The Cushman Trackster Is a Tank-Like ATV

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1973 Cushman Trackster - right front profile - featured

The Cushman Trackster was introduced in the 1970s. With tracks instead of wheels, the Trackster allows users to traverse snow, mud, sand, and other rugged, steep terrain. The market took notice because the Trackster is unlike any other off-road vehicle on the market. Trackster production ran between 1970 and 1975.

Tool and Toy

The Trackster’s design is simple yet effective. A heavy-duty fiberglass body wraps a welded steel tubing frame above two rubber tracks. Bogie wheels—a term for wheels fitted under a railcar—work in a suspension system that drives the tracks.

The operator accesses controls from a large bench seat with enough space for two adults behind a protective fold-down windscreen. A T-handle control lever allows Trackster pilots to maneuver, change speed, and control each track’s hydrostatic (hydraulic) transmission systems.

The zero-turning radius enables users to make 360-degree turns by powering one track forward while the other is in reverse. The result is an agile ATV that can navigate tight woods and steep inclines.

A 25-horsepower two-stroke engine comes from Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC). Cushman was a division of OMC.

The engine’s top speed is a modest 16 miles per hour when going forward and seven mph in reverse. Of course, 16 mph in a tracked vehicle as small as the Trackster is more than enough. When Cushman designed the Trackster, it cleverly combined the engine, transmission, and axle assembly into one unit. This design allowed servicing each component without removing the entire engine assembly.

The Trackster Can Haul

The Trackster’s payload capacity is impressive at 800 pounds—not bad for a vehicle that weighs only 985 pounds. This vehicle is small enough to fit inside most pickup trucks and small trailers, making it easier to transport to the trail or job site. The Trackster can also accommodate an external flotation hull that makes the vehicle amphibious.

Cushman started encountering challenges by the mid-1970s. The Trackster faced new rivals using the latest technology. When the company folded in 1975, the Trackster became a sought-after collector vehicle.

According to the seller of the 1973 Trackster recently listed on eBay it’s still running strong despite visible signs of wear. With production lasting only five years, this ATV oddity is hard to find.