rot.
This lovely Foden FG which was once owned by Gardner Engines was on the rally circuit into the early 1990's. presumably it was then acquired by its current owner and parked in this field where unseen it will slowly fall apart. - The cab frame is now starting to let go despite the owners feeble attempts to save it with an old length of twine!
I believe the elderly owner wants to display these vehicles as a museum, but surely he needs to realise there's already little left of most of them and several thousands of pounds and many hours of work is now required to restore them. My next worry is that when he passes away the whole lot will be cut up and scrapped.
Dying 'Gardner Engines' Foden FG . . .
I've come across many instances where someone has bought an old vehicle at the end of its working life and parking it up perhaps with the intention of one day restoring it. For whatever reason this then hasn't happened and inevitably the vehicle has sadly deteriorated over the decades. I don't agree with the usual crys of 'what a waste' and anger towards the owner who perhaps refuses to sell. The only reason it survives is because it was saved at a time when it would otherwise have gone for scrap and I have enjoyed many an hour photographing such wrecks which I find fascinating.
This place however felt very different. 1940's and 50's trucks left in a field should have long since completely disintegrated. Something wasn't right. It quickly became apparent that this collection of trucks have on the whole been acquired relatively recently (so from the preservation scene) and then left here to rot.
This lovely Foden FG which was once owned by Gardner Engines was on the rally circuit into the early 1990's. presumably it was then acquired by its current owner and parked in this field where unseen it will slowly fall apart. - The cab frame is now starting to let go despite the owners feeble attempts to save it with an old length of twine!
I believe the elderly owner wants to display these vehicles as a museum, but surely he needs to realise there's already little left of most of them and several thousands of pounds and many hours of work is now required to restore them. My next worry is that when he passes away the whole lot will be cut up and scrapped.