Am I right in saying that Scania only made 100 of their limited edition Centurion tractors? If so, does anybody know how many are still in existence today?
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I was under the impression that they were all top-trim, top-spec high horsepower tractors with full aerodynamic body kits - like this stunning 143M pictured at Truckfest Southwest earlier this month.
But earlier today I came across this picture of the first-ever Centurion - which went into the Taylors of Martley fleet in August 1991. It's a 360hp 113M.

Comments (28)
i can,t be positive about total production numbers,but a mate of mine had centurian number 14.a 4by2 143 tractor unit, registration number j981 bya.
Posted by andrew cooper | July 29, 2008 8:23 PM
Posted on July 29, 2008 20:23
Will: Oh dear! They are Centurions, not Centurians. Centurion = 100, and 100 is what they made. As for how many remain, I'm not sure, but I have been trying to track down their registration numbers and their Centurion Edition Number, that is the serial number on the small plaques attached to the sides of the cab. You are correct to say the Taylor's lorry was the first Centurion, but its Edition Number was 050 because they wanted it to mark their 50th anniversary. The big blue boy on this thread is J397 FYB, which has the Edition Number 009. A lot of them were high spec chaps, like 009, but some were non-Streamline Topline and little more than basic 113/360s.
Posted by Bill Taylor | July 29, 2008 8:30 PM
Posted on July 29, 2008 20:30
I am not 100% sure but I think they limited the centurion to 100 per country, if they didnt the UK got more then its fair share !!
I remember very well that Charlie Robson had a great example of the marque, pulling beer out of his yard opposite my house in Deptfod
Posted by Rikki Chequer | July 29, 2008 8:59 PM
Posted on July 29, 2008 20:59
There were only meant to be 100 sold for the centenary. As far as i know the Centurion could be spec'd on any model. The main one was model 100 and was auctioned off, it turned up at the Belfast truck show a few years back still looking great.
Posted by Graeme | July 30, 2008 1:25 AM
Posted on July 30, 2008 01:25
Patrick International of Kettering (now part of E.M.Rogers Northampton ) had two which they used on their Italian run. I don't know the regs, but I'm sure they were - --- PTL, as they used personalised plates from an early stage.
Posted by Alan Drake | July 30, 2008 7:25 PM
Posted on July 30, 2008 19:25
Will, The Centurion package was a marketing initiative offered in the U.K. by Scania GB to obviously celerbrate their 100th birthday. It could be specified on any R series variant, but most were Topline/Streamline 143/V8 rated at 400/450 or 500 BHP.
Each dealer was allocated a set number and they generally sold them to their regular V8 buyers. Apart from the decals, the spec included wheel trims, seat covers, a CD player and some other extras, along with a framed certificate.
The final one was called the Master Centurion and was a top of the`range 500 with pearlescent paint and Laura Ashley fabric cab trim and was displayed at major truck shows and then sold at auction to an operator in Kent, SEAS from Chatham, they never actually used it and sold it to R Fielding from Essex. As mentioned, it is now in Ireland.
Another Centurion 4x2 143/450 that I used to drive on occaisions for Mortimers in Wiltshire, is also now in eveIreland, I think it is the only LHD one built. It overtook me on a Dutch motorway the other day, painted black and still working, not bad for a severnteen year old
Posted by Bob Beech | August 1, 2008 12:31 PM
Posted on August 1, 2008 12:31
Not sure about this,so i thought i,d ask if any of the anorak army,including Beochure king Richard,if they remember Lee Durose International,from Stoke-on-Trent.The great blue+white small fleet of Scania,s,6x2 twin-steer unit,s pulled triaxle tilt semitrailers,usually workin for FRANS MAAS iin Manchester across the channel in the 90,s.
When i got to know Lee,and his Dad,Phil(who,d known my Dad for years,i think he,d not long working for FRANS MAAS,but had just got a small depot for minor weekly maintainance,washing,and parking,and had a Scania RIII-360 6x2,plus a R142-450 Topline 6x2 unit,with a good mate having a Volvo FL10 6X2 unit pulling trailers for him,Alfie Taylor.
At around the same time as each other,Alfie had a new Renault Magnun 385 4x2 unit(which was later made a 1:67 scale model by AMW MODELS in Germany)and Lee had his 1st-ever new truck,s,which were 2 Scania R142-420 Topline 6x2 units.I actually went o collect 1 of the ne units with Lee from our local Scania dealers.Keltruck,and i,m SURE both units had sunvisors on them,with"Centurion" written across them in gold lettering!!
Now,this is where the anorak army can help out,because i,m possitive that not too long after Lee had his Scania"Centurian,s",Keltruck became Centrion Commercials!! For some time now, the dealerships been West Pennine Trucks!!
So were Lee,s 2 Scania Toplines actually 2 of the official"Centurian,s"?!!
i,ve got to get to my photo collection asap as i know that i took several photo,s of Lee,s 2 Centurians,when we,d got both from Keltruck,as Lee had some off me that he had enlarged off the negs,then put into frames,while i sent a few to other anorak friends of mine,then kept a few for myself!!But i,m currently in"Pain Paradise",so can,t get to my photo collection!!
aaagghh!!!IN NEED OF A PIE BRIAN!!!!!
(Anything would do better than my meds!!Such is life as a N.H.S. Crash Test Dummy!!!!)
Posted by Andy Davis | August 2, 2008 3:39 PM
Posted on August 2, 2008 15:39
I do have a few photos of the aforementioned Patrick centurion Scanias. Also a couple of shots of A certain couple that my old boss Ralph Davies operated. Sadly most ended up exported to the middle east. I have a snap of J777 RDF in Arab ownership I spotted whilst trucking through Saudi. Wheatgrove (Rodanto) from London had a lovely centurtion as well I also happen to have a snap of that beauty when we both shipped back from Greece one trip.
Posted by Nick Garlick | August 2, 2008 7:44 PM
Posted on August 2, 2008 19:44
J981 BYA [number 14] is now registered as J500 SCA and still working 5 days a week.
Like the blue one of Ashley' shown in the pic it started out belonging to an owner/driver working for Langdons in Somerset.
Posted by neil johnston | September 7, 2008 6:47 PM
Posted on September 7, 2008 18:47
Centurion number 100 is in the ownership of mr Tom Scott Propritor or Truck Align (NI) it is gold in colour with deep red/maroon chassis. I last viewed it 2 years ago when it needed tlc as age was taking its toll.
Joe Miller (deceased) or Millar Transport ran several centurions in the 1990's. They ran in an off yellow colour with red and maroon strips on the side of the cab and a small P&O flag places on the side of the cabs on the top section of the wind deflector.
If i am factually inaccurate i apologise but to my knowledge this is close to true. Anyone with further info please help.
P.S i cant understans what was so special about a centurion if they made them in low powered bog standard models also? surely the only difference in many cases therefore was a sticker on the sunvisor?
Posted by Northern Irish Anorak | September 19, 2008 2:38 AM
Posted on September 19, 2008 02:38
In reply to Northern Irish Anorak Millar Transport had the following Centurions Topline StreamLine's with tag axles
LDZ 1140 (Was a 500)
MDZ 1140
MDZ 2140
MDZ 3140 (All MDZ were 450's)
There were also two other that had Centurion badges and sunvisor graphics they were
LDZ 4140 (A standrad 450 flat roof 3 steeper with a tag axle)
MDZ 6140 (A 3 stepper topline 450 with a mid lift axle)
Other Northern Irish Centurions i know of were Dukes Transport who had a Topline Streamline 500 4x2
Posted by Sammy | October 13, 2008 11:30 AM
Posted on October 13, 2008 11:30
In reply to Northern Irish Anorak Millar Transport had the following Centurions Topline StreamLine's with tag axles
LDZ 1140 (Was a 500)
MDZ 1140
MDZ 2140
MDZ 3140 (All MDZ were 450's)
There were also two other that had Centurion badges and sunvisor graphics they were
LDZ 4140 (A standrad 450 flat roof 3 steeper with a tag axle)
MDZ 6140 (A 3 stepper topline 450 with a mid lift axle)
Other Northern Irish Centurions i know of were Dukes Transport who had a Topline Streamline 500 4x2
Posted by Sammy | October 13, 2008 11:30 AM
Posted on October 13, 2008 11:30
In reply to Northern Irish Anorak Millar Transport had the following Centurions Topline StreamLine's with tag axles
LDZ 1140 (Was a 500)
MDZ 1140
MDZ 2140
MDZ 3140 (All MDZ were 450's)
There were also two other that had Centurion badges and sunvisor graphics they were
LDZ 4140 (A standrad 450 flat roof 3 steeper with a tag axle)
MDZ 6140 (A 3 stepper topline 450 with a mid lift axle)
Other Northern Irish Centurions i know of were Dukes Transport who had a Topline Streamline 500 4x2
Posted by Sammy | October 13, 2008 11:30 AM
Posted on October 13, 2008 11:30
I am looking for history of an ex millar transport 143 470 that I am restoring its a non streamline topline 4x2 reg KDZ 4140 {first reg july 1991}it may have started life as a 6x2 mid lift.it has a centurion badge on the frount grill as well as wheel trims frount fog lights air horns and cruise control does anyone rember it I have contacted the scania dealer in larne who sold it when new but their records only go back to 1992,CAN ANYONE HELP?
Posted by gerry | October 31, 2008 8:26 PM
Posted on October 31, 2008 20:26
Gerry i know your 143 well Millar's had the truck from new it then passed onto P&O Pandoro in Larne after they bought Millar out. It stayed there until about 1999/2000 when the 1st 2535 Merc Actroses came to Larne
From there it was bought by a guy Tommy Mills from Larne who had it pulling for Road & Sea Express. He was the one who removed the mid lift axle and fitted bigger tanks as it was now a 4x2.
He sold it to Ronnie Hamilton from Carnalbanagh outside Ballymena who used her pulling P&O Ferrymasters trailers out of Larne. Think that was around 2001/2002. As from there i know no more about KDZ 4140.
As for the Centurion badge on the grille there were no Centurion badges/stickers on it when Millars, P&O, Tommy Mills or Ronnie Hamilton had it so it must have have been added at a later date.
Where dis you purchase the truck from Gerry and where are you from yourself?
Posted by Sammy | November 5, 2008 3:27 PM
Posted on November 5, 2008 15:27
Done a bit of research there into Millar's Cenutrions
LDZ 1140 - NO. 40
MDZ 1140 - NO. 61
MDZ 2140 - NO. 62
MDZ 3140 - NO. 63
There was also a white 4x2 Topline Streamline at Belfast Truck Show this year badges as number 26.
Also the ex John Phillips royal centurion can also be seen on the roads in ireland
Posted by Anonymous | November 5, 2008 5:13 PM
Posted on November 5, 2008 17:13
Done a bit of research there into Millar's Cenutrions
LDZ 1140 - NO. 40
MDZ 1140 - NO. 61
MDZ 2140 - NO. 62
MDZ 3140 - NO. 63
There was also a white 4x2 Topline Streamline at Belfast Truck Show this year badges as number 26.
Also the ex John Phillips royal centurion can also be seen on the roads in ireland
Forgot to mention the guy i mentioned above Tommy Mills was the man who first brought the Master Centurion to Northern Ireland before it passed onto the hands of Tom Scott at Truckalign
Posted by Anonymous | November 5, 2008 5:15 PM
Posted on November 5, 2008 17:15
thanks for that sammy the last keeper was in enniskillen, owner number 7 before me i am in letterkenny myself if you have a number i can ring you on fax it to me on 00353749120199 and ill give you a call, dont want to give out mobile number
Posted by Gerry | November 5, 2008 7:41 PM
Posted on November 5, 2008 19:41
No problem mate will get round to it have you an e-mail address there?
By the way i have a picture of KDZ 4140 in Millars colours but its only the one sorry
Posted by Anonymous | November 5, 2008 9:33 PM
Posted on November 5, 2008 21:33
would be great to have pictures of any of millars trucks email address is greenvehicles@gmail.com i can send you some pics of how she looks now +142 that i have
Posted by Gerry | November 5, 2008 9:58 PM
Posted on November 5, 2008 21:58
Hi, was just reading emails on Centurion,s and was just letting you know that we own number 095 still in everyday use hauling gas for Kelgar Haulage in Dungannon N.Ireland. She is a 113 360 streamline tag axle J95 VFS in yellow and just past psv 2 weeks ago with flying colours!
Posted by Malachy Hughes | November 5, 2008 10:19 PM
Posted on November 5, 2008 22:19
What pics of millars do you guys have , THE "LDZ1140" 50 WAS ONE OF THE BEST HE EVER HAD,I have most of the regs going back to the 142's "TIA 7140" and 1 i think of 141 "oia 7140"
AND THE LOVE RACE TRANSPORTER "MIL 20"
The trucks where always clean wih out a dought, rain, hail or snow the guys cleaned the trucks, truct me i no, me da made me get out and wash it when i was there
RIP JOE
Posted by Rossi | November 8, 2008 1:02 AM
Posted on November 8, 2008 01:02
Rossi i have loads going back to 140s, 141s, 142s, 143s, the trace transporter, the 144, the r580, volvo f88, f12s, mans, mercs, and the white!
Have you an email address i could contact u on mate id be very interested in swpaaing pics with you?
Posted by Sammy | November 9, 2008 12:01 PM
Posted on November 9, 2008 12:01
my dad drove a Centurion, he said it was the first Centurion 143m 500 tag axle sold in the country im not sure the number of it but also the reg was (j500 dsw) hope that mabye helped
Posted by ryan dale | November 18, 2008 7:37 PM
Posted on November 18, 2008 19:37
Yes mate vfr400_v4@msn.com, c u there
Posted by Rossi | November 25, 2008 6:06 PM
Posted on November 25, 2008 18:06
See below link for some pics LDZ 1140 is in these pictures
Posted by Rossi | November 25, 2008 6:26 PM
Posted on November 25, 2008 18:26
See below link for some pics LDZ 1140 is in these pictures
http://www.slide.com/r/7yErbHjr4D-ON1x3_q2WR18OyOIpwqCr
Posted by Rossi | November 25, 2008 6:27 PM
Posted on November 25, 2008 18:27
Is that your email rossi?
Posted by Sammy | November 26, 2008 11:10 AM
Posted on November 26, 2008 11:10