By Richard Sachek

Copyright jalopnik

It’s not widely known nowadays, but Harley-Davidson was actually highly successful in the business of making golf carts — hardly a flop. The company started with a three-wheeled gasoline-powered version in 1963 and by the early 1970s, both electric models and carts with four wheels were available. However, it’s the early models that were particularly quirky. For example, to shift between forward and reverse, the driver had to completely shut down the gasoline engine first. Steering was via a tiller handle, like a boat’s, that was mounted dead center on the dashboard between the driver and passenger.

Golf cart production continued after Harley-Davidson was sold to AMF, but by the early 1980s, the recreation conglomerate wanted out of the golf cart biz. In 1982, AMF’s golf cart division — started under H-D’s tutelage — was sold to Columbia Par Car. Some collectors still consider those 1980s Par Cars to be a continuation on the H-D lineage until the engine was later switched to a mundane 9-horsepower Briggs & Stratton type and the three-wheeled model disappeared.

An offshoot of the H-D golf cart manufacturing was the brand’s Utilicar, which was based on golf cart underpinnings. The miniature vehicle debuted in 1966 and was built until at least 1980. Think of the stereotypical diminutive vehicle that a decades-ago meter attendant or mail carrier might drive. Although those were made by Cushman, the concept is extremely similar. H-D’s “Utilicar” featured a covered cab area, 750-pound weight capacity, and several different cargo bed configurations. Although many were gas-powered, electric versions were also available for use indoors, such as inside factories.