Richard, I see your message has been up for a while, and I'm ashamed to say I haven't logged on this terrific CCCA site in some time.
I'm the enthusiastic owner of a 1929 Kissel White Eagle 8-95 Coupe-Roadster that was recently accepted as a CCCA classic...{thanks again, Classification Committee!} It is a stationary but soft-topped landau-bar coupe similar to the Model A Sport Coupe configuration. There's one more out there I know of... {Hi Doug Kissel...how are you and how's your beautiful red car?}
I might be able to shed a little extra light on the Kissel subject.
The Speedster {often called the Goldbug, especially when painted yellow...though not all of them were}, was offered up until the end of the Kissel production in 1931. In 1928 one hundred special souped-up 8-75 models {the big 8} were called "White Eagles", and some of these were in speedster form.{Only one brougham sedan still exists}. In 1929 however, all Kissel model lines were called White Eagles and the Speedster configuration was continued as an offering on several different wheelbases and engine sizes. There are three surviving 1929 speedsters that I know of, one in a museum in the Midwest, one in France and the other in Jack Nethercutt's collection in So.Cal.
Kissel built all of their engines until the mid-1920's, {with the exception of a Weidley-built V-12 in the 'Teens}, when they made the decision to purchase blocks from Lycoming. They offered their own 6 along with two Lycoming-based 8's, and did a number of modifications to the 8's such as a cast aluminum oil pan {mine holds 11 quarts!} and lightweight aluminum rods.Eventually, Kissel gave up their own very fine-but-somewhat-aged 6 as well, opting for the less expensive Lycoming 6. All engines were thoroughly and exhaustively tested before final installation and delivery. The company boasted additional horsepower obtained by the improvements, compared to similar models from Auburn and Gardner, who also featured Lycoming engines in their offerings.
Kissel built automobiles in not only an astonishingly wide array of stylish body styles...open and closed coupes, broughams, berlines, limousines, 2 and 4-door sedans in closed and convertible form, 7-passenger tourings, speedsters and an especially lovely sport phaeton called the Tourster...but taxicabs, ambulances, hearses and trucks! It was said that one never needed to contract a custom body company for something special...the craftsmen at Kissel would build whatever one wanted. This earned the company the slogan "the Custom Built Kissel". Not all were truly "custom" of course, but the cars were so stylish and nicely finished {and many to special order} that it seemed justified.
Even in the best years, Kissel never exceeded 2000 units, which makes one think that the company was spreading itself thin with so many offerings...for example, in 1929,a year in which only 400 cars were made, they offered a 6 and two 8's on 4 different wheelbases, with all the body styles and professional-car models listed above!
Sorry to have rambled along so much, but hopefully you and maybe others might find this information interesting. If there are any other Kissel owners out there, I'd VERY much enjoy talking with you! I'd especially like to hear about any previously undiscovered White Eagles.
I heartily and humbly invite anyone to correct me if I got anything wrong here in my historical blabbing. :-)
Jerry Garvin, Anaheim, CA.
