ron hausmann

All, Here are a couple of pictures of my progress on restoring the 1923 Kissel Model 6-55 Brougham Opera Sedan which we acquired two years ago. Shed-find. The wood work, Nickel, body panels, painting, are nearly all done and we should be installing the big Kissel Custom 6-55 engine into it next month. New connecting rods made and aluminum pistons. Then to the upholstery shop in January. This car, one of only two of this year and model which remain in the world, will be debuted at the 2013 St. John's Concours de Elegance in Michigan. Thanks, RON HAUSMANN P.E.

Sir, I am interested in any #5 Buffalo hubs, wheel centers, wheel spindles, etc. Please contact me at rhausmann@walbridge.com if you have any left. Thanks, Ron Hausmann

Hey Harold, When did you sell your Kissel and what year was it? Was it a 1924? If it is, I believe that In know what's happened to your car. Take care, Ron Hausmann

Kissel Gold Bug - named as such because, in the slang of the twenties, it was "as cute as a bug".

THe bathrooms were indeed great, but the cars were the best. Here's my 1923 Kissel Model 6-45 Gold Bug Speedster which was at the show. It was an honor to be there! Ron Hausmann P.E.

All, Here are some recent pictures of the 1923 Kissel Model 6-55 Brougham Opera Sedan restoration. Body, fenders, and everything from the cowl back are complete. I have the doors all ready to mount, but have left them off. Upholstery and engine need to be installed but that's finally it!. My mechanic had to cast new connecting rods as available ones just did not dimensionally work. Expensive, but now we are sure things won't come flying out the side of the engine, as the original one did. Ron Hausmann P.E.

Tom, If you have a few months and some free time, if I were you, I would advertise them as for sale in many of the antique car publications as well as in the AACA website. Publications like "Old Cars", and "Classis Car" carry adds. You might also try adds in your local news and statewide news, as national sales candidates would be less inclined to travel to view these. Antique car guys are not necessarily that internet expert and the printed mediums are still used by most anique car guys who are also "antiques" in many ways. Also, you could try selling them on ebay - get's very much traffic but you pay a fee. How much does she want, cash, for all of them ? You might succeed in one bulk sale to a person who has the resources do handle restoring several. Alot of antique car guys have alot of cars and like to add more. Some thoughts, Thanks, Ron Hausmann P.E.

Tcars, Some questions to help in pricing/appraising their worth; Are these cars "restored" 30 years ago and have been stored since? Stored in unheated or weather protected area? Were/are they complete w/ original trim, fittings? Has anyone tried to start them or turn them over in 30 years? None of these are "classics" but all are "antiques" Thanks, Ron Hausmann P.E.

Looking Forward. Cheers back to you. RON

Kissels always tried to be on the cutting edge of automotive innovation. Kissel started use of hydraulic brakes in their 1925 models, and used them up until they went out of business in 1930. Ron Hausmann P.E.

John, Good to hear from you down under. As you saw, I am restoring a 1923 Kissel Sedan with a Model 55 engine and it seems to have been equiped with a 1925 or 1926 oiling system, complete with drilled holes and copper oil lines to the bearings. Anyway, my rods were shot so my mechanic is currently CASTING new connecting rods. if you want me to have him cast more and if 1923-1925 rods are the same, let me know ASAP. Not cheap, but new! I am using aluminum, higher compression pistons, same as in my freshly overhauled 1923 Model 45. Ron Hausmann P.E.

Sir, Kissel Gold Bugs from 1921 to 1923 seemed to have had these as an option. The keeper washer at the end of the housing, which holds the halves together, is dated in the 1920's. While there are only a dozen or so Kissel Gold Bugs of these years that survive, several have them. They are "Edmonds and Jones Model 20" headlights. Check out my website at Kissels and Classic Cars to see pictures. There is also a Kissel thread in AACA forums all about these lights. Ron Hausmann P.E.

Beautiful Kissel !

Josep - Thanks for the reply. Ron Hausmann

Thanks for the pictures Josep. Besides the car in the pictures, are there any other parts that you have? The pictures show that the carburetor, fan, windows, windshield, sidemount troughs, front wheels, sidemount wheels, seat frames, dashboard, instruments, radiator cap, Kissel name plate, and possibly the rear luggage assemblies are missing. It looks like the car was stripped at some time in the past, either to be restored or to sell the parts. Are these parts with the car and just not pictured, or is the car limited to just what is in the picture (?). It is a pretty, and large car. To price it I would need to find out if these parts are there or not. I am interested. Gracias, Ron Hausmann P.E.

Josep, I agree with the other messages about the importance of pictures. There are several Kissel collec tors whom I know who may be very interested, once they see pictures. The history of your car is very interesting! According to our Kissel Klub Registry, there are 11 Kissel Model 8-95 cars that exist. 3 of these are brougham sedans. Do you know if it is a two-door or four-door Brougham Sedan? Your English is very very good, much better than my Spanish, and I even have a hermosa Mexicana esposa! Thanks, Ron Hausmann P.E.

Josep, The value will be determined by the style. Is it a Roadster or Sedan? If you have pictures, there are several folks whom I know as fellow Kissel collectors who would be interested. Do you have either the engine or body numbers? The Kissel listing doesn't currently show a Kissel in Spain. Was it recently purchased? Gracias, Ron Hausmann P.E.

All, Here's a picture of the 1923 Kissel Gold Bug receiving its Best in Class, Class A Award at the 2012 Boca Raton Concours. She's a beauty - and I mean both the car and the model. Ron Hausmann P.E.

All, This past Month on February 24-26, the Boca Raton Concours de' Elegance was held in sunny Florida. We shipped our 1923 Kissel Model 6-45 Gold Bug Speedster down there from Michigan, as we also have one of our daughters who lived there. Our Kissel took Best In Class in the "Vintage" grouping. See the attached pictures. It was a nice Concours, but weather was overcast. Thanks, Ron & Esther Hausmann

All, This car is too short to be a Kissel. Kissels also did't use disc wheels, even as options, until much later. Ron Hausmann

All, Early Kissels often had either Watson or Gabriel snubbers added as factory options. My more expensive 1923 Kissel Gold Bug Speedster has the nickel-trimmed Watsons with the shiney name plates, while my 1923 Kissel Deluxe Brougham Opera Sedan has the black Gabriel snubbers. The welting is very expensive, but trying to revitalize 90-year old woven grease soaked fabric is a waste of time. I blasted everything and powder coated. The Gabriel cannisters are universal, but the mountings vary, car to car. Question, how do you tension them, or do you tension them, once mounted?? Thanks, -- RON HAUSMANN P.E. --

Sir, Early Paige 1920's Model 6-66 engines used Rayfield carburetors. Paiges were supposedly the fastest stock-manufactured cars in 1921. There is a 1921 Paige for sale on Hyman's website, incomplete and needing a huge amount of work, which is pictured, including its Rayfield carb. It looks like yours. I looked at the Hyman Paige in person and your carb appears close if not identical. If you Google Rayfield, you'll eventually see models very much like yours. (My Kissels use Strombergs) Thanks, RON HAUSMANN

Dave, Good eye!. I own Kissels. While these are NOT the square factory Kissel bumper brackets (optional from 1919 to 1923 only), these may be the then-available "sleeved" type which the holes on the side of the tube suggest. Quite unique. If the square opening is 1.5 inches or so, (I am guessing) then these would fit a Kissel Nickel bar bumper. Do you know the size? Are you interested in selling them to a Kissel guy who can use them? Thanks, RON

All, Just so there's no misunderstanding, the Kissel Motor Car Company's plant was in Hartford, Wisconsin. Kissel cars were 100% American. However, up until WW2, Hartford and nearby West Bend, Wisconsin were the in the most "German" county in Wisconsin, and Wisconsin was the most "German" of the 48 States in the US. German was in fact the first language in schools and churches there in the brief time when the Kissels were "Custom Built", although these were certainly 100% American cars. Ron Hausmann

Sir, The Ohio Kissel cars were an unrestored but complete and assembled 1925 Kissel Model 8-75 Gold Bug Speedster a similarly complete 1924 Kissel 6-55 Coupe. They were sold at Garth's auctions. Both were sold to a collector in Missourri. RON