1980 Turból Centurion 200 4.2
The 2nd generation Turból Centurion, introduced in 1979, is possibly the most important car in the history of the brand.
The 2nd gen Centurion was an ambitious product. In the 1970s, with the size of American cars moving more in line with the rest of the world, Turból aimed to to capitalize with this platform. It was not designed solely for American tastes; in addition to replacing the Centurion in the North American market, this platform was also to underpin a premium halo car for Japanese branch Homura, and would also be sold and manufactured locally in Europe. Increasing the car’s scope furthest, though, were the available body styles: in addition to the 2 door pillarless hardtop, the car would also be sold as a 4 door sedan, dubbed the 200 and 400, respectively.
Adding a sedan to the lineup, a first for Turból, was a controversial move. Primarily known for sports cars at this time, a 4 door Turból brought into question the direction of the brand among existing fans. Sales numbers, though, vindicated the decision; the 4 door Centurion brought Turból squarely into the burgeoning premium sports sedan market of the 1980s, expanding Turból beyond a relatively low volume sports car maker, setting the stage for the direction the brand would take in the decades following.
Mechanically, the 2nd generation Centurion was a complete departure from the 1st gen. The entirely new galvanized monocoque structure was closer in lineage to the smaller S series sports car, with an evolution of that car’s front McPherson rear double wishbone setup. The available powertrains varied by market, but were mostly sourced from the S series as well. At the top of the heap was the tall-deck variant of the proven Turból OHC V8, breathing through a 4 barrel carburetor. In European guise, free from stringent emissions controls, this 4.2 liter produced 244 hp, and was paired with a Borg Warner T-50 5 speed dogleg manual, available with either OD or non-OD gearsets.
