History

The Kissel family came from Germany. In 1906 there was the group L. Kissel & Sons with several companies. The brothers George and Will Kissel had already completed a car in 1905. The automobile manufacturing company was founded in 1906 in Hartford , Wisconsin . The production started in the same year. The brand name was initially Kissel Kar . At the latest in 1911 commercial vehicles were added.

From 1919 accounted for the Kar , so the vehicles were now marketed as Kissel . Allegedly the Kar sounded too german after the First World War . In 1930 there were contacts with Archie Andrews , which led to the downfall. In September 1930, the bankruptcy began . The bankruptcy ensued. 1931 ended production.

Kissel Industries became the successor company but did not produce any more vehicles.

Many models were available with different body structures on offer. These included Touring Cars , Roadster , Sedan , Baby Tonneau , Toy Tonneau , Semi-Racer, Coupe , Cabriolet , Coupelet, Tourster , Speedster , Town Car , Brougham , Brougham Sedan, Victoria and Phaeton . A corresponding list can be found in the following tables.

In model year 1907 there was only the Model A . The four-cylinder engine came from the Beaver Manufacturing Company . this made 30 hp and drove via a propeller shaft to the rear axle. The chassis had 244 cm wheelbase .

1908 followed Model A 9 and Model D 9 and an Inside Drive sedan . The engine power had been increased to 40 hp. The wheelbase was 274 cm.

In 1909, three models were available. The Model D 9 had a 40 hp engine and 292 cm wheelbase. The Model G 9 had a six-cylinder engine with 60 hp and 325 cm wheelbase. The model LD 9 was the weakest and shortest model with 30 hp and 272 cm wheelbase.

1910 there were the four-cylinder models Model D 10 with 50 hp and 284 cm wheelbase, Model F 10 with the same engine and 315 cm wheelbase and Model LD 10 with 30 hp and 284 cm wheelbase. The model G 10 had a six-cylinder engine with 60 hp and 335 cm wheelbase.

In 1911 the model D 11 replaced the F 10 , the model F 11 the G 10 and the model LD 11 the LD 10 , here however with 295 cm wheelbase.

1912 received the series a designation according to their engine performance. In Thirty made the four-cylinder engine 30 hp, the Forty 40 hp, the Fifty 50 hp and the six-cylinder model Sixty 60 hp. The wheelbases were 295 cm, 300 cm, 315 cm and 335 cm, respectively. The different constructions got different model names.

From 1913, the engine power was stated differently. The Thirty with the addition LD 13 had a four-cylinder engine, which was indicated with 28.9 hp, and 295 cm wheelbase. There were also the Forty as H 13 with 32.4 hp and 307 cm wheelbase, the Fifty as D 13 with 38.02 hp and 335 cm wheelbase and the six-cylinder model Sixty as F 13 with 48.6 hp and 356 cm wheelbase.

In 1914 the system of designations changed. The Model 40-Four was a four-cylinder model with 32 hp and 307 cm wheelbase. The Model 48-Six was the small six-cylinder model with 34 hp and 334 cm wheelbase. Above ranked the model 60-Six with 49 hp and 361 cm wheelbase.

In 1915 there was the model 4-36 with 28.9 hp and 307 cm wheelbase and the model 6-42 with 31.6 hp and 320 cm wheelbase.

In 1916, the range consisted of Model 4-32 , Model 6-38 and Model 6-42 .

From 1917 no wheelbases are given for some years. Four-cylinder models accounted for. The choice was the model 6-38 with 25.35 hp and the model 6-42 with 31.54 hp. Top model was the Double Six with a V12 engine from the Weidely Motors Company , which was stated with 39.7 hp.

In 1918 there was the Custom Silver Special with 26.33 hp, the model 6-38 with 25.35 hp and the Double Six with 39.7 hp.

1919 - under the new brand name - accounted for the twelve-cylinder model. The other two models were taken as Custom-Builtand Model 6-38 .

In 1920, only the custom built was in the range. The engine power was now given with 61 hp, while the previous data were calculated according to the NACC rating.

In 1921 and 1922 there were no changes.

1923 were two six-cylinder models to choose from. The engines made 61 hp in Model 45 and 50 hp in Model 55 .

In 1924, the range was limited to the Model 55 with a 48-horsepower engine.

In 1925 it became the Model 55 as standard and Deluxe with 53 hp. New was the Model 75 , which was also available as standard and deluxe. The eight-cylinder in - line engine was based on a design by Lycoming and made 71 hp.

In 1926, the only change was the increase in engine output to 61 hp in the six-cylinder model.

1927 accounted for the division between standard and deluxe. Model 55 and Model 75 remained unchanged. New was the model 8-65 with a 65 hp engine. Two wheelbases of 318 cm and 335 cm were available.

In 1928, the Model 55 remained . Below was the Model 70 placed. The six-cylinder engine made 52 hp. The remaining vehicles had eight-cylinder engines. This was the Series 8-80 with 70 hp and 318 cm wheelbase, the Series 80 also with 70 hp and optionally 318 cm or 335 cm wheelbase and the Series 8-90 with 85 hp, for the wheelbase of 333 cm, 353 cm and 361 cm were specified. The Series 8-90 was also called White Eagle . The special edition White Eagle Deluxe had a 115 hp engine.

In 1929, the Series 6-73 was the only six-cylinder model. 52 HP engine power and 297 cm wheelbase were his data. The Series 8-95 had a 95 hp engine and 318 cm wheelbase. The Series 8-126 had 126 hp and optionally 335 cm or 353 cm wheelbase.

In 1930, the Series 6-73 received a more powerful engine with 73 hp. The Series 8-95 was now also available with 335 cm wheelbase. Series 8-126 remained unchanged.In 1931 there were no changes.