Not at all mate, very interesting, I had never seen that version and at first thought it was a distortion or optical illusion in the picture. One of the few things I have not driven (others are car transport and liquid tankers), mixers, too much paddling in and out of the cab in muddy boots for my liking. 
Just had another look, were those vents on the top of it or something to take weight, such as a driver cleaning the top of the screen for instance?
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Good morning mate,
I would guess as the radiator has been somewhat covered up it would be to get a little air back into the fan, but as i said, only guessing.
The pump and pipes took up about 2 feet so the full width posh bumper soon disappeared which left a big box type of arrangement.
It must have been strong enough to take a few size 10’s, cant imagin a mixer driver going for a step ladder, eh !!!
I like your import mate, Harvey