Chassis Number: 15031
One of several businesses created in the early 1900s under the ownership of the entrepreneurial Kissel family of Hartford, WI, was the Kissel Motor Car Company. The first Kissel Kar was manufactured in 1905, a 4-cylinder runabout with shaft drive. The earliest cars were bodied by a sleigh manufacturer and were powered by Beaver engines, but soon Kissel was making everything itself.
Although Kissel built high-quality automobiles, it struggled through the late 1920s and filed for bankruptcy in 1930, its last efforts being large 6- and 8-cylinder vehicles for the 1931 model year.
The early history of this particular D-11 is, unfortunately, not known. In the 1980s the chassis was owned by a Nevada-based Kissel enthusiast. At this time, it was a project car and had lost its original powerplant. The 124-inch chassis was then acquired by Bay Area enthusiast Jim Farbers and was restored. A 40-horsepower, 4-cylinder Kissel engine from 1914 was sourced, while bodywork was built by Vic Groah, who had access to original Kissel blueprints.
In the early 1990s the car was bought by Steve Dana and has been in his small collection ever since. Used in the Ormond Beach race and run in 2006, it was also displayed at Amelia Island in 2008.
Today the car presents very well. The restoration that was done years ago has aged well and gives the car a lot of character. The opportunity to acquire this charismatic and sporting Brass Era speedster should not be missed.
