ron hausmann

Greg, Yes the flat framed windshield remains. This curved glass set of corners is the only body style in which Kissel put these in. There are no factory pictures except the ones that I posted and this deteriorated specimen. that's why saving it is soooo important.! RON

What it looks like - wood top is removable.

All, Learned of the existence of an unrestored 1918 Kissel Model 6-38 Gibraltar Roadster that was in a shed in Montana. It had been turned into a truck but they had thankfully kept the rear bustle and other parts. There are besides this one, one other Kissel roadster of this year that survives. This Montana car is very rough but has the only existing removable wood hardtop, with curved glass sides, that exists I believe. The engine is in very good shape with all plaques and parts there. Time for more carving! Ron Hausmann

Also, an early 1921 Kissel Tourster model 6-45 has a hood vent, just like you can discern in these pictures!

All, i believe the sixth car may be a 1920 or early 1921 Kissel Tourster. Kissel and Apperson styling were close, influenced buy Conover Silver in New York, and both had rounded radiators and a rear "bustle". But an Apperson Tourster had a rear porthole, whereas a Kissel did not.. Also, a Kissel would be the same hi end car type that would fit with these others. Here are a couple pictures of a 1921 Kissel Tpurster in the museum in Denver. Ron Hausmann

Al, Could be a 1931 Desoto? Looks like the one I have. ron

Christchurch, Kissel made their own L-head six cylinder engines completely, from 1916 thru 1925. Bore and stroke changed but engine was the same, or almost. Everything Kissel made. So if you need parts you either have several parts cars available, like I do, or you make old ford tractor parts fit. Usually I have found modern aluminium Pistons and titanium rods of proper dimensions to replace the internals. The engines then crank a lot better when they are not dragging around all that old cast iron. im assuming what you saw was a 1922 six cylinder - there is a person in NH who is restoring one. thanks, Ron

christech - Nope, my engine helper is St. Claire Engine in Armada, Michigan. He's done 4Kissel engines for me. RON

Pics;

All, Have fitted the rear fenders and drilled and bracketed them in place. Also have fitted the rear fender internal skirts which separate the interior of the wheel wells from the passenger compartments. With these old mandrel English-Wheel fenders, you, create the fender itself and then hand-fit them into place from running board, wood-screw by wood-screw, towards the back and then adjust the rear fender brackets to suit. Then you "square-off" the fenders and the flush lines with the running boards using the main brackets. This stretches the metal to some degree. I'm letting them sit and stretched for awhile before I dismount them and take them to the painter. This is a lot of tedious work but gratifying when you get them dead even and square with the body and running boards. Front fenders are next ! Ron Hausmann P.E.

Restorer, Thanks for your keen observation and you are correct. I just connected the dots and realized that there are indeed TWO Kissel Model 6-45 Gold Bug Speedsters which were restored WITHOUT the correct portholes; The Carinni car, a 1920 or 1921 Gold Bug, which you described and which was used in his TV show, and The car at Hershey pictured in this discussion chain, which is a 1923 Gold Bug. As stated earlier ALL Kissel Model 6-45 Gold Bugs are supposed to have port holes! Thanks, RON HAUSMANN P.E.

Restorer, Carinni's car was either a 1920 or early 1921, with full running boards and no side mounts. Gold Bugs got "sportier" after that. Later 1921's thru about 1926 were usually side-mounted, had either suicide seats or golf club mounts, and had step plates. There was a 1926 Kissel Gold Bug Model 6-55 which sold for $226,000 including buyer premiums, in California Sotheby's two years ago, I believe. Another 1925 Model 8-75 Kissel Gold bug is currently for sale for $249,000. Good Gold Bugs should fetch amounts north of 200K in my opinion. Thanks, RON

Wayne, I have eight complete Kissels, Models 6-38, 6-45, 6-55, and 8-65, ranging from 1918 to 1927. Nickel-Era stuff. I also have miscellaneous parts, engines, frames, chassis, from another 6 cars of the same era. Since Kissel made their own engines and bodies, Having this cache' of spare parts, especially complete engines, is priceless to a Kissel guy. The Kissel-made engine blocks 1916-1925 were the same, so interchange of parts works. They only modernized the strokes, bores, and water fittings from model to model. The 1927 Chevrolet was my car in high school, decades and decades ago, in Wisconsin. I saved it in a garage, unrestored. 15 years ago, after all our kids were gone and married off, I got back into cars and restored it and then started buying and restoring Wisconsin-built Kissels. Adios. RON HAUSMANN P.E.