![]() ![]() Its “wing-type” rear fenders would preview cues later found on the 1959 Buicks. The long hood with sloping nose and recessed headlamps from the bumper was a revolutionary automotive style. This two-door, four-seat fiberglass concept was both a design and technology pioneer of its time. A cantilevered steering wheel positioned the steering shaft down the centre of the car, allowing more legroom for the driver. Front seats automatically slid back when the doors were opened for easier entry and also moved forward to provide entry and exit to the back seats. The 1956 Buick Centurion was an aerodynamic four-seat coupe with a patented rear-mounted television camera to provide a rear view to the driver. The Buick Centurion with its two tone paint made a dashing entrance for a future V.P. Another feature was a dial in the center of the steering wheel which controlled the gear selections for the transmission. Aside from the transparent roof, the most outstanding design feature was the television camera mounted in the rear, which relayed a picture to a screen on the dashboard to replace the rear view mirror. The Buick Centurion featured an electric razor-like front grill and deeply recessed headlight pods. Aside from the transparent roof, the most outstanding dIn his first car design, a young Chuck Jordan entered Motorama with style. ![]() In his first car design, a young Chuck Jordan entered Motorama with style. When the doors were opened, the front seats automatically slide back, offering additional room for easy entry and exit. ![]() The inside was trimmed in red leather and brushed bright metal. There was a television camera in the rear that would report traffic to the driver via a television screen mounted in the dashboard. The rear of the car was just as revolutionary, featuring 'wing-type' fenders that would later be seen on the 1959 Chevrolets and Buick models. The inside passengers received fresh air front he twin air scoops positioned near the sides. The headlights were recessed far behind the bumper, and were part of the body shell. Power was from a 325 horsepower V8 engine that was hidden under the long hood that sloped toward the front and the grille. The two-tone paint scheme was accented by its white-wall tires and red interior. The aerodynamic features of the car began in the front and gently flowed through the rest of the vehicle and to the rear. The bubble top roof was a bold and dynamic design move. The body was constructed from fiberglass and the interior was inspired from the cockpit of an airplane. However, one thing the Centurion couldn't do was open up windows to let in the breeze like drivers do today in their modern cars.The Buick Centurion Concept was first shown to the public at the 1956 Motorama Show. While this idea was not directly adapted into American cars, it became the basis for the modern-day sunroof and moonroof. The car also had a bubble dome for the windows and roof. The Buick Centurion totally revamped and revitalized the way American cars had seats and the way American automobile manufacturers looked at installing seats. That said, the United States still used bench seats for their cars at the time, and it was after this model was on display did automobile companies begin to rethink their approach, and bucket seats become a mainstay in American cars.Īnother new feature was headrests, which also were not part of American cars at the time. However, bucket seats were commonplace in European cars by that point, and they came standard. This car displayed bucket seats, which were uncommon in the United States at the time. The 1956 Buick Centurion accurately predicted the future of automotive vehicles in so many ways. ![]()
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