In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Centurion Vehicles took Ford’s big pickup trucks and turned them into full-size SUVs. Their most famous project was a Frankenstein-like F-350 crew cab, fused with the rear section of a Bronco. The result was massive, rugged, and just weird enough to be cool. And collectors are starting to pay up for them.

Built in Michigan with Ford factory flair

Centurion Vehicles operated out of White Pigeon, Michigan. The company made a name for itself by creating specialty builds using Ford trucks as a base.

At a time when Ford designed but didn’t actually sell a four-door Bronco, Centurion saw an opportunity. Chevy had the Suburban. Ford had nothing like it. So Centurion built one.

They started with either an F-150 or F-350 crew cab. Then they literally grafted on the back half of a Bronco to form a single, long-body SUV.

The result was shockingly seamless for a cut-and-paste job. The new body could seat up to nine and offered serious cargo space. It was everything suburban families, off-roaders, and contractors could want, and a precursor to future behemoths filling up Costco parking lots.

A luxury SUV before the term existed

These weren’t bare-bones conversions. Buyers could option them with leather seats, captain’s chairs, power everything, and even real woodgrain. The F-350-based version, known as the C-350, could be ordered with dual rear wheels and the legendary 7.3-liter diesel engine. It wasn’t fast. But it could tow a house and cruise in comfort while doing it.

The builds were expensive. Some topped $30,000 back then. That’s over $65,000 today. But unlike other aftermarket customs, Centurions were sold through Ford dealers with warranties. Ford didn’t build them, but they backed them enough to put them on showroom floors.

Ford eventually figured it out: the Expedition arrived in 1997

And, of course, the four-door Bronco came back in 2021. But the Centurion was there first. Built by a small crew in Michigan, it filled a lineup gap.

Collectors are taking notice

After years of obscurity, the Centurion Bronco, formally named the Ford Centurion C-150/C-350 Classic Conversion, is back in the spotlight.

Interest in vintage SUVs is surging. Clean Land Cruisers and square-body Suburbans have already jumped in value. Now the Centurion is getting a seat at the table. Only about 15,000 were built, and far fewer survived. Most lived hard lives as family haulers, tow rigs, or ranch trucks. That makes clean, low-mileage examples extremely rare.

On auction sites and enthusiast forums, prices have climbed. C-350 models with diesel engines and factory options are the most sought after. Some have changed hands in the $20,000 to $40,000 range, like the 1990 example on Bring a Trailer pictured above.

Spot a Ford Centurion today, and you’ll see heads turn

Most people have never heard of a Centurion, let alone seen one in person. But for those who know, it’s a unicorn. It blends the utility of a heavy-duty truck with the layout of a modern SUV. And it did it decades before anyone else. If you’re lucky enough to own one, you’re certainly garaging a conversation piece.