I visited a very interesting bloke today. He lives near me and he is a retired GM-Holden engineer. He started with them in 1950.
PS Albert, the retired engineer worked on the 58/59 Holdens. In fact at his old rambling home he has a slarge piece of square flat thin shee metal. On that is the etched pattern of the 59 Holden B pillar that the pattern makes used as a permanent pattern. It was just lying on the ground at one stage and I helped him move it out of the weather . It was covered in pine needles at one stage. History!!!
He is now retired and owns some cool cars including an E type Jag , Alfa Romeo, a Maserati , XK150...he owns a prototype sports sedan body ( GTR-X) that GM-H was toying with about releasing in 1970 which was canned by the bean counters,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvf5uIDlLFM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q175EEV4Vvw
His plan is to sell off some of his toys so he can work at restoring, well building the prototype. It is just a rolling shell.
One of the cars he has is an american 1927 Kissel. Powered by a Continental 6 cylinder engine it is in very good condition. Had been restored some time ago but this model is very rare. He believes that only 7 were built. This one is RHD. ..perhaps only 7 RHD versions were made. This vehicle was fairly unique at having 4 wheel hydraulic brakes.
It has a strange u shape fitting on the running board and he stated it was a novelty where people could secure their golf clubs.
Anyway he is picking me up on Monday and we're going around to a neighbour's place where they meet weekly to work on cars.
1927 Kissel RIP Ray
1927 Kissel RIP Ray
Last edited by BJB on Fri Mar 30, 2018 3:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
"I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of drought and flooding rains,..enough with the floods already..."
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of drought and flooding rains,..enough with the floods already..."
Re: 1927 Kissel
I have heard the name Kessel but never seen one. They look very interesting. I really like the Torana and remember the street version Holden Torana back in the early 70's. Keep us posted on what you find on your visit. I like all classic cars but my favourites have to be Fords (just in case Pops and Roy are reading these posts about GM/Holden cars)
Albert's 65 289, polar white, black buckets, 5 speed, Autolite 4100, ps, pb, factory tach, crites hood, headers, dual exhaust
Re: 1927 Kissel
Well sad news today. I awoke this morning to hear that a person was found in a burnt out car not far from my home. Looking through the online news I saw a picture of police applying crime scene tape to gates on a rural property. I then realised that those gates were my friends. He is suspected of suffering a medical issue whilst seated in the Maserati , possibly applying the accelerator and the car overheated and caught on fire.
I visited Ray at his home a few weeks ago and he was working on his Maserati, getting it ready for a potential sale. He owned lots of classic cars. He was quietly excited about his GTRX as a local car restorer had agreed in principle to restore his GTRX and in return they would make a small production run and sell the others, to help recoup set up costs . It was the only way his car would get finished as at 83 years old he was time poor.
Cars were his life to the end.
RIP Ray.
I visited Ray at his home a few weeks ago and he was working on his Maserati, getting it ready for a potential sale. He owned lots of classic cars. He was quietly excited about his GTRX as a local car restorer had agreed in principle to restore his GTRX and in return they would make a small production run and sell the others, to help recoup set up costs . It was the only way his car would get finished as at 83 years old he was time poor.
Cars were his life to the end.
RIP Ray.
"I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of drought and flooding rains,..enough with the floods already..."
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of drought and flooding rains,..enough with the floods already..."
Re: 1927 Kissel RIP Ray
Awww that’s terrible news. Sorry to hear it. RIP.
Joe
Joe