“It came with a Cummins engine, but they were trouble when they reached 700,000km,” Alf said.
“In 2000, I put in a Caterpillar 3406E 14.8-litre engine, which has 6-cylinders and produces 455hp, and I’ve never had an issue with it since.”
The engine is coupled to a 15-speed Road Ranger gearbox and a Rockwell differential.
Alf said it had done 1.6 million kilometres now, and neither the gearbox nor the diff had needed an overhaul.
The truck body is about 6.5 metres long, with 10 wheels, eight at the back and two at the front and a tare weight of 8300kg.
The weight of the bright yellow Caterpillar engine is a unique way of keeping the truck from bouncing around when there’s no load. Photo / Catherine Fry
When carrying logs, it is a 44-tonne-rated truck, but when being used to transport heavy machinery, it is rated for 65 tonnes.
Alf used his engineering skills to manufacture logging trailers that were lighter, allowing more load to be carted.
Retirement suits the Foden S106 which spent 33 years clocking up 1.6 million kilometres. Photo / Catherine Fry
“I retired the truck in 2021, and because it’s quite unique and there are very few left in New Zealand, I decided to restore it,” he said.
“We did everything authentically, even down to the traditional hand-painted sign-writing.”
Alf Williamson’s Foden S106 ready for its first day at work in 1992.
Alf and his wife Kath, who luckily for him shares his love of trucks, regularly take the Foden touring together.
It’s been across to the South Island and completed the classic South Island Long Lap tour with other like-minded truckers and their trucks.
“People enjoy seeing all the trucks, and it causes quite a stir when they all come into town.”
In 2025, the Foden won the truck of the show at Morrinsville Motorama. Between tours, it sits pampered in the shed with the rest of Alf’s collection.