Uploaded January 2010 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
This is a 1976 or 77 Westinghouse/HMK-Marketeer golf cart my Uncle recently got and is letting me fix up. The body is in rough shape and somewhat rusty but the frame and the motor were still good. We replaced the dead 6 volt golf cart batteries it came with with three 12 volt AGM batteries (36 volt drive motor) and it actually runs very well for its age and the condition it is in. I've added headlights and new tail lamps to the cart which are currently being powered by a separate 12 volt axillary battery and will soon add a horn and maybe a radio. We eventually plan to do some body-work and cosmetic restoration on it.
About Marketeer:
The Marketeer company was started by Merle Williams in Long Beach during WWII. Due to fuel rationing during the war, Merle built an electric cart for his wife, Peggy to drive to the market. Others saw his creation as a solution to short distance transportation requirements and he soon received requests to build additional vehicles. Merle later moved his company to Redlands, CA and shortly afterward added electric invalid vehicles as well as a line of two wheel electric bicycles. In 1951, the first electric cart specifically designed for use on golf courses was introduced. From this early beginning, a full line of industrial vehicles and golf carts evolved. In 1965 Merle and Peggy Williams sold the "Marketeer Company" to Westinghouse Electric.
Westinghouse continued building electric powered golf carts, industrial, and specialty vehicles. They started off with the model 433 three wheeler and the 434 four wheel cart. Around 1967, they came out with the model 436 series four wheelers and 437 three wheelers. In 1976 Westinghouse revised their overall corporate strategy and the electric vehicle division was sold to HMK. Under its new owners "HMK Marketeer" they produced the models 438 and 439. HMK soon faltered as a result of management inefficiency and lack of capitol. After just a few months, Westinghouse bough back the operation and began looking for another strong and resourceful buyer that could restore the operation to its proper stature. In 1978 they found a buyer, Bob Nordskog, and the golf cart division was sold to Nordskog Industries, Inc. The Nordskog Marketeer "4-Runner" was manufactured from 1978 until 1982. After the death of Bob Nordskog in 1993, the company was sold to U.S. Electricar. In 1996 Legend Electric Vehicles of Redlands acquired the failing U.S. Electricar. In 1999 Columbia Par Car, formerly Harley Davidson Golf Carts, purchased Legend.
This is a 1976 or 77 Westinghouse/HMK-Marketeer golf cart my Uncle recently got and is letting me fix up. The body is in rough shape and somewhat rusty but the frame and the motor were still good. We replaced the dead 6 volt golf cart batteries it came with with three 12 volt AGM batteries (36 volt drive motor) and it actually runs very well for its age and the condition it is in. I've added headlights and new tail lamps to the cart which are currently being powered by a separate 12 volt axillary battery and will soon add a horn and maybe a radio. We eventually plan to do some body-work and cosmetic restoration on it.
About Marketeer:
The Marketeer company was started by Merle Williams in Long Beach during WWII. Due to fuel rationing during the war, Merle built an electric cart for his wife, Peggy to drive to the market. Others saw his creation as a solution to short distance transportation requirements and he soon received requests to build additional vehicles. Merle later moved his company to Redlands, CA and shortly afterward added electric invalid vehicles as well as a line of two wheel electric bicycles. In 1951, the first electric cart specifically designed for use on golf courses was introduced. From this early beginning, a full line of industrial vehicles and golf carts evolved. In 1965 Merle and Peggy Williams sold the "Marketeer Company" to Westinghouse Electric.
Westinghouse continued building electric powered golf carts, industrial, and specialty vehicles. They started off with the model 433 three wheeler and the 434 four wheel cart. Around 1967, they came out with the model 436 series four wheelers and 437 three wheelers. In 1976 Westinghouse revised their overall corporate strategy and the electric vehicle division was sold to HMK. Under its new owners "HMK Marketeer" they produced the models 438 and 439. HMK soon faltered as a result of management inefficiency and lack of capitol. After just a few months, Westinghouse bough back the operation and began looking for another strong and resourceful buyer that could restore the operation to its proper stature. In 1978 they found a buyer, Bob Nordskog, and the golf cart division was sold to Nordskog Industries, Inc. The Nordskog Marketeer "4-Runner" was manufactured from 1978 until 1982. After the death of Bob Nordskog in 1993, the company was sold to U.S. Electricar. In 1996 Legend Electric Vehicles of Redlands acquired the failing U.S. Electricar. In 1999 Columbia Par Car, formerly Harley Davidson Golf Carts, purchased Legend.
