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A Brief History of Cushman Golf Carts

Cushman Motor Works was founded in Lincoln Nebraska in 1901 by Everette and Clinton Cushman to produce gasoline motors. They left the company in 1919. The company was incorporated by new owner Charles Ammon in 1934. They started producing their well known scooters in 1936. It was not until 1955 that they introduced their first three wheel golf cart and later on a four wheel model. Note the green and white cart above. In 1957 the Ammon family sold the company to Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC), most well known for the Johnson and Evinrude brand of outboards. In 1961 they closed down a foundry they had and converted it over to aluminum die casting. This is where they built the first 18 hp engines that went into the meter maid Trucksters and the "Shark Nosed" model 735 golf cart. For more detailed history on Cushman go here: www.nebraskahistory.org/sites/mnh/cushman3.htm

All the three wheel model 732s were produced until 1967 and were powered by electricity except for the short lived "Shark Nosed" gas powered model 735 which was produced from 1961 to 1964. Note the orange cart above left. In 1964 they introduced an impression molded fiberglass body model 436 which they kept through 1967. Note the silver with light blue flames above. From 1964 to 1968 they also built the electric and gas model 736 Deluxe Golfster and Executive industrial cart. The gas model came with a The Deluxe Golster came with either tiller steering or a steering wheel. The steering wheel model also had a different nose piece. The Executive model came with a headlight and horn. They also had the Scotsman model 736 from 1965 to 1968. This model came with a 5 HP, 14.1 cubic inch, four cycle Briggs and Stratton engine. 1968 saw the first four wheeler called the Gran Cushman Golfster model GC-400. This steel body cart was also produced in the three wheel model GC-300. Note the dark blue GC-300 above. Both models could be purchased as either gas or electric. The gasoline version used a Kohler model 181 and later went to a model 301 around 1970. The 60s were the heyday for the Cushman line of golf carts.

They dominated the market until Harley introduced their gas golf cart which made inroads in their market share and later the influx of carts from Poland, the Melex, took a lot of their market as well, although they continued to dominate the electric cart market. From 1972 until 1975 only the four wheel version was manufactured. All golf cart production ceased on June 27, 1975. The company continued building industrial vehicles and in 1989 was purchased by Ransomes Ltd. In 1998 Textron, who owns E-Z-GO, purchased Ransomes. Cushmans are still being built today by Textrons Jacobsen Golf and Turf Products division.