1985 Elmco Royal Ride Golf Cart
I’ve always thought Elmco golf carts were incredibly cool — and the Rolls-Royce-styled versions like this one still turn heads on golf courses decades after they first appeared.
This particular example stands out with its striking color scheme, along with appealing features such as a removable hardtop and straps for securing golf clubs.
Even better, this Elmco Royal Ride is being offered with no reserve, meaning someone is definitely taking it home at the end of the auction.
This 1985 Elmco Royal Ride is finished in blue with a white removable hardtop and a silver interior. According to the seller, it rides on 8-inch steel wheels and features vinyl upholstery, while a CD player and aftermarket speakers have been added as modifications.
The Royal Ride was originally inspired by Jackie Gleason’s Rolls-Royce-themed golf cart. At the request of his golf-enthusiast wife, Illinois farmer Elmo Meiners founded Elmco to build these luxurious little vehicles.
Sources vary, but production appears to have begun in the late 1970s and continued into the early 1990s at a pace of roughly 150 units per year. Early models even came from the factory with a Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, until Rolls-Royce threatened legal action.
Depending on specification, Royal Rides could be equipped with surprisingly extravagant amenities — from refrigerated wet bars and televisions to elaborate sound systems — and reportedly cost up to $14,000 when new.
Power comes from a rear-mounted electric motor supplied by a pack of lead-acid batteries, driving the rear wheels. The seller notes that the batteries currently require replacement, meaning the cart may arrive without charge and might need to be pushed off its transport trailer. Some exterior chips, scratches, cracked tire sidewalls, and an inoperative radio are also mentioned.
Included with the cart are a single key and a Lestronic II battery charger. The seller purchased it earlier in 2025 and has driven it only minimally since. Because the vehicle is not street-legal and carries no title, it will be transferred to the next owner with a bill of sale only.
