A Brief Overview Of The Kissel Car

By Elaine Guthrie

For as long as there have been automobiles, there has been an evolution in body designs, performance standards and technological advancements. Some models have become instant classics due to a bevy of circumstances ranging their historical significance to their unique features. Many of these treasured creations are the product of the Kissel Car Company.

Founded by Louis and his three sons in 1906, they set up shop in the city of Hartford, Wisconsin. Though the company employed innovative practices, the world war, its effects on the economy and several other factors of the times, necessitated the need to close their doors in 1930 and file for bankruptcy. Even with such a limited run of production, they were renowned for rolling out vehicles of admirable quality and high durability.

Over 35,000 machines with a variety of functions, designs, styles and types were made during this time with the Hartford factory. Aside from sports cars and sedans, they also manufactured trucks, hearses, taxis, utility vehicles, ambulances and firetrucks. Products under this make were unique among their peers due to a lot of special features.

The finest craftsmanship and dependable yet creative engineering were the main focus of this company's production and design team, as a way to stay ahead of the competition. The brand made a name for themselves by implementing ideas that were quite innovative and installing features that were outside of the proverbial box. The goal was to build vehicles of top quality and impressive details that were sold at extremely reasonable prices.

Products manufactured under this name were known for incredible style and ultimate elegance, and certain models often sported new and unexpected design or technological features. One such innovation was the use of the Warner 4-speed selective sliding gear transmission. They were also known for using solid rubber tires on wooden spokes instead of metal.

The most prominent practice that made this company different from others of the same type, was that they skipped the practice of producing hundreds of exact copies. Instead, they took custom orders and manufactured each vehicle individually according to the customer's expressed specifics. To get a ride that was perfectly suited to there preferences and needs, the owners could pick from a list of options.

Several options available affected the overall appearance of said vehicle. Customers were able to decide specifics such as if there was a backseat and if so, how it would be places, whether the spare tire would be mounted on the rear or on the side, should the upholstery be leather or fabric, pick between running boards and step stirrups, how many bumper bars were to be included, if golf bag brackets would be installed and if the headlights would be bullet or pancake drum design. Each choice helped the individual create a unique ride.

Only about 150 of 35,000 plus produced are known to still exist. Such treasured classics as the Pierce Arrow, the All-Year, the Speedster, the Roadster, the Packard and the Duesenburg emerged from the heart of this company and are symbols of integrity and durability attributed to this brand. Era celebrities like Anita King, Al Jolson, Amelia Earhart, Fatty Arbuckle and Greta Garbo were examples of high profile owners of such automotive works of art.

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