Cushman - All Models

Company History

Cushman began in Omaha in 1903 manufacturing small engines, then parlayed that expertise into scooters that mobilized America in the 1930s–50s. The brand’s utilitarian DNA showed in everything it built: step-throughs with thick frames, simple controls, and rugged mechanicals that laughed off hard service. During World War II, the Model 53 ‘Airborne’ scooter—designed to be parachuted with troops—demonstrated just how tough and practical a two-wheeler could be under extreme conditions. Postwar, Cushman scooters ferried workers to factories, teenagers to diners, and meter-maids down city blocks. As the nation’s focus tilted toward cars and as sleek imported scooters arrived, consumer demand faded, and Cushman shifted toward industrial vehicles—golf carts, maintenance haulers, and factory runabouts—where its reliability found a lasting niche. Enthusiasts today cherish the squat charm of Eagle and Highlander models, their lawn-mower-adjacent thrum, and the sense that every part was built to be fixed rather than replaced. Historically, Cushman symbolizes American practicality at scale: engines and vehicles that did what they promised, priced for accessibility, and supported by parts anyone with basic tools could fit. In the wider story of two wheels, Cushman proves that impact isn’t measured only in lap times or luxury; sometimes it’s counted in timecards punched and neighborhoods connected by simple, indestructible machines.