1920 Kissel Model 6-45 ‘Gold Bug’ Speedster
The 1920 Kissel Model 6-45 ‘Gold Bug’ Speedster’s most remarkable feature is its innovative slide-out “outrigger seats” (aka: “suicide seats”) that extend from the bodywork (on each side), allowing two additional brave passengers to ride along behind the main compartment. This low-slung early American sports car delivers sporty performance from its 61 horsepower, 338 cubic inch inline six-cylinder engine paired with a three-speed manual transmission.
Painted in Kissel’s signature Chrome Yellow (which inspired the “Gold Bug” nickname), these rare automobiles were prized possessions. Produced in limited numbers—between 50 and 100 yearly from 1919 to 1931—only 37 Gold Bug Speedsters survive today. Famous owners included Amelia Earhart, Ralph de Palma, and Al Jolson, cementing this model’s status as an icon of early American automotive design.
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