1959 Go Kart

[Grey Ghost]

I couldn't resist this original 1958/1959 kart.

It's also the same one they would mount the Corvette bodies onto via brackets.

https://i.imgur.com/bFEJLzk.jpg

https://www.corvetteonline.com/news/ebay-find-1958-corvette-yard-man-go-cart/

[JRD77VET]

What engine and does it run? VERY cool :yesnod:

[markids77]

What engine and does it run? VERY cool :yesnod:

Looks like a period Tecumseh 2.5 from here; even the fuel tank is steel. Probably not as old as the cart itself; I would expect a cylindrical fuel tank on a late 50's engine.

[Grey Ghost]

What engine and does it run? VERY cool :yesnod:

I think McCulloch.

Not sure where any numbers would be on it.

[Grey Ghost]

Looks like a period Tecumseh 2.5 from here; even the fuel tank is steel. Probably not as old as the cart itself; I would expect a cylindrical fuel tank on a late 50's engine.

David Bradley also made them and almost identical....DB is a very old farm implement company. Here's an ad from 1962 Sears cat. for the DB. It shows a square tank...

I need to find some numbers on the motor, but I think it's original.

https://i.imgur.com/NjaZlcd.jpg

[JRD77VET]

It's listed as a "Craftsman" engine but all that gets you is the seller. Sears had manufacturers make everything for them and they just sold it. Contracts were usually good for a year so it could be a Clinton or Tecumseh engine ( or B&S )

[Cybercowboy]

Those were such “rich kids” toys back then.

[MrPeabody]

Those were such “rich kids” toys back then.

Yep. Back then a hundred bucks was a house payment where I lived.:yesnod:

[BADRACR1]

That was pricey. You could buy a decent car for that money. Very cool find.:seasix:

[RedLS1GTO]

Very :cool:

[Jeff '79]

So was it more than $117.00 or less than $117.00 ?
That is an awesome find and an even better buy that the normal Joe would pass over.:seasix:

[Stevedore]

When I was 12 or 13 years old (1958-59), we lived in Longview, TX. I used to go to a local bicycle shop for parts, accessories, etc. (Wesley's Cycle Shop; how do I remember that?) One day there was a salesman there delivering a Royal Norseman go-kart that Wesley was going to start selling; similar to the one in OP's photo. I couldn't believe it when the guy looked at me & said "Why don't you drive it around a bit & go tell your Daddy you want one!"

So I did, and I did. It was $100+, which was probably more than my poor parents had to their name at the time, so I can leave it to you to imagine the laughter that ensued around the dinner table that night. Great memory though.

[Grey Ghost]

Parents bought me one new around 1970. It was made by Clark Mfg. out of GA. It had a cool 'Cyclops' sticker on the floor pan. I was really too young for it and about killed myself twice on it. One time the throttle stuck and I went straight into our brick house at WOT. Another time I drove it straight into the street and under a moving car. The driver had no idea he was dragging me along with him! I'm lucky some neighbors dashed in front of him to force him to a complete stop. My parents sold it after that accident. I do remember going into our local auto parts store and they had them in a two/three tier rack in candy blue or candy red with a white seat.

I see the ones from the late 60s/70s pop up for sale and they are collectable. I was just astonished to find this one from 58/59. I posted it on a kart collectors site and they went nuts over it.

I'm still can't find many original photos, manuals, etc...about it.