Legends of Scooter Sport: Cushman Model 53

 

Why in the hell would I profile an old, ugly, American made scooter from the 30s in this week's edition of "Legends of Scooter Sport"?  There are numerous reasons I chose the Model 53.  In fact, modern scootering may be completely different today if it weren't for Cushman's Model 53.

As with any other WWII era company, Cushman ramped up production of its scooters and produced entirely military models for the early and mid 40s.  Its' scooters were used by paratroopers on the eve of D-Day, by American troops looking for a way to get around the roads and bridges left destroyed by the Nazis in the Alps, and were very much admired by Italians in post-war Europe for the simplicity and ease of use.

The Model 53 began production in Omaha, Nebraska in 1944 and only 4734 were sold.  The Model 53 could travel through about a foot of water, climb a 25% grade and had a range of about 100 miles.  Cushman designed the Model 53 Airborne Scooter to be airdropped by parachute or carried by glider, and it had a hitch to pull a model M3A4 general-purpose utility cart.  

The scooter was powered by a Cushman one cylinder 4-stroke engine that put out a Nazi crushing 4.6 HP (my Super Cub has almost that much).  It weighed 255 pounds and had a maximum speed of 40mph.  The Model 53 is the two wheel equivalent of the willy's jeep.  After the war, Cushman produced a civilian version of the scooter, the Model 53A.  The only differences were the lack of olive drab paint and the addition of suspension.

Soon after the war in devastated Italy, engineering group Piaggio was trying to solve of problem of cheap easy transportation for the Italian people.  Piaggio noticed the rugged Model 53 used by US servicemen and is rumored to be the inspiration of the modern Vespa scooter.  Without the Model 53 modern scootering may not have made it any farther than the pages of a Sear and Roebuck catalog.  We salute you Model 53!