Interesting, possibly disturbing, question:

[kungphuphil]

Were any Centurions ever built with the famous Buick portholes (even just applied as moulding) on the hood? I looked at every '73 pictured on the registry and found none.

I took another look at my derelict baby and discovered the portholes that look as if they were original material, as they have the original color underneath them. Or maybe they were added?

I guess my question is whether they were available as a moulding/ornamental option when new? I looked at what is available on the registry site in terms of specs and options, but they don't have any for '73s.

Also, my helmet hood ornament was originally gold. Can anyone help me dispel these mysteries? Thanks in advance!

[Brad Conley]

Sled,
You, more than likely, have a LeSabre hood on your car. Both were built off the same body (B Body) but the LeSabre's have the portholes (3 to be exact). At some point in time, through either an accident or rust issues, the hood was replaced and a LeSabre hood was fitted. If it has 4 portholes, then an Electra hood was used as I believe they will interchange with the B Bodies (LeSabre/Centurion). There we no factory built Centurions with portholes in the hood, unless it was a factory screw up. Part of the Centurion package was no portholes.

The hood ornament, speaking from memory, should have black details, not gold. Maybe someone more familiar with the 1973 models can chime in as my experience is more in tune with the 1972 models.

[Smartin]

What tells you that the emblem was originally gold? Is there any remnants of it left?

[EEE]

Maybe someone took it off in 1985 and decided they wanted a gold emblem, and painted it?

[centurion 455 ragtop]

The emblem is shown in the photo is the proper hood emblem for the 1973 Centurion. It is in chrome pot metal only.

[kungphuphil]

I'll have to take another look at the emblem and any ID on the hood. I'm guessing the hood ornament was transferred from the old hood to the new, as they are both circular and the same size (?).

Another question may be whether any Centurions were ever produced with the regular Buick hood ornament or all all the ones that don't have the helmet from some other model?

I guess we need a write-up on the history of the helmet. Such cool problems to have . . .