Nebraska in 1903. After one hundreds years of operations, during which time it produced engines for a variety of applications, motor scooters, golf carts, and industrial vehicles, the Cushman Company is still best known for the Cushman Scooter.
Collected today by a dedicated group of enthusiasts, the Cushman Scooter was first brought to the market in 1936. During the early days of production, the Cushman scooter was most commonly used for military purposes, especially during World War II. Small, lightweight, and fuel efficient, the scooter was an excellent alternative to automobiles both in terms of cost and practicality.
A common model used by the military was the model 53. This style of scooter was used heavily during World War II, and was designed to be parachuted into war zones along with Army Airborne troops. Because of this, it came to be known as the Cushman Airborne. The Cushman Airborne today is popular not only with scooter enthusiasts, but also with military collectors and historians around the world.
The Cushman Scooter was in production until 1965, during which time the most popular model was the Eagle. The Eagle, more closely resembling a motorcycle than the scooters of today, was produced by Cushman for approximately 16 years. Along with the Eagle, other scooters attempted more of a ‘bad boy’ image to coincide with the James Dean road racer era. These were known as the Road King and Pacemaker, and were styled for a fast, dangerous appearance compared to the sturdy practicality of earlier models.
Cushman scooters were ahead of their time in terms of cost and fuel efficiency. With an average fuel economy of 75 miles per gallon, advertising campaigns claimed an operating cost of a penny per mile. By today’s standards, that sort of claim could make a Cushman Scooter priceless.