What happens to a dream deferred?
(first posted 1/3/2013) That question, asked by the great poet Langston Hughes, was meant to reflect on the experiences of African Americans in early twentieth century America. But it applies to our featured vehicle today, and the company that created it.
“Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?” The last lines of Hughes work speaks to the odd case of the C-350. At least one person involved with this particular conversion company saw the Ford lineup of the late 80’s and yearned for something more. Something much more, in fact.
Well, the employees of Centurion Vehicles were certainly grabbing life by the horns. They cobbled various parts from the F-350 and Bronco, added some magic and poof! They created a truck based SUV that could haul the whole family, a boat, and all the gear you’d need to set up camp for the entire summer. All for the price of $62,122.02 in inflation-adjusted numbers.
When you’re spending the type of money that would make a sizable down payment on a house, you’d better be getting some bang for your buck. It seems like this aftermarket concoction delivered. “A video cassette player inside the truck? Amazing!” – That’s a line that must have been said at least once by a potential C350 customer.
These guys either really loved Ford trucks, or just held a deep seated hatred for Chevy. It was probably both, but you get the point: The Classic 350 was meant to beat the Suburban at its own game.
Four engine choices, including a 7.5-liter gasoline engine and a 7.3-liter turbo-diesel. All Ford engines of course, and they warrant a sentence simply because of their massive size. Of course, GM offered a wide range of engine choices as well, but they didn’t displace as much as their Ford counterparts . Plus, the 350 had nine more inches of length than its competitor from the General. Clearly, the folks at Centurion wanted a Ford Suburban, and they made one.
And here’s why. Notice anything about their lineup? The Classic is the only one being stitched together with two separate Ford trucks. The others just spice up existing ones. A Frankenstein truck fueled by vengeance, through and through.
So what of our featured Centurion product? The rust is a clear indication that its been a resident of the northeast for most of its life. And it definitely featured the diesel – everyone heard this thing rumble by the showroom. Also, check out the gargantuan proportions of this beast! It makes the late-model Acadia look like an Equinox at best, and the Fiesta could probably fit inside the 350 without a problem. Here’s a fun fact: see that Performance White Mustang peeking out from underneath the driver side mirror of the GMC? That was my first ever sale.
So what happens when you create a luxurious truck-based SUV that could run toe-to-toe with the Chevy Suburban? You get noticed. Then you get beaten at your own game by the hand that fed you. Ford discontinued the Bronco in 1996. So what was its replacement?
The Ford Expedition. Introduced in late 1996, it was based on the F-150 platform, and featured many of the same luxury appointments as the 350. But was it a true replacement for the 350? Its wheelbase was some twenty inches shorter, and it didn’t even offer the bigger engines included in the F-Series lineup. Video entertainment system in the rear? Nope. The Expedition didn’t have that either (initially, anyway). So if not the Expedition, then…
…the Ford Excursion. Massive by any way you look at it, even if its wheelbase was three inches shorter than the Classic 350. Still, it was longer than the Suburban, and offered the same powertrain choices as the Super Duty lineup, just like the Centurion product.
Now the Excursion wasn’t exactly well enamored by auto critics. In fact, it was slammed for being a symbol of American excess, at least until the Hummer H2 arrived. Regardless, the run of the Excursion was relatively short-lived, with the truck going out of production in 2005.
So what happened to Centurion Vehicles? They were bought out by Southern Comfort Conversions in 2006. A visit to the merged company’s website shows many spiced up Chevy trucks, but no spliced Suburban fighters. That era ended with the Clinton administration, it seems.
So will there ever be a creation like the Classic 350 in the future? It seems unlikely, as Chevy has a Suburban as good as ever, and Ford has the Expedition in both regular and extended wheelbase forms. Heck, even a Limited or Platinum F-150 in SuperCrew packaging can get the job done these days. And then there’s always the Flex…
But at least the people behind Centurion Vehicles didn’t let their dream dry up, like a raisin in the sun. Instead, they accomplished what they set out to do: make the Suburban fighter that Ford could not, at least initially. I’ll leave you with my opinion of how those employees can most likely sum up their experience building the Classic 350 by referencing the 1998 hit by the band Fastball:
“They wanted the highway, they’re happier there today”
(A quick shout out to fourdoorbronco.com. While I assert that this particular creation could be more accurately called a Proto-Excursion, I tip my hat to them, as the brochures you see above came from their site.)
I remember seeing a few of these 15 or so years ago. They made a lot of sense and I wondered why Ford hadn’t attempted what Centurion had accomplished.
That said, back in April I snagged a few pictures of similar treatment on a late model F-250/350 chassis (or Excursion). It was stretched to three or four doors on each side and was as long as a wagon track. It had Texas plates on it and had a sticker from either a Dallas or Houston dealer on the tailgate.
Note to self: Better organize your pictures so you can actually present evidence after making an assertion.
My immediate thought was, “this makes sense for Texas and perhaps nowhere else,” so your having spotted one of these with a Dallas or Houston dealer sticker is right in line with that.
That dealer sticker says Wayne Ford, Wayne, NJ – which is where I’m from. The dealership is still there.
Any other model-car builders here who recognize that?
Model car builder, yep. Sounds familiar, but…..
I’ll be the person to leak the secret. Here’s a link to what some model car and train enthusiasts know about.
http://www.micromark.com/Walthers-Cornerstone-HO-Scale-Wayne-Bros-Ford-Dealership-Kit,11976.html?sc=WGB&utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=GoogleBase&gclid=CJXO8ebwzNECFQK1wAodhLQBUA
Pete, being that you’re Aussie I figured you wouldn’t make the connection but I should’ve explained before – Wayne Ford is right next door to the Ramada Inn that was for several years the host hotel for NNL East (possibly the biggest model-car show in America, certainly in the northeast).
My Bronco is from that dealer!
I never even knew that these existed. When you think about it, I wonder why Ford never did the same thing. It is amazing to me that just like it took fifteen years for somebody to duplicate Chrysler’s minivan success, nobody has ever beat the Suburban at its own game. I had never thought about mating a crew cab pickup and a Bronco, but it should have been fairly easy for Ford to do.
Back in the late 90s, I found myself travelling beside a 94-ish Dodge Ram built into a Suburban-type vehicle. I pulled next to it at a stoplight and chatted with the owner for a second. He had it custom-built and was preparing to sell it. It was really quite good looking, in a red and black two-tone. I have read that Dodge was planning such a vehicle, but that they cancelled it at the eleventh hour. Too bad – they could have sold a lot of them in the 90s.
jpcavanaugh,
I also had no idea these existed. But working at a Ford dealer has its advantages. I’m guessing it was the first and last time I’ll encounter one.
It must be the focus groups and auto execs that nix alot of these vehicles. I mean, people did want some sort of Ford Suburban, as evidenced by the 350. Then again, the suits at Ford had all the market testing they needed: Centurion Vehicles. Then we got the Expedition and Excursion.
But if there is any one vehicle that Dearborn needs to make available here, it’s the Fusion wagon. I refuse to believe that it would be a sales flop.
Supposedly Dodge had the idea to do an SUV on the Dakota platform in the late 1980s or early 1990s (ala Ford Explorer) but Lee Iacocca nixed it. It would have sold like hotcakes rather than been deferred until the late 1990s Durango version.
I have also seen a late 1990s Dodge Ram built with three doors per side- the standard front and then two rear (possibly Chevy? crew cab door) plus regular long 8′ bed. This was in Iowa region.
* I know I’m replying to an old post.
In the late ’80s, Chrysler had just acquired AMC/Jeep and now had many smaller dealers with little to sell but the very successful XJ Cherokee (and the Grand Cherokee waiting in the wings). Iacocca made a good move by not cannibalizing their sales with a redundant Dodge-branded product until they combined their dealer channels in the DCX era.
> Chevy has a Suburban as good as ever
Except there is no diesel option for the Suburban any more.
I only found out about the Centurion a couple of years ago…Stumbled across one on ebay and was fascinated (and hooked!). I loved this era of Ford truck, despite their shortcomings and think that these are the penultimate expression of that design.
If not for the rust issues these Fords are known for and the fact that it would suck gas like a coke fiend does blow, I’d hunt one of these down and buy it in a minute…Don’t know what the hell I’d DO with it, mind you.
Perhaps park it in the back yard and stare at it from different angles…while sipping beer out of a can.
I have an 1986 ford bronco centuarion for sale. Monster truck . Call me at 915-867-8470
I have a 1995 Ford F350 Centurion that I am thinking about selling. 4×2 with 220,000 miles on it, runs and looks great!
Nice ride. Are you still considering selling? 7.3 or 7.5?
Do you still have this call 7089903630
The Centurion seemed like a natural reaction to the Suburban in the late 80’s/early 90’s. I’m surprised Ford didn’t make it themselves. I feel like I have seen these before, but it was probably more likely a quad cab F-series pickup with a cap over the bed. Maybe because of the sheetmetal, they don’t seem quite as big and bloated as the Excursion.
I remember these from the mid-1990s and even worked with a couple of guys who had the brochures in 1995 (pre-internet) but the coworkers would never been able to have afforded the cost of the C-350.
I always wondered if Centurian bought a complete Bronco to salvage the back end for the C-350 or purchased just the required parts- sheetmetal, glass, interior, seat, tailgate etc.- and upfitted the parts to the 350 pickup.
Regarding the brochure pictures of the other work that Centurion did, living in ranch/rodeo country I’ve seen a few Cimarron, Laredo, and Austin package trucks pulling horse trailers around.
From the outside they just look like a tape job, I honestly thought a Ford dealer had gotten into an excess vinyl tape supply.
My aunts sisters husband had a 84 gmc 2500 that was built by centuron. It was a four door five passenger truck with a back seat that folded flat. it was a powder blue with gold tape strip kit. He used it as a flag truck for is trucking company and his daily dri er when he wasnt at work. IIRC the seats had that broughammy double tufted cushion. I wish I was in a CC frame of mind back then as I would have snapped a few pics.
Centurion also made a crew-cab towing rig based on the Econoline. I remember seeing quite a few of them at horse shows throughout Iowa and Nebraska in the mid-1980s.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displayalbum.php?&albumid=43016
Wow those are some tall stacks on that thing!
Yes they are, they look cartoonish at first glance. I’m guessing that there is a purpose to the disproportionate height though – to keep the horses from having to breathe the particulates. Can anyone confirm this?
The lesson here?
Suburban buyers buy Suburbans because they’re Suburbans.
The Expedition made a good run at Chevy but didn’t quite hit the nail straight on.
I was still cruising around in a loaded 86 K10 Sub when these hit the streets and even I thought they were a bit ridiculous.
The original Expedition was just too small, with the rear seat too cramped and not enough stowage space behind it. It was also ridiculously tall. The Excursion was too big, although in my part of the midwest, they remain crazy-expensive, particularly with the diesel. It was not until the 2007 (?) Expedition that Ford finally nailed it, just in time for gas to skyrocket and the economy to go into a freefall. I have read some road tests that say that the Chevy is a stouter structure than the Ford.
The district owns one V10 Excursion with maximum 9 passenger seating. The thing is like driving a school bus, I’ve always found the Suburban to be more car like and easier to drive. I once went on a 10 hr drive to a conference with a carpool of those two vehicles, the Excursion drunk fuel in a way that would have made WC Fields blush if it had been alcohol.
I’ve seen a handful of these … and a neighbor had one when I lived in Silicon Valley until 2011, along with a late-model Mercedes and a ’56 (?) Ford, all in various shades of red.
Why not just get a Suburban? Are there actually people out there who are successful enough to afford this, yet harbor juvenile high school level Ford vs Chevy sentiments?
Especially when it means paying a 35 to 50 percent price premium simply to justify the pissing Calvin sticker on the back window?
Compared to the Suburban this was larger, had better capability (1 ton vs 3/4), a removable top, and nicer options. Dealer loyalty/experience could also play a part in that decision.
Not saying it was a good value, but it wasn’t just about fanboys. It’s not much different than somebody buying a BMW. Except some people probably did need the larger size of this thing. Nobody really needs a BMW.
The contemporary Suburban couldn’t hold a candle to this. 1-ton Fords have a real solid axle, even the TTB used at the time was a better setup on a full size 4×4 than GM’s rinky dink IFS.
And I see nothing ‘juvenile’ about brand preference. With the kind of coin these rigs command, youd be a fool to pay such a price and settle for something you don’t even want. You better believe if I were in the market for something like this it would be Dodge or built off of one. Making a crew cab Ram work is a much better compromise than settling for inferior hardware and styling, IMHO.
A dark Blue one has lived in my neighborhood for years and I just saw it driving down the street over the weekend. Since I live in Beaverton where we don’t salt the roads, this one is rust-free, but occasionally has a patch of moss. I think South Beaverton attracts this sort of thing since I also occasionally see an 80’s Toyota pickup with an extended chassis and a fiberglass cab extension plus one of the Nissan pickup conversions with a full length fiberglass roof like a first generation 4 Runner.
Given Centurion’s history of building Econoline based tow rigs, they saw a niche and filled it as ong as it lasted.
I used to see one of these lumbering around Waltham, MA. Maybe it still is, I haven’t been back in a while.
I suppose something like this could be done again… perhaps a diehard Mopar man wants something Suburban-esque. A huge Ram wagon (MegaCharger?) would look pretty awesome.
http://www.customautosbytim.com/2012FordExcursion.html
I saw one of these, also white but looking like brand new, in Maine last summer. Florida plates though…
Scott, All Centurions came out of Dearborn, Mass. The Lehman Centurions started in Dearborn then went to Pigeon , Ill. Where they where fitted with new fiberglass fenders and guards with other goodies.
They are built in Oklahoma these days.
Have a look at the link here: http://www.customautosbytim.com/index.html
Sorry Martin, These are entirely different vehicles, made by a company with a different mind set. No comparisons.
Martin
These are all custom made vehicles, if you read it, you can bring your own vehicle in and for $30,000. -100,000. they will put in what ever you want. If you followed the thread it’s not hat I was looking for. But very interest to note.
I remember all throughout the 80s and early 90’s was a chorus is ‘When is Ford going to make a Suburban fighter?!’ in car mags. Pre-internet.
I had come across these just once…in 1989 I was stranded in Grand Junction, Colorado, with my blown-up Yugo. While walking to the shop that was trying to raise the dead for me, I’d pass the local Ford dealer.
Which had about eight of these on the lot. It being a busy lot, and me not wanting to attract attention, I didn’t go read the fine point on the window stickers. But, I thought, Hmmm, there’s a new Ford truck…a late answer to the Suburban.
I got home to Ohio – WITHOUT the Yugo, which was shot and buried on the edge of town – and that was the last I heard of the Centurion-Bronco for a long, LONG time. It was to where I was starting to wonder if I’d really seen it…but by then I had Google. I caught the bare essence; an aftermarket conversion.
I didn’t know how spendy they were, although I should have figured it out. Now, I gotta wonder, why were they so popular in hardscrabble Grand Junction?
I owned a 1984 (?) Centurion, bought at Fred Jones Ford in OKC, I traded a crew cab 30 Chevrolet with a 6.2 liter diesel and $10,000 for it.
My wife pulled our 1978 40′ Kountry Aire fifth wheel trailer with it.
I loved that truck. It had a 460 motor and a four-speed transmission. The workmanship on the electrical connections was pretty shoddy, the clearance lights would blink everytime you hit a bump it seems.
I sold it and hte trailer to a guy in Ozark MO for $25,000 in 1989 I think. He sold ice cream mixes.
Those are our kids in the photo which was taken at a truck stop in Joplin MO
Thanks for all the info, however none answers the original question about the ’87 F 250 Lehman Centurion truck I have. All or most of the info above is available from the ford 460 site and others. The truck in question will have a blue and silver reef hood ornament with the letters CL on it and in the rear it has Lehman Centurion on it. Keep digging guys, you will find it.
Barry,
I just stumbled onto this thread looking for Lehman information. My truck looks plane Jane, even had bench seats. It’s 1986 crew cab dually, 6.9 l / T-19 with a Doug Nash OD gear splitter. Also has a non-waste gated banks turbo. I’ve had it for18 years and have made some improvements. I didn’t realize that it had a Centurion-Lehman till one day I noticed a little sticker on the radiator support that read this vehicle has been modified by Centurion- Lehman and complies with all applicable laws and regulations. The only piece that I can trace to Lehman is the front brake rotor has a spacer to mount the Budd wheels that has Lehman cast into it. My guess is that C-L converted a f-350 SRW to DRW for Ford. Like you I’m always on the lookout for information or examples with the same lineage.
Thanks Cliff
I appreciate that it was not another ramble about Centurion this and that, Centurion has and still is putting out all kinds of vehicle conversions and parts. You however brought in a vehicle that at a distance does look to appear like a Lehman-Centurion, however the picture kind of poor quality. I would really like a couple of good shots of it to tell. It could be that some salvaged parts and added them before you got the truck. It does, at a distance look like Lehman rear fenders. If the truck was not repainted, you would find a spec. tag on the drivers lower B pillar. If was just assembled from parts, then parts you may find parts. Since yours is/or may be the only other Lehman-Centurion left, I sure would be interested in seeing better pictures.
Barry,
I snapped a couple more images, one image of the label on the radiator support, an interior showing pretty much standard Ford Dash, I installed a boost gauge and a digital read out for the pyrometer where the clock used to be. There’s a shot of the front wheel spacer with the “Lehman” cast into the wall. While Centurion may be best known for their land yachts, they also made some good work trucks if mine is an example of that. Cliff
Looks like the site only takes 1 image, here’s the shot of the label like you show on the door pillar. Cliff
Cliff
I have been looking for nearly 20 years for another CL and it looks like you have hit it on the nose, as it seems these are the only CL left in the gear head world anyway. The parts can get exchanged but the CL ID is not a normal idem one would transfer. I’m sure some of the parts have been changed as they were needed or improved. I still can’t enhance the picture enough to see detail but if the rear fender marker lights are round then they are CL. I believe the front flares to be a Centurion product on all CLs but have not totally checked that out.
The CL I have is an F250 extended cab 466 cu in. (bored) RV type cam that would be same as the day, but I changed the values to except ethanol and resurfaced the values seats to except slightly larger values. I also installed an Elynbrock performer intake but keep the 650 4 bb carb for Ca. requirements. Since I had an extra motor, I only have 50 thou, on the rebuild. I put a temporary 2700 stall converter in front the C6. Since this was a work truck also transporting my horses to shows and as a General Contractor, it has seen a lot of use. From what I pieced together, the truck came from Ford with a 350 dually already install and the suspension upgrade slightly. Shipped to CL in ’86 then the CL crew added seats, interior, radio/tape player, and a over head sealing cover, Ft. flares, and rear fenders, with marker lights all over the truck. ( I still would like a couple of light/grab handles) to get in and a store of original parts. So as I restore the truck now that it is my most comfortable ride. To send more pics and or talk truck firecat@thegrid.net
Thanks Edward for starting the Centurion Wars. Centurion was a basis for all the new trucks today and a made a few trial vehicle in the eighties with all amenities Ford did not have ( or want) at that time. The idea of taking a basic stripped down vehicles of the day and transformed them into luxury vehicle was thought of lutercris at the time so Dearborn began to gradually introduce the Centurion vehicle line in the though that more people may want that extra comfort. If any of you where born at that time, you can remember that the trucks, broncos, and vans had not much more then a bare metal body. So Centurion found a niche, as did Southern Comfort, Lariat, and a few others caught on and sold them to Ford, and GM. As was mentioned many of these vehicle were over twice the price of the basic model of the same type. Ford promised for years they were going to produce these types of vehicles on there own in 1988 but due to all the Centurion and other models out, they decided to sell them bought from Centurion instead to gather that stats on sales of more loaded models. In 1986 Centurion found Lehman Brothers and forged a short mate together, providing a luxury vehicle for a price. As previously mentioned, those of us that had show/ working horse found the cost to be minable compared to these HD duallys that could carry five horses and all the gear. At $20,000 plus per horse, you what the best in power as well as comfort for the long hauls many of us made at the time. Ford did try to compete with the F 350 and well into the 90’s became near equal but less in cost. They were spread to many of the big dealers for sales trials. Many of these vehicles allowed the family to hit the trails and highways with the family more so as a result, many where not taken care of properly and rusted out.
With all said, all that does not give me any assistance at all to the original question posed to people like Ed. Where is the information on the Lehman Centurion posed to start this forum?
1) What is the Custom 150?
2) Also, in ’95, I saw a weird dually. It was an F-350 crew cab, as usual, but it had an extracab extension BEHIND the second set of doors. This was in May ’95 at the rest stop off the Ohio Turnpike near Sandusky.
this is the truck I meant…but it had blue and green striping…
I have this truck only its white and green.
So is it a Lehman-Centurion or just an oddball?
So if you want to read about these more or see some better pictures check out http://www.fourdoorbronco.com which is what these trucks were built as, they were a bronco I’ve always thought they were cool, but would never have paid or could ever pay what they were new, but now they are pretty close to the price of a crew cab truck of the same year, and condition. I was looking for a 1 ton crew cab for towing when family is with me but didn’t want a crew cab long bad truck so I tracked down a decent 94 c-350 and think it’s one of the coolest trucks they ever built, but I’m a ford guy.
Well it’s been 6 months since I posted a request on information on Lehman Centurion trucks. You all got close and found many new vehicles many have never seen. Though you all have explored everything but the Lehman Centurion F 250 Duallies, still no words on them. Don’t feel bad My truck and I are still going, (truck better then I perhaps), but I would still like to find out more info on Lehman- Centurion trucks and since all the sites stated were checked and double checked. I’m getting the feeling that there aren’t very many left on the road, or stuck in a barn. Since one never knows I’ll keep restoring and you all can keep looking. But do remember, it’s not a Lehman- Centurion, it’s not the same build. If anyone is looking for one, it’s right here and I might think about selling my one owner, rust free truck for the list on the truck new. Give me a yell if are thinking you are needing this truck.
my husband owns a 1995 crew cab 4×4 centurion edition white in very good condition. it was in a wreck in dec the insurance co is only wanted to give him 4 thousand dollars for the vehicle because they can only go by the vin number we know the truck is worth more than that but cannot find any info can anyone help
Well, I suppose that my Lehman-Centurion is a very rare bird. Since I first posted it on all the sites I received hundreds of Centurion vehicles except for the one vehicle I am looking for information about. Centurion is/was not the only custom trucks available in 1986-88 and the question is where are all the Lehman-Centurions, how many made, how many still on the road. Although almost completely original, the truck an RV type cam, updated valves, and a slightly higher stall on the converter. Other then that it’s still as it rolled out. As in all the trucks above are F350 conversions. I am still in square one.
I have seen all these vehicles on the road since I brought mine but I have never seen one other. So for all those that have said they have seen them, I am saying chances are you have seen F 350 Centurions and not a Lehman-Centurion. I have put up pics of a real one and if you go on about Centurions this and Centurions that, I would say you don’t even know what a real Lehman-Centurion looked like and there for just what your name on here. When and if you find one or have info on one please continue, if not that just confirms that there are most likely none on the road today and most true ford truck enthusiasts have lost the track of the elusive Lehman-Centurion. Except for one.
just to let you know, I have an 84 Centurion, just like yours, but black, and loads of stainless steel…grab rails, air horns, bed rails and even the bumpers are stainless…..badging the same as yours.
did yours have a hood ornament? if so can you send me a pic…I have two holes in the front of the hood, but no emblem.
8K original miles, 6.9L diesel.
Toby, yes it does, let me try and bring up an image. Are your rear fenders extruded plastic or metal? Are the rear fender light round or rectangular ?
Nope, had one image but can’t find it. However I can describe it. It’s a silver wreath with a blue inset. In the inset it has the letters CL in silver. If you need a pic let me know.
Yep, that is an authentic Centurion-Lehman conversion, and as you see not even most Ford Truck people even know what they are. Nice truck Toby.
My dad has a 92 C350 Centurion with 17,000 original miles. Garage kept with 4 Captains Chairs with the 460 V8. It it in excellent condition. approx $40,000 invested in it. Willing to sell it for $25,000. email me at halk41@hotmail.com. serious inquiries only.
Very cool!
Custom Trucks by Tim in Guthrie, OK still makes new Excursions, with full warranties.
This is my 1990 Classic. It’s 4×4 with the International Harvester 7.3 IDI and 4EOD transmission. I love this truck and it consistently gets 16mpg. I have no idea why the image is upsidedown.
I viewed large in a new tab and it came through right-side up.
The photograph was taken in Australia. That’s why it’s upside down.
Hello Shannon, are you still considering selling your 1995 centurion?
i own a 1997 f350 king cab with the centurion package I’m looking for some material for my front divers seat the color is light tan . if anybody can guide me in some direction to find some . thanks bob
Centurion was a vehicle customizer and they also customized plenty of GM trucks as well…
Exactly, Centurion did not have a hatred for Chevy. They just put vehicles together that these companies were not willing to try.
I need a piece of ground effects for my 95 f 350 dualy its the piece that goes in front of the passanger side rear fender and has the step in it help help help my name is Bryant call me at410 766 5509 before 5:30 443 422 8668 after 5:30 or email me at jimdonnies@Verizon.net
In looking through reference books I see that Ford made a panel truck version of the F-1 pickup starting with the 1948 model year and it was available with an optional “window package” and rear seats which made it something of a Suburban competitor.
I’m unable to find any information on window packages being made available on panel trucks after the 1952 model year. Ford kept the panel truck in production up through the 1960 model year. Yeah, it’s weird that it took Ford so long to come out with a Suburban competitor.
About as weird as why it took GM so long to build an extended cab pickup.
I had heard long ago that there had been some kind of unwritten gentlemen’s agreement in the ’70s/early ’80s between Ford, GM, and Dodge that Ford and Dodge would not build a 4-door Suburban competitor, and in return, GM would not make extended cab pickups. But I can’t find any proof of that anywhere, nor can I think of any reason why they would even make such an agreement in the first place.
I don’t think so. A company like GM, which had been seriously threatened to be broken up for being to large, would have to be insane to consider initiating a conversation like that.
Why GM took so long to make an extended cab pickup is a good question. I suspect it was simply because they consistently underestimated the market potential for them, and by the time it was obvious they had done so, it was getting too late in the game to make the big investment in their current generation pay off. So they just stuck it out until the GMT-400. But it was a mistake, in retrospect.
Essentially the same applies to Ford and the Suburban. They consistently underestimated the continued growth in Suburban sales. They probably kept thinking it had peaked, but it just kept going up.
To compete with the Suburban would have taken a significant investment. They wisely chose to make a slightly bigger Tahoe instead, which worked out fab for them. the Excursion on the other hand was a mistake. They should have just made an Expedition XL from the get-go.
To see how cautious Ford has been with their large SUVs, note that the basic side body panels have essentially never changed, in well over 20 years! They’ve just kept tweaking various aspects of the Expedition, but it’s never been totally new in its whole run. And now it looks ancient compared to the Suburban.
Dodge could never have afforded to get into this niche of the market properly and make it pay. It takes a lot more than to just extend the roof of a double cab pickup to compete with the Suburban.
There’s a South American conversion similar to Centurion. I saw a couple of them in Foz do Iguaço, and it took me a while to figure out why those ‘Excursion’ didn’t look right, especially in the rear. The taillamps were sourced from F-Series pick-up trucks, not Econoline.
I asked my Brazilian friend who said they’re F250 Tropivan made by Tropical Cabines for a while.
Notice the Brazilian version of taillamps with proper amber turn signal indicators!
I just noticed that beast only has a single fuel door. One 18 or 20 gallon tank. Apparently you just drove them from fuel pump to fuel pump, and worked in your errands in transit.
I have a 1987 Centurion Lehman Cimarron (F-250). It has the 6.9, non wastegated Banks Turbo, C-6 trans, with a Gear vendors OD. Overhead console, bench seats, Marker lights, CB radio was originally in the overhead, so I put a larger Cobra 29 underneath. Whatever CB Antenna that came with the truck was removed, so I added a Wilson 5000Rm. The truck had a set of chrome Center Line wheels, 10′ wide, but one is missing, and I cannot find a replacement. All the running gear is original, only the overdrive failed (needs a cone clutch) I moved from California/Wyoming with all my things in a travel trailer, and it pulled, slowly, but it pulled it!
Here’s my 88 F250 Centurion big block 460 with 28,000 mile and all original
I have to say that “Excursion” is one of the biggest automotive naming fails of all time. Look at Ford’s SUV roster back in this era. It started with the Escape—nice name, suggesting a fun weekend getaway—all good! Next level up: the Explorer. We’re getting a little more serious about our SUVing now, aren’t we? Not just escaping, but packing some provisions and going exploring. Cool. Then moving further up the chain in size and (supposedly) capability: the Expedition. Now that’s a big deal. Expedition! Like, climbing a mountain kind of big deal. And then finally… at the top of the heap… Excursion. What? Excursion?!?!? What the hell is that? That’s a bunch of seniors out on a bus tour. Or a family heading to the local park for a picnic. Oh my word, what a terrible name choice for their biggest, baddest SUV. Surely the braintrust at Ford could have done better than that?
But then these are same guys who thought that “Aviator” would be a good name for a Lincoln SUV… it has nothing at all to do with cars or driving, and is an absolutely ridiculous moniker for any vehicle. But hey, it ends in “ator” just like Navigator, so… sold.
Back when we were buying Ford Louisville’s we were at the plant in Kentucky for a pilot truck inspection. The dealer we were buying from had one of these Centurions. We were told that the Ford guys at that time thought the market segment was too small for another competitor. We had Suburban’s in our fleet but eventually moved away from them as GM dropped the 3/4 tons. Depending on the application we either went with pickups with toppers or vans.
I picked up my 1990 E350 Econoline Centurion Cruiser a few years ago with the 7.3NA Non-Turbo, E4OD transmission and I flat out love it. It pulls our 34’ 5th wheel fine tho without the turbo it is slow going up hills but it will pull it no problem. We took it on a 3400 mile 2 week camping trip for our annual family vacation we do and my son has an E350(2006?) with the v10 in it and he was about 4-5000lbs lighter than me and so we got a great gas mileage comparison as we both had the same roads, the same weather conditions and the same fuel stations and I averaged 10.6mpg and I do have a small fuel leak on one of my caps. He with his v10 got around 6.4mpg. This is my first diesel tho I drove otr long haul for 20 years but this 7.3idi is the simplest motor I’ve ever worked on. You don’t have to pull anything to change glow plugs or injectors as they are right on top of the motor. They are easier to replace than most gas motors spark plugs that I’ve ever changed in my life and I’m 58 so I’ve changed a spark plug or two. I’ve never changed glowplugs before but me and my 11 year old grandson spent 6 hours figuring it out. Would have only been a 30 minute job if the person who owned it before me put autolight glowplugs in it which most know if you put anything other than motorcraft they will bulge and make them extremely hard to get out but we got them all and motorcrafts put in. We totally love our centurion and one guy offered us $25k and wife said no and then she told me to go ahead with the upgrades I want which are 3. 1 is a turbo. Not only will it help on long pulls but it also will increase my fuel mileage so in my mind a turbo is an obvious not bad upgrade. 2 was or is a gear vender tho I’m a little nervous that they need a lot of maintenance to keep them going. Like changing the fluid and filter every 1500 miles. 3 is another fuel tank. It already has the stock 36 gallon rear fuel tank so I’d like to add either the side tank that goes on the frame rail behind the drivers seat or a slip tank. I’m liking the slip tank more as the side tanks are only 18 gallons so if I’m going to sink around and put a second tank in I would want it as big as possible. A 100 gallon slip tank will let me go almost 1700 miles in between fuel ups so driving 50 miles into another state to save $.80 a gallon of diesel really worth the trip. Also I’ve never seen one of these things ever untill my son called me asking if I wanted this one which I’m totally glad I did want it.