1962 Cushman 354cc Super Eagle, Frame no. 075985

1962 Cushman 354cc Super Eagle
Frame no. 075985
Founded in the early 1900s by cousins Clinton and Everett Cushman, the Lincoln, Nebraska firm had long been established as engine manufacturers, its products powering boats, farm machinery, pumps and lawnmowers. The story goes that Cushman's two-wheeler came about quite by chance following aviator Col. Roscoe Turner's demonstration of a Salsbury scooter at an air show in Lincoln in 1936. A local boy liked what he saw and fashioned his own crude copy using a Cushman Husky lawnmower engine as power unit.

Known as 'The Big Name in Little Wheels', Cushmans would evolve through countless incarnations over the years, one of the most significant developments being the launch of a new, larger line in 1949. This was the Eagle, which abandoned the scooter's traditional open-framed "step-through" layout, placing the gas tank in the conventional, motorcycle position. It was a brave move: Nobody knew what the riding public's reaction would be to a scooter that looked more like a miniature Harley-Davidson, but the Eagle proved to be an outstanding success, selling more units than any other Cushman model.

This 1962 Cushman is a Super Eagle model, with all-metal rear bodywork and extra chrome. It is powered by an 8hp Husky four-stroke working through a centrifugal clutch and two-speed sliding-gear transmission. Restored by a respected Cushman expert, its factory accessories include a buddy seat, windscreen and chromed front crash bars. Acquired by the current owner in 2006, the Super Eagle has been on display in a private climate-controlled facility amongst other vintage scooters.