Ford Centurion Is a Wonderfully Odd Truck: Two Tone Tuesday Presented by Dupli-Color Premium Truck Bed Coating

Was it a four-door Bronco? An F-350 conversion? Ford’s first-of-its-kind SUV? Yes. 

We love finding a rare Ford truck with universal appeal, especially when we can feature that rig for “Two Tone Tuesday.” So, when we spotted this white and maroon 1990 Ford Centurion C-350, we knew we had hit the jackpot. The Centurion Classic was, well, a weird truck. It kind of defies a category, but not logic. It was awesome.

We found this beauty for sale in Boise, Idaho, via Facebook. Definitely a rare find, this Ford Centurion C-350 was one of only about 2,000 produced, and it bears the chassis number 581. Powered by a 7.5-liter V8, this sturdy ride has all the power of an F-350. With the body of a Bronco, it has all the versatility, too. A four-door Bronco but with F-series DNA? Together in two tones, it is unbeatable.

So, you might be thinking: What am I looking at, exactly? Ford teamed up with Michigan-based coachmaker and converter Centurion Vehicles to create the truck. The Blue Oval had previously worked with the company on other vehicles. For the Centurion, they combined an F-Series truck with a Bronco chassis. The Centurion Classic came in two models: the C-150 and the C-350, produced using either an F-150 or an F-350.

The Centurion was produced from 1987 to 1996. When the Bronco was pulled from the Blue Oval lineup in 1996, so too was the Centurion. Leaving behind a rare and somewhat quirky legacy. Had it continued, it might have really taken a direct hit at the Chevy Suburban.

It was a four door Bronco — sort of; a heavy-duty conversion, more or less. And it was Ford’s first true big SUV. Well, honestly, it was all of that. This was not a messy conversion. It was a solid four-door SUV that was rugged and rough, but it offered spacious seating. It could go off-road with a lot of confidence and swagger; it could tow, haul, crawl, go mudding. But the vehicle offered comfort with its nice interior and high-end amenities.

Surprisingly, this particular Centurion has only 72,026 miles, ensuring this baby will be on the road for a long time. And with a beefy 7.5 L V8, it is sure to rattle the pavement.

The deep red color scheme is continued in the red interior. And with only two owners, it has been properly pampered. The interior really shows the heart of the F-350 Crew Cab 4×4 it is built from.

The Ford Centurion Classic really defied definition. Well, except for one word that definitely applies: badass.

Photos: Facebook

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S.J. Bryan

Longtime automotive journalist S.J. Bryan has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is an editor with Ford Truck Enthusiasts and regular contributor to F-150 Online, Harley-Davidson Forums, and The Mustang Source, among other popular auto sites.

Bryan first discovered her passion for all things automotive while riding in her parent's 1968 Ford Mustang. The automotive expert cut her teeth growing up riding on Harleys, and her first car was a Chevy Nova. Despite her lead foot, Bryan has yet to receive a speeding ticket.

The award-winning former playwright was first published at age 18. She has worked extensively as a writer and editor for a number of lifestyle and pop culture publications. The diehard gearhead is a big fan of American muscle cars, sixth-gen Ford trucks, and Oxford commas.

S.J. can be reached at sherryjbry@gmail.com.