Yes golf carts, in the very expensive world of manufacturing and selling gold carts Harley-Davidson actually has a one third stake in the entire golf cart market. Yes that’s right one third of all golf carts sold are Harley-Davidson original golf carts. Harley-Davidson started to manufacture golf carts in the 60’s when William G. Davidson, grandson of William A. Davidson co-founder of the company, joined the company in 1963. Harley-Davidson then started to mass produce Harley golf carts. Now by the end of the 60’s Harley-Davidson was one third of the entire golf cart market. However, the problem with Harley golf carts is that they were gas driven golf carts, and many say they were the best gas golf carts there were. Golf carts though were mostly all electrical driven vehicles, and although it was nice to drive a Harley, it was cheaper to drive any other model. Now the reason that golf carts are electrically driven unlike any other vehicle is because of where they are used. Golf carts are used (besides on the obvious golf course) to drive around gated communities and many rich areas of society. They don’t go fast, many can’t even reach 30 mph, so they don’t really need gas, they are eco-friendly, and most important (especially in gated areas) they are quiet, not a sound is made. Harley on the other hand was quite the opposite, loud, gas guzzler, and pretty mean and tough. Now many people say however that a Harley was the best gas golf cart you could get, it was efficient and it was pretty cool. Eventually thought things and competition caught up with the Harley carts. Yamaha, another famous motor bike company, also came out with a golf cart line. Yamaha didn’t have a great electric cart, but it was defiantly better than any of Harley-Davidson’s attempts, however Yamaha couldn’t compete with the Harley gas carts.

So now Yamaha and Harley-Davidson weren’t just competitors of the highway but also on the golf course. Eventually by the end of the 70’s Harley-Davidson carts were not the hottest and best carts on the market as they were in the 60’s. Harley golf carts are still however some of the best buys for people who want one and they are some of the best carts out there, they might not just be the favorite cart of your neighbors. If you live in a gated community and you want one of these hogs go out and get one of these rough and tough carts, just grab you slacks and polo sweater vest, slip on your beret and grab your clubs. Head out to the links in style on your very own Harley-Davidson Golf Cart.

Who might own these, and could be looking to sell? Well, my suggestion would be to head down to the nearest retirement/golf community. In these types of neighborhoods, you’ll find a bunch of members that own their own carts. Look at the houses as you drive down the street. My guess would be that you’ll see a bunch of those little mini-garage doors on the sides of the main garages where these folks park your carts. Head down to the clubhouse, and inquire about any carts for sale in the community. There might even be a bulletin board in the clubhouse where members list things like this for sale.

Visiting every golf course in town isn’t going to be the most efficient way to shop, of course. So think about how these folks might choose to advertise their items for sale. They’re probably going to think about some form of classified ad, most likely with the largest paper in town. Remember that the golf cart-owning community isn’t as likely to be the most internet-savvy and will likely take a less technology driven view of things than you are accustomed to. Pick up a copy of the local paper and a penny saver and take a look through them, as they are likely to have something you might be interested in. Craigslist is another interesting option and has become well enough known at this point that you might luck out there as well.

Now, you might notice that I have left off a very important shopping method for Harley Davidson golf carts. Many people find these wonderful old carts on eBay, and while I don’t disagree that they have a good selection, I think it is best used as a last resort.

When you’re shopping for something that can be easily boxed up and shipped, that’s one thing. When you’re talking about a golf cart that weighs several hundred pounds, that’s another thing entirely. Often times, you can find a Harley cart on eBay, only to discover that it is located 1,500 miles from your home. Now you have to deal with how you’re going to transport this thing back to your place. If you have the means, and the time, then by all means go ahead and bid. I just often advise people to use this as a last resort for that reason. The other reason, however, is that you can’t inspect what you’re buying beforehand. I think we can all agree that not getting quite what you pay for can be the most frustrating kind of shopping experience. It’s important to weigh the possibility of something bad happening before making an online purchase. I guess what I’m trying to say is that eBay for a purchase like this should be a ‘for experts only’ kind of endeavor.

Now, having said all that, I think this brings me to my point about patience. When you’re shopping for a unique item like a Harley Davidson golf car, you’re going to need a lot of it. There simply aren’t that many of them floating around. The lucky thing is that very few people need golf carts. For the most part, every course has carts available for rent. So bide your time. Wait for the right cart to pass under your nose, and be prepared to snap it up. In fact, this advice holds true for most things — if you can afford to be a patient, and postpone your satisfaction for a later day, you’re likely to be more satisfied in the end.

The earliest Harley Davidson golf carts are perhaps the most recognizable and revered. These, of course, are the three-wheeled carts that are prized by collectors. The company later moved to a more standard four-wheeled design. Though the three-wheeled carts may be more distinctive, both models have attained near-cult status as prized editions to the collections of golf cart aficionados everywhere.

In 1969, Harley Davidson sold the devision to American Machine and Foundry Company (AMF). AMF proceeded to build carts for well over a decade with AMF Harley Davidson branding. Then, in 1982, AMF sold their cart division to Columbia Par Car. Columbia Par car would later buy Legend Electric Vehicles. Columbia Par Car had a substantial history in the golf cart industry as well, having purchased Nordskog, the firm that bought Westinghouse… which had, in turn, bought Marketeer.  As you can see, the industry has undergone numerous changes over the years. In spite of this, there have been very few original ideas in terms of design and function. As they did with motorcycles, Harley Davidson made their mark on golf carts in a way that will always be remembered.

Where does this leave the vaunted Harley carts today, you might be wondering. Well, you have to look a little harder, but they’re still out there. In garages and at smaller courses, these now-prized carts still roam plenty of fairways. Gone are the days, certainly, when your local course was just as likely as not to employ a fleet of them, but as with most Harley products, there is a pretty devoted group of people making sure that these carts never disappear from the golf landscape.

If you are looking to buy one of these carts, we just published a post with tips on buying a Harley cart. There are a number of things you should be aware of, but more importantly, there are a number of things that you should be thinking about as you look for the cart that is right for you. By taking a few simple measures, you should be able to find a cart that meets your needs. Unfortunately, the real challenge is finding one of these old gems, and that is where we can help.