BUICK CENTURION MAKES A BOW
for general release in connection with General Motors Motorama...
Buick's new "dream" car for 1956 is the Centurion, a racy four-passenger, two-door coupe with an all-glass top. Made of fiberglass, the Centurion incorporates many innovations in styling and engineering. It is mounted on a 118 inch wheelbase and is powered by a 325 horsepower V-8 engine.
A television camera in the trunk, with a screen on the instrument panel, provides the driver with a wide view to the rear, eliminating the traditional rearview mirror. It will go on display at the General Motors Motorama in San Francisco, March 24.
From: Buick Motor Division, Flint Michigan
As you can see from the press release above, the Centurion was a two-door four-passenger coupe constructed of fiberglass with a red upper body, a brushed metallic finish on the lower portion and an all glass top.
It featured "wing-type" back fenders, which previewed the styling of the 1959 Chevrolets and Buicks. Also, the Centurion featured a television camera in the rear to report traffic to the driver via a television screen in the dashboard, replacing the rear view mirror.
The front end of the Centurion was of a revolutionary new design with the long hood sloping toward the front and the grille and headlights recessed well behind the bumper, which is an integral part of the body shell. Twin air scoops near the sides and directly in front of the windshield provided fresh air for the interior of the passenger compartment.
The interior of the Centurion was trimmed in luxurious red leather and fiberglass with appointments in brushed bright metal. Front seats automatically slide back when the doors were opened for easier entry. The steering column was located in the center of the dash with a cantilever suspended steering wheel similar to the controls in an airplane.
Our thanks to David Paine for supplying the following press release images...
