Two Cushman Eagles...should I buy them?

[BertBeagle]

I sold this midget and the Cushman that you can see in the background plus a Mercury Kiekhaefer that was originally in the midget for $900 recently. Paid $300 for everything a few days earlier. Probably left a few $ on the table with this deal - I started getting calls at 6am the day the classified ad first appeared. A friend who is knowledgeable about Cushmans said it was worth no more than $300 at a swap meet. As you can see it needed a lot of work plus there was no engine, g box or wheels.

Guys at work fondly referred to the midget as "the car of yesterday" and were even fonder when it was hauled off.

[304065]

Isn't that a 1/4 midget?

[Tim Hancock]

Not sure, but I thought quarter midgets were real tiny and raced by grade school kids.

[BertBeagle]

Originally posted by john_cramer
Isn't that a 1/4 midget?

It is called a type of quarter midget or micro midget but is not like, what I call, real quarter midgets such as the ones built by Curtis. When I bought everything sight un seen I was hoping for a Curtis or similar car. Seeing it for the first time and realizing it was not what I thought I put an ad in the paper and sold it.

This car is one that was "home made" and raced at a track or club near where it was made (in this case Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston Salem NC). There was lots of that type of racing with local rules in the 40's and 50's. They had several names one being quarter midget but they were not real quarter midgets. They were "poor mans" midget and in size were actually closer to a real midget of the day.

Cushman engines were popular in those cars as were the Kiekaefer Mercury engines. The real quarter midgets typically had a Clinton engine.

The Cushman was also more project that I wanted. You can buy a nice one good as new for $3500 if you look a little so I wasn't willing to put time and money into this one.

[kach22i]

Nice thread, great work Tim.

I like that little midget too.

[Tim Hancock]

I got a big batch of parts that I blasted primed in epoxy primer then painted in silver and black Imron.

Then after looking over the supposedly "professionally restored" frame, I could not live with it and had to break out the grinder to remove the "brazed" on seat springs, cobbed foot rest and a non stock welded on passenger footpeg mount. The previously "professional" blast and paint of the frame was pretty poor. Oh well, at least it will be done proper now.

[Tim Hancock]

Decided to go all red with everything. Sandblasted the frame and fenders epoxy primed then painted with urethane paint. I hauled about 30 parts to a local chrome plater and started re-assembly. My dad is going to wet himself when he gets this for X-mas!

[lendaddy]

You are a freak.

[azasadny]

Very cool!!

[the]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: You are the man!

It's always a real pleasure to see your work.

[Tim Hancock]

I got the engine buttoned up and installed and most of the chrome parts are back from the plater and installed. Getting close! Basically after I get the remaining chrome parts back I just need to finish designing/building a new intake manifold for a bigger modern Mikuni carb.

[lendaddy]

Beautiful! I like the subtle placement of the Bush/Cheney sign

[kach22i]

Cool, I could use something like that for my 1-1/2 mile walk into work.

[Joeaksa]

Very, very nice work, course we knew that would happen anyway! Your Father will be very happy!

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

Beautiful! I like the subtle placement of the Bush/Cheney sign

If you look real close, you might be able to make out the Clinton family that has been on that dart board in my shop for the ten years or so!

Thankfully most (all of them come to think of it) of my airplane customers who visit my shop are all republicans, as I have lots of old campaign bumper stickers plastered stuck all over in my shop. The "CLINTON...A good reason why stupid people shouldn't vote" bumpersticker probably will cost me a customer someday, but what the hell, it is my shop right?

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by kach22i

Cool, I could use something like that for my 1-1/2 mile walk into work.

It would be perfect for that! Realistically, these things are only good for about 40-50 mph. They definitely attract attention though, as my unrestored ratty one always gets questions from strangers when I ride into the local little towns to pick something up at the carryout or hardware store.

[scottmandue]

As I said before if I ever hit the lotto I'm having Tim build me a boat... a really big boat.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

It would be perfect for that! 40-50 mph.

It's 25 - 30 mph all the way into work, sounds perfect.

[71T Targa]

What are we looking at there? Clutch? Brake?

[71T Targa]

Awesome work by the way.