DIFFLOCKEDTHE REGISTRY NAMED MODEL · 1980s
NAMED MODELSpecial · Prototypes & CustomSpecial · Utility & HeavyMilitary · UKUnited Kingdom

Stage 1 V8 Centaur.

Stage 1 V8-based Laird Centaur half-track in its off-white winter-trials appearance, with bonnet spare, wing aerials and a snow camouflage cover.

Drive it in the gameSources & evidence
Stage 1 V8 Centaur — Series III, 1980s — AI rendering impression, not a photograph
BASE VEHICLESeries III 109″CONVERTERLaird (Anglesey) LtdIN SERVICE1980sOPERATED INUnited Kingdom, NorwayLAYOUT2 wheels · 109″

The record

Laird developed the Centaur as an experimental half-track using Land Rover front ends. TankHistoria identifies six Stage One-based prototypes and one later 110-based example, powered by a 3.5-litre Rover V8. Trials included cold-weather evaluation in Norway; the design did not enter production.

This model depicts the winter configuration photographed with registration 06 SP 17, wing-mounted aerial equipment, an amber beacon and a large snow camouflage drape over the rear body.

Research status: draft — identification, dates or figures could not all be pinned down; the summary says what is unresolved.

Specification

MANUFACTURERLand Rover
MODIFIER / COACHBUILDERLaird (Anglesey) Ltd ↗
Beaumaris
MANUFACTURED1980s
ENGINE3.5-litre Rover V8 petrol
COUNTRY OF ORIGINUnited Kingdom
OPERATED INUnited Kingdom, Norway
RECORD KINDNamed model
MODEL LINESeries III
WHEELS2
NOMINAL WHEELBASE109″
CATEGORYSpecial · Prototypes & Custom, Special · Utility & Heavy, Military · UK

Catalogue fields describe the vehicle's structure and body as this registry records it. They are not certified factory measurements, and no performance figures are published here.

AI rendering impression

An AI rendering impression starts from the registry's own 3D model of this vehicle, which an image model then paints into a scene. It is an artist's impression of the type, made to give a feel for the vehicle in its element — not a photograph, and not a record of any particular vehicle.

Proportions, fittings, markings, colours and the setting can all drift from the original in the process. For the vehicle's actual details, rely on the registry's 3D renders, the specification and the cited sources on this page.

Where it was

GB United Kingdom1979–1985 · Prototype trialsNO Norway1980–1983 · Winter trials
  1. BuiltLaird (Anglesey) Ltd, BeaumarisUnited Kingdom · 1979–198353.26, -4.09
  2. ServedWinter trials, NorwayNorway · 1980–198369.07, 18.52

Sources

  1. 1Laird Centaur – The Half-Track Land Rover ↗SOURCE
  2. 2https://tankhistoria.com/experimental/centaur-half-track/https://tankhistoria.com/experimental/centaur-half-track/ ↗REFERENCE

Registry record updated 2026-09-16T05:55:32.028Z · status: draft