EXCLUSIVE: Cushman Truckster Project
Update – We’ve lowered the price on this Cushman to $800 firm. Be sure to send me a message via the form below if you are interested in it!
As some of you likely know, I am helping to clear out a large collection of salvage and project vehicles from a private owner. You can read more about the collection here. As we move ahead with the process, I’ll be listing some of the more interesting cars individually, which will also help readers see more info about specific vehicles they may be interested in. Be sure to read the original post about the collection. This listing is for a Cushman Truckster project, which is sold with a bill of sale only for $1,500.
What Makes it Special? Cushman Trucksters have been part of the transportation fabric in America for many years. Their history is colorful, serving as appliances for police departments and the ice cream man. The Truckster is certainly a vehicle that makes less sense as a daily driver and more as a toy to tinker with, but their emphasis on utility makes it practical as a light-duty vehicle in a contained environment like a park or golf course.
Body Condition: This Truckster looks far worst than it really is due to the paint flaking off. There’s no real rust to speak of, although the bed has been chopped at the end. To make it fully functional, a miniature stake body might make some sense, along with repainting it to what looks like its original color of tan.
Mechanical Condition: We haven’t determined if the engine is original, but it does spin freely. Horsepower is likely right around 10 b.h.p, but the Cushman’s light weight means it made the most of its meager output. The seat cushion is not attached – it’s just resting on top of the engine – but that’s a fairly minor concern in light of the restoration the Truckster is crying out for.
Cushman the company was eventually sold and absorbed under another organization, but it still produces a wide variety of small utility vehicles today. Original examples like this Truckster will always be the generation that three-wheeled enthusiasts pine for, so hopefully this one finds a new home soon. The glass looks good but if there were once doors on this Truckster, they have since gone missing. But don’t Jeep owners think it’s cool to lose the doors and go cruising?
- Price: $1,5oo
- Location: Northwest Georgia
- Mileage: TMU
- Title Status: Bill of sale only
Do you have a low mileage survivor parked in your garage, shed or barn? Does it need a new home? Please consider listing it here on Barn Finds!
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Comments
This man is out of whack on his prices
Only takes an ignorant fool to pay it, so let them drram.
I have multiple Cushman Trucksters (currently 3), and I hate to burst your bubble, but that is a $300 max parts truck only. Restored, this particular model might hit $1200-1500.
If it was licensed for the street with title and plate, it might be worth $500-800 as is.
$1500 as it sits is unrealistic. But then who knows. It is all about finding the right buyer. I got taken badly on my first Cushman. Paying $1k for what was only worth $400 and it was in far better condition than this example. Find an ignorant person and you might get lucky.
It is worth what someone will pay for it. You just have to find that person.
how can I contact you Vegaman Dan? I’d like to pick your brain, I have a 1979 Truckster……thanks, Brian
I believe this is a mid-70’s unit, and I thought they all had OMC 2 cyl. motors. This appears to be a Kohler. Pretty limited use, and I have no idea if the price is right.
Kohlers were an option on the smallest Cushmans and are seen as the least desirable of engines for Trucksters. They were anemic and had trouble moving these things around if loaded.
And speaking of load capacity, these things are impressive. My 1982 flatbed has a 1 ton cargo capacity!
Reach for the stars with that price.
Maybe the 1 in front of the 5 was a mistake?
Hayabusa or Fireblade engine upgrade!
if U don’t know it, hang out’n learn.
There’s a long (50 yrs?) following on these.
W/the internet we see that following grow.
I C more ofem as ‘trikes’ (open frnt fender, minimum body) but some have full bodies like a lill “van” (USPS model).
I think I’m gunna go over there’n take a peek, C what’s there…
USPS never used the Cushman Haulster (aka Vanster). They used the Mailster, which looks much different than the Truckster.
I’m growing used to the din about prices. Try researching the price for something like this – it’s all over the map and no single pricing guide exists. I would *welcome* someone who *ACTUALLY WANTS TO BUY IT* to contact me with an offer.
Ask the folks who have already made purchases. It’s really not that hard. Nothing has sold for the original asking price. That’s how negotiations work.
But hey, keep kicking dirt over there about things you don’t intend to buy; doesn’t bother me. I’m not working on commission and I don’t need the money….
If you are trying to help clear out the collection, then having realistic prices is the way to do it. Is your goal to move vehicles or try to extract every last penny even if it takes years to do so? The space vehicle takes up has its own value to consider. Sometimes you take a lower price just to clear the space.
Good luck to you in finding a buyer. The pricing is well over a grand too high for the market and condition, but it only takes one person to pay it so maybe you will find them. I do not believe it will be on this list though.
Might try a local car hauler auction. People there don’t really research the unusual offerings and you might find a couple of people willing to bid it high without knowing the market. It is cool looking and that might trump research.
give me a 1963 KIng Midget instead…..
Clean used running versions of these sell for under 500 surplus directly from the government users…………………I have parted them out to obtain the onan engines for use in tracksters but this one doesn’t even have that.
Maybe 1500 is a bit optimistic, and no details about engine condition, compression or if any parts are missing on the engine or drive train,,
But I worked on a few of these as a Aerospace casting company I worked as a millwright and these were handy little trucksters for the maint dept.
But realistically a motor alone is an expensive proposition, so if the motor is viable its worth 400-500.
Im up in the hills and farmers need motors like that for a variety of uses,, They dont go cheap. New ones are in the 1500-2500 range.
So, for the right person, and if this thing isnt missing critical parts or the motor is junk,, then I can see a fair price of $1000-1200 if it was cleaned up and marketed better.
As a parts or mystery purchase,,, $500 is about right.
At our cabin, our little gated vacation community many residents have Golf carts,, Even an old Golf cart goes 500 needing work and we paid $900 for ours, But typical used ones sell for $1000-2500 so for a DIY type,,, He is not out of line on his price, but again,, needs cleaning and better marketing to realize top prices.
Cash talks, BS walks, In God we trust, all others pay cash.
PS,, If considering a Golf cart, tread carefully on a electric one. Batterys are ungodly expensive and can cost over a $1000 to replace the battery packs on most. I prefer a gas engine, But smart folks convert the gas engines to Propane,, They run forever, no more starting issues with a gummed up carb, and at our cabin community we have propane service center on site so dont have to go to town for fuel and never run out. Conversion kits are affordable.
Well, since this truck is a blank canvas, what about an EV conversion?
If they can make the CitiCar, which is smaller than this truck, why
couldn’t you turn this into an electric model? Saw one on YouTube 7
years ago and it looked very interesting. Only thing you’d have to
figure out is where you would place the motor and the battery pack.
Add a solar panel to the roof, and you can charge it while you drive it.
Since this this truck is a near basket case, I wouldn’t feel guilty about
converting it. Just what I need to take myself and my art stuff down
town to our monthly car show. Find a sunny place to park, and let it
charge while I work.
Since this post is over 2 years old, it would be great if there was an update on whether or not it sold or not and is still available or not. A lot of us guys go searching for Cushmans like this and 99% of the time, it’s an old auction that ran out years ago and no one took the time to mark “SOLD”.