New from ID

[Project Pat]

Welcome to the site. By the looks of those Bronco pics, could that not be considered the prototype of whats now known as the Excursion?

[4drbrnko]

Originally Posted by Project Pat

Welcome to the site. By the looks of those Bronco pics, could that not be considered the prototype of whats now known as the Excursion?

Yes, the four door Broncos were the great uncle to the Excursion.

Centurion had a close relationship with Ford, one story goes that Ford commisioned the 4DB to be built by Centurion pending actual Ford production.
Chevy and Ford struck a deal that Ford wouldn't compete with the Suburban and Chevy wouldn't compete with Ford's extended cab. It's a plausible story, but unconfirmed.
Regardless, Centurion four doors started showing up as early as 1984, but didn't hit higher production until '86/'87.
Ford sold them on their lots under full warranty, but most were ordered through Ford dealers.
The "rarest" 4DB's are the dually conversions, one of which was featured in a series of articles in Four Wheeler Magazine, "Project MPG" back in the late '90's.