Vehicle Description
The Cushman company started in 1903 in Lincoln Nebraska.� For the
first three decades, Cushman produced engines for farm
equipment,�water pumps and boats. One of their most famous engines
was the Husky, which they introduced in the early 1920s. Cushman
entered the scooter business in 1936 when they introduced the
Auto-Glide scooter.� The scooter became very successful during the
Great Depression as it offered people a reliable and inexpensive
means of transportation. The company continued to grow during World
War II when they began supplying scooters to the United States
Military. ��� Cushman scooters were built in a variety of models.
The Eagle was the most traditional looking and resembled a small
motorcycle. The Highlander was a less traditional design and
offered a "step through" style framework. The step-through design,
with its ease of operation, was popular with men and women alike.
���� By the late 1950s Cushmans had jet age body styling. Models
such as the Road King and Pacemaker had a futuristic look about
them. Not only did they look extremely modern, but they were easy
to operate as well. This Cushman scooter features a foot clutch
matched up to a two speed transmission, which allowed the rider to
twist the right grip to accelerate. Cushman claimed 75 to 100 miles
per gallon of gasoline, and advertised penny-a-mile operating cost.
The Road King had an advertised top speed of 50 miles per hour. ��
This 1959 Road King is an excellent example of one of the most
iconic scooters built by Cushman. It features the famous
step-through design that places the engine towards the rear of the
frame. It allows the rider to literally step into the seat instead
of having to climb on top of it. �� This example appears to be an
extremely original and well-preserved scooter that was
professionally restored a few years back. Since being restored, it
has been used very little and has been on display in a private
collection for the last several years. �� The paint is in excellent
overall condition. The two-toned light blue and white shows
extremely well. There is no evidence of bodywork underneath the
paint. All of the sheet metal body components including the rear
engine cover and front- skirted fender appear to be original and in
excellent condition with smooth surfaces throughout. The framework
shows no evidence of damage or repair. The white vinyl seat was
recovered during the restoration and still looks like new. The
chrome accessories are extremely clean and bright. �� Underneath
the rear of the body, the engine compartment is extremely clean and
nicely detailed. The original, Husky four-cycle, 9 horsepower,
one-cylinder engine is complete with its original carburetor and
ignition system. The engine starts easily and runs well. This
scooter appears to be in very good mechanical condition. �� This
example is well equipped with a front mounted headlight, a rear
mounted taillight, a luggage rack (Newspaper Rack), a chromed
backrest for the seat and whitewall balloon tires. The VIN number
is 878955 and it is being sold with a clear and current title. ��
Cushman scooters were built to be driven and enjoyed. Because of
this, very few have survived. Their jet-age appearance has made
them an icon of mid-century design. A 1959 advertisement for the
Road King boldly states that this scooter is "Just as much fun as
it looks." We couldn't have said it better ourselves!
