Cushman Motor Company was founded in 1901 to make small-displacement engines for farm and household equipment. Just a few years later, manufacturers were experimenting with scooters; in fact, the US Postal Service contracted with Autoped to put its mail carriers on wheels, rudimentary as they were. Legend has it that a youngster wandered into Cushman’s Lincoln, Nebraska factory in search of spare parts; he had installed a Cushman washing machine motor onto a scooter. Charles Ammon, who owned Cushman at the time, saw that making scooters could help his company sell more engines – and the Model 1-1 was born. From that point through to the 1960s, Cushman made a wide variety of configurations, including this Package Kar. The Package Kar was designed with the load carried in front of the driver, supported by two wheels, and the engine in the rear, sitting on a single wheel. Steering was either by handlebars (tiller), like this example, or a conventional steering wheel. Find this project on facebook Marketplace for $4500, marked down from $6000. It’s been for sale for several weeks, so interested buyers might be able to negotiate further. Pick it up from Boyceville, Wisconsin. NW Iowa Kevin sent along this tip – thanks!
The engine is a single-cylinder four-stroke sold under Cushman’s “Husky” brand. It will develop about 4 to 5 hp, once running; at the moment, it does turns over, but it hasn’t run in years. Looks like it still has its instruction sticker on the engine bay lid. The gearbox is a two-speed with reverse. The company touted its “knee action front wheels”, designed to absorb road shocks, and special coil springs in the rear. If you’re wondering what defines a scooter, versus a motorcycle, the best differentiator is the scooter’s step-through design, coupled with a platform for the rider’s feet.
The Package Kar was made from the early 1940s into the 1950s, when the Truckster took over. The Truckster put the load behind the driver on two wheels, with one up front. So enduring was this model that it was produced until 2002. You’ll see Trucksters on race tracks, golf courses, in maintenance yards and police departments, even peddling ice cream. Trucksters have been rodded and customized to the nth degree. Here’s a “woody” Truckster! Today, Cushman is still in business as a division of Textron, making four-wheeled utility vehicles.
This Package Kar comes with a bumper, open wooden bed, and graphics on the engine cover – its history probably includes commercial use of some sort. As is usual with oddballs of this type, value is in the eye of the beholder. I love this weird scooter, and I might even use it on the farm, but I’d need a steep discount to tackle this project. What do you think? Have you ever owned a Cushman?
Cushman Eagle was a scooter without step-through and did not have a platform for the rider’s feet.
Correct.. I had a Cushman Eagle that I got when I was 14 and I used it for my paper route and general riding around town.
Whhhheeee, grandpa has the scooter thing running,,and all the kids piled in for a ride around the farm. Big smiles, except that one cousin that always got sick,, it could still happen. I’d say originally, this belonged to a big factory maintenance dept. and saved a lot of steps. My ex-BIL worked at A.O. Smith in Milwaukee, encompassed many city blocks, and he said they had vehicles like this to get around. Some were pedal powered. Can’t find much on the motor, apparently Cushman did make their own here, although a Briggs Model A comes close with that side spark plug. In modern times, refuse companies used, and still might, Cushman Trucksters with big dump beds for trash pickup in subdivisions. It saves driving the truck around. Cool find, you know, I visit FB Marketplace regularly, just in case that one oddball( Saab 93 wagon, Opel Kadett wagon, etc) pops up 2 towns over, but it never happens. What does come up is an unbelievable conglomeration of this and that. Page after page, there is a lot of stuff for sale, and “price slashes”, as shown here, are on practically every post. Located near Eau Claire, Wis., not far from the Cities, I’m surprised nobody in the great state of Minnesosoty wants this( think The Zoo). You know why? They have their own stuff. Great find.
Yeah, whatever you say Mr Knowitall…
Why did you feel the need to post this? Howard adds a lot to this site.
Don’t be silly, Mr.Billy.No need to be snarky here.
A lot of these companies succeeded because they were willing to veer off center just a little. It’s amazing what kinds of markets are out there. I’ve been looking at this while Jesse tries to figure out why BFis dumping my posts. I can think of lots of things I could use this for just around the acreage. Well, the acreage I just sold…
You gotta be kidding me $4500. What could you possibly use this for?
Conversation…
Wow! What a Door Dash vehicle
this would be! Just convert it to
an LEV, and I could drive it without a driver’s license! Great for riding to work or to the smoke shop to pick up some ceegars or
to use as a trash carrier while at
the McDonald’s I work at. That 2
speed tranny you speak of, does
it have a clutch or is it direct drive? Whatever the use I find for,
it looks to be a barrel of fun. And
yeah, I remember our postman using one in the early ’60s. Kinda
reminds me of those new electric
cargo bikes they show and sell up
on YouTube. Is the company still
in business so that I can find parts for this little critter?
We have a lawnmower dealer nearby who has a restored piece like this in his show room. Looks neat.
I used to sell Cashman years ago. The 4 wheel mini trucks, like the john deere gator, were fun to drive.
My demo wound out to 22 mph with two adults and went 27 mph down hill with me and my then 5 year old son in it.
Driving a very slow vehicle fast is as fun as it can get!
Neat find Michelle. I always thought Cushman scooters are designed really nicely. Theres definitely a touch of style to these, the way the fenders are shaped etc. It would look great restored. But I would be looking at a much lower entry fee than what they’re asking.
Pallet is optional.
Maybe not. The way it’s placed makes me wonder whether the thing might be buckled without it?
grate for swap meets,carry your overpriced parts
My dad bought my brother and I two plain jane models from the 50s back in the mid 60s for 20 bucks apiece, they were a blast. Looks like this one would break in half if you pulled the pallet out!
I would guess “ran when parked”, as it has flat tires and sits on a wood platform. Placed there by a forklift?
Still an interesting piece.
Years ago, in FL, my dad and I opened the seat and our eyes met a coral snake curled up. That Cushman seat went back down without hesitation.
It’s really cool, but not 4500 cool.
Most excellent mother-in-law transporter. Let her sit in front and carp!
So, what year is this exactly ?
Interesting and educational write-up Michele, thank you.
Another Barn Find that I didn’t know existed.. it reminds me of the days of riding my Cushman Eagle around and delivering papers at 4am on Sundays when I was 14. Brrrrr! Thanks for the write-up and the two other pics Michelle!
This is perfect for that small acreage I’m looking for upstate. Sure it won’t cut the grass but it will move the wood pile! Looks like a sweet little project that will pay dividends.
But not at that price! 3 figures is about right in my estimation.
Cool project. Not as a restoration, but to simply get it running well and make it solid for use on the back 40. Just need to find that property upstate …
Get a John Deere Gator for that wood pile job! It’ll haul bark dust, gravel, rock and all that other stuff you’ll be hauling once you find your acreage. Takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’.
The Package Kar is for your living room. Restore it and put it next to the fireplace.
Ha, funny!
It is one of the few things out there Michelle I think I’d be interested in actually restoring. My thoughts of visual attraction generally revolve around function first.
This cushman though is almost irresistible!
The Package Kar is very cool, but I much prefer the Truckster. My Grandfather worked for the now-defunct Benson’s Wild Animal Farm in Hudson, NH, and he drove a Truckster at work. The one he drove had a steering wheel and no roof.
When I came across this rather rare Cushman, I thought maybe Michelle or Scotty would accept the tip. I love this style as well as the turtle back Cushman’s in all of their forms. I’ve owned a few over the years. The Cushman name is the most popular with collectors. Currently, I have an American Moto-scoot made in Chicago 1936-47 and a Safticycle made in Lacrosse, WI. Both were built in the 1940s.
This Cushman Package Kar IMHO, should never be restored to as new. Get it mechanically sound, ride it and enjoy it. They’re only original once. The price is fair considering its rarity and completeness. Reproduction parts are readily available.
Thanks Kevin. That’s what I wanted to know were I to take on
one of these as a project. Yeah, it’s rare, expensive, and MOT worth what he’s asking for it! He
might get more response if he sold it for $450 INSTEAD of $4500. Like I told the seller up at
the ’60 Cadillac ambulance post
the other day. Don’t be stingy with that stuff you’re smokin.
Whatever it is, I want some!