ron hausmann

Sir, The two Kissel brothers in Connecticiut were both murdered in seperate circumstances. Andrew Kissel was the brother who collected classic cars and who was later brutally stabbed to death while under Indictment for fraud. Andrew Kissel's 1923 Kissel Gold Bug Speedster was siezed by the goverment and sold - I bought it and it is my yellow one in the pictures!! Andrew Kissel was not known to be a relative of the Kissel Motor car founders nor family. I have Andrew Kissel's vehical documentation, which the police lift in the door pockets. BTW, Andrew Kissel bought the car from the William Ruger SR. (Ruger Firearms) collection. Neat provenance! Ron Hausmann

Sir, There is a registry which we Kissel Owners keep up to date and except for discoveries yet to be made in barns, there are approximately 200 Lissel cars in existence. about a third of them are incomplete bodies or empty chassis, so in reality around 130 complete cars exist. Gold Bud Speedsters are included in these numbers. If you just want to know about speedsters, there are 37 relatively complete Kissel Gold Bug Speedsters which survive from all years between 1920 and 1928. My 1923 Model 6-45 in the pictures is one of 5 that remain, and two of those are in pieces and parts. Beautiful cars. Ron Hausmann P.E.

All, I am starting to post up my Kissel Gold Bug Speedster and other Kissel vehicle pictures on a new web site which my future son-in-law set up for me in November of 2011. Please check out www.kisselsandclassiccars.com for pictures of three Kissel cars, restorations, the historic Kissel Gold Bug Speedster Gathering in 2010, and other interesting matters. This site is a work in process as i am just learning how to do this. Ron Hausmann P.E.

Tom, If your E & J's are like mine, black or nickel, you will find an embossed large washer with a flat head opening at the back of the light casing. It has patent dates and other words. This washer holds both the top and bottom castings together. Unscrew it carefully and you will be able to take the top half off and access the interior. Be careful not to drop the lens piece because you will never find correct ones again. Thanks, Ron Hausmann

All, This past weekend my wife and I attended one of the nicest Concours events that we have ever had the privilege of participating in - the "Milwaukee Masterpiece Concours". It is held on the beautiful Doentoen Milwaukee Lake Michigan Lakefront and had 180 beautiful "concours level" cars displayed. Thanks to Ken McKinnon's hard work, we were able to get 6 Kissels, including 4 Kissel Gold Bug Speedsters, to attend. The weather cooperated! Attached are three pictures that my wife took of our 1923 Kissel Model 6-45 Gold Bug Speedster. She finally has learned to enjoy sitting in the outrigger seats - as long as the car is stationary!

:oAll, Here are a number of pictures of the car's disassembly, body painting, rocker panel painting, and rebuilding of Stromberg OS2 carb. these are current as of July, 2011. I figured out how to shrink the pictures to fit, but not how to rotate them. Ron Hausmann P.E. 1923 Kissel Brougham Painter5.pdf 1923 Kissel Brougham Painter2.pdf

Another few pics

Another picture of the car being manuvered.

Folks, In answer to some of your questions, this auto is being restored to showcase, work-of-art concours level. It is going to end up better than "factory fresh". Right now, I have the frame, suspension, brakes, and axles nearly 100% blasted, painted, shined and buffed, and in excellent working order. And all the Kissel brass bushings in the suspension hand polished. As you can see in the first pictures, I have this winter, already replaced all the top wood roof and windows. I had Frames Unlimited custom make picture frames which I then used for the oval window framing and this was absolutely perfect. I have a stock car mechanic in Armada, Michigan who rebuilds engines for me. He is currently overhauling the Kissel 6-55 L-Head engine. He did my 6-45 engine last year and it is excellent. He is one of those few remaining tractor/old car guys that instictively know old engines. Many tractor parts actually work in Kissel engines, as you would expect in a car made in Wisconsin. I have a custom painter in Saginaw Michigan who paints hot rods to magazine quality and has done a beautiful Kissel Speedster a few years ago. Slow, but to perfection. He has the rockers and body painted and will finish the fenders and doors this fall. I am doing all the assembly myself. I did my 1927 Chevrolet complete restoration from start to finish about 5 years ago in less than a year. Nights and weekends when my wife allowed it, as I am also working full time. As this Kissel is bigger and far more exotic, I am confident that it will be done in less than two years. I am hoping by mid summer, next year. When I figure out how to post bigger pictures, I will post more. RON

All, I am going to restore this one to Concours standards, body-off, every nut and bolt. Hope to show it at several Concours in 2012. It's all in pieces now (July 2011) and I have started sandblasting and reassembling the frame. The body is being painted and the engine and rear end overhauled. When I figure out how to post more pics, I will update this. Ron Hausmann P.E.

All, This is what an unrestored 1924 Kissel looks like. It is also one of two 1924's that survive and it is sitting in a museum in Denver. Ron Hausmann P.E.

All, Thought I would start posting a few pics of my restoration project for the 1923 Kissel Model 6-55 Deluxe Brougham Opera Sedan which I started a few months ago. The car was stored for 35 years in a Florida shed with the top wood rotted away, but everthing else excellent, original. It is one of only two 1923 Kissel Brougham Sedans which have survived. It is a big, beautiful car. The first pic is the car as found. The second is at my shop after I carved and corrected all the wood. The girl is my daughter. Ron Hausmann P.E.

All, I had George McMurtry in the emails above make a wheel puller using a rare Kissel hubcap as a pattern. Price was reasonable and service was fast. This wheel puller worked magnificently and the wheel came off first try with a bit of pounding, after 87 years of being rusted on. I highly recommend this person if you need a custom wheel puller. Ron Hausmann

All, Well I suspect that it may be a custom Kissel hearse for a number of reasons; 1. Kissel custom made large hearses when it was going out of business in the late 1920's. 2. Kissel used massive three-bar bumpers on its later cars. 3. The fenders on this car are identical to those on my 1927 Kissel. Note the seams. 4. Kissel used big Ryan lights on its cars starting in mid-1927. Mine has them 5. The windshield is NOT Kissel 6. The radiator could be custom. It is NOT Kissel however. It looks like a 1926-ish Chevy! Attached is an unrestored 1927 Kissel pic which has same bumper, lights, and fenders. That's my 2 cents. RON

Does anyone out there have a source or contact for Hubs and knock-off Hubcaps for 23 " Houk #5 wheels. I am restoring 6 Houk #5 wire wheels, but cannot locate to replace the wood wheels on one of my 1923 Kissel vehicles. They were a factory option there. Left hand and right hand threads. Or does anyone have an experienced machinist who can economically make these? You may contact me at 313-510-8463 (Detroit). See picture. Thanks, Ron hausmann

Dwight, Thank you for the help. I spoke with George and am going to buy one for the car from him. He knows what he is doing for sure, and to buy one is only 1-2 times more than renting one which may or may not be exact. George uses the hub cap to model the wheel puller. Thanks, -- RON --

All, Measured the needed wheel puller for a 1923 Kissel Model 6-55 Sedan with wood wheels. The size is an odd one 2 3/4 " x 14 or 2 3/4 " x 16 Does anyone out there have one to sell or borrow or rent ?? Call me please. Ron Hausmann 313-510-8463

Sir, Open Kissels are rare. Usually you have to await someone's death to get a chance at one. But Hyman Motors does have a nice 1920 Gold Bug for sale. I have seen it and it is about as fine looking Kissel as you can get. One of 37 that remain between 1919 and 1928. I suggest you talk with him. Ron Hausmann PE

eloken, Yup, they look correct including the lenses. Are the rear "keeper" washers, the ones with the patent date, still on? If so, how much for the pair? Thanks, RON HAUSMANN

Try Again - - - Other file too big

Here's anither picture of the wheel type close up

eloken, Can you send pictures and price please. Ron Hausmann

Folks, Before i have one made, does anyone out there have a wheel puller which fits 1922 - 1924 Kissel wood wheel huibs. The outside thread dimension appears to be 2 3/4 " at about 14 threads per inch. I am restoring a beautiful, original 1923 Kissel Brougham Opera Sedan which has a rear wheel that was possibly never dismounted. Any more pounding and I might hurt the axle or bearings! You may call me at 313-510-8463. See pictures

Sir, I am looking for a Schebler S-3 for a Kissel, 1927 model. Is yours still around? Your message appears to be two years old> Thanks, -- RON HAUSMANN --