Two Commercial Mower Makers Go Vanguard-Exclusive

Hustler Turf and Spartan Mowers to power top-tier zero-turn mowers exclusively with Vanguard air-cooled V-twin Big Block engines.

Two commercial-grade mower manufacturers recently announced they’ll power their top-tier zero-turn mowers exclusively with the Vanguard air-cooled V-twin Big Block engine.

Hustler Turf Equipment, part of Excel Industries, selected the Vanguard engines to power its Super Z HyperDrive and Super 104 commercial mowers. Spartan Mowers, which made its debut this past October at GIE+EXPO, chose the same engines to drive its Spartan SRT XD.

“For two highly respected manufacturers to choose Vanguard Big Block engines to exclusively power their showcase mowers is, simply put, an honor,” said Randy Lockyear, senior director of commercial sales for Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power, maker of Vanguard. “Our Big Block continues to set the pace in terms of durability and power, and to see it on such great mowers only emphasizes its position as the go-to Big Block.”

Excel Industries says its Hustler brand was first in the world to launch a zero-turn mower in 1964, and hasn’t looked back. Both the carbureted and EFI versions of Vanguard’s BIG Block engine will be available on its top-of-the-line zero-turn mowers.

Excel first began powering a number of its mowers with Vanguard engines after Adam Mullet, vice president of sales and marketing, saw it on a mud boat in Louisiana. “Immediately, I knew that was an engine I needed on our mowers,” Mullet said. “If it could power a mud boat, handling all the gunk and water thrown at it, I knew it would master lawns and turf everywhere.”

"We're getting excellent feedback on our Vanguard-powered HyperDrives,” added Andrew Braun, director of marketing at Hustler. “Most dealers and their customers who have experienced the Vanguard Big Block engines have been very impressed with the power, performance and fuel efficiency. We're frankly not surprised by this response, and continue to focus our efforts on gaining momentum with these machines in the dealer channel.”

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