I would like to revive the information posted in the last thread, as we lost it in the hack last Fall. I also want to create a page in the Centurion registry illustrating all the differences there are WITH PICTURES, so people will understand a little better what we're talking about in the descriptions. I'll start:grin: Centurion Grille: LeSabre Grille: As you can see, the Centurion grille has 10 horizontal bars, and the LeSabre has 6 bars. Also note the hood ornaments are different, as the Centurion has a specific emblem associated with it. (the Roman Centurion soldier's profile) The Centurion and LeSabre scripts on the front fenders are located in different spots, too. You can see this on the 2 pictures above. The LeSabre script is ABOVE the protective side moulding, and the Centurion script is BELOW the protective side moulding. One more difference you can see is the absence of portholes/ventiports on the hood on the Centurion. The LeSabre has 3 on each side of the hood. There are lots more, so let's see 'em!:beer
Some of the information we lost can be found in this thread on the BCA forum: http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/show...=&olderval=1&oldertype=m&bodyprev=#Post202989
Just for trivia purposes Buick appears to have purloined the name " Centurion" and the insignia you describe from Cessna which began producing an aircraft model by that name also using Roman ensigia beginning in 1960. My wife and I own a 1978 Centurion. (550 cid under the cowl) That's my wife at the controls. I stepped out just for a second to snap this pic.
Cessna Centurion Good theory regarding the inspiration for the Centurion series. I always thought that it was cool that Cessna built a Centurion. In fact, however, Buick's beautiful 1956 Motorama dream car was known as the Centurion, so Buick was really reviving a name from one of its famous show cars (as done with LeSabre and Wildcat). By the late 1960's, the rights to the Centurion name for automotive use belonged to a Memphis-based manufacturer of ambulances that were built on GM's suburban chassis. Buick purchased the rights to the name for the new Centurion series.
Very interesting. Perhaps the reverse is true although the liklihood of confusion test for trade name infringement probably only applies to uses across auto lines and not auto to aircraft. But it does appear from your info that Buick or some other auto company was first in time. Maybe I can find a picture of the aircraft use of the Roman symbol and post it for comparison purposes. Best Pic I could find is here: http://www.theplaneexchange.com/70_210/exterior4.jpg Maybe one of the tech guys can magnify it.
Here's some discussion and pictures of LeSabre / Centurion rear glass. http://v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=68235 And here's some discussion about 71-72 Centurion / Electra / LeSabre doors interchanging: http://v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=68761 Adam, any way of consolidating all these threads? o No:
I will take a look at it and see if I can do it without blowing everything out of the water... It's been known to happen
The Centurion name was used on a British battle tank that was first produced by the end of WWII http://images.search.yahoo.com/sear...on.htm&p=centurion+tank&type=jpeg&no=2&tt=363 Not to be a smart@.. just some info.
My 2 cents precision :Smarty: : Centurion was the latin name given to the Romans a couple of centuries BC to designate a military chief supervising 100 guys (Decurion for those in charge of 10 people).
After all these talks, I start with the asked pics: 1) Centurion emblem on the hood 2) specific tail lights with chrome bezels above the light, plus a grid on the plastic light lens. (by the way is the light similar to a Lesabre's once the grid is taken out ? if so which years ?)
On the hard top the centurion emblem found on the hood is also on the rear pillars fixed through the vinal top :beer
Jean-Luc, my 71 Centurion does not have the word "BUICK" on the boot lid, only a "CENTURION" badge on the LH side.
Norman, I was surprised too to see most Centurion pics with the Centurion logo on the boot. It is like my hood with port holes, seems that it has been taken once from a Lesabre....Some experts may explain ?
Both LeSabre & Centurion had the BUICK letters on the trunk lids....and the Centurion plaque was SUPPOSED to be 71 only, but I've been seeing an awful lot of 72's with them. It's hard to believe that all of them have been added at some point, or had 71 lids used on them.
My 71 only has the Centurion badge, no "BUICK" and my 72 has neither. It is possible that Jean-Luc's car was an export order vehicle and was fitted with a "Buick" hood for easier recognition.
Mine was very plain (I like it that way)... no BUICK on the trunk lid, no trim on the edges, no bumber guards, etc. Emblem is on the hood and the dash only. Now, it's remote, but actually possible that the car - in its first year (we owned it from 18 months on) was in a rear accident and some trim was not replaced. But I prefer it that way...
Victor yours is a 72 same as mine, they only had a badge around the trunk key access and as you say that may not have been replaced on yours after a rear end collision.
