Vehicle Description
Car No. 1273
Engine No. 1004
Transmission No. 803
Stirrup No. 123I
Here we stand in the presence of greatness among one of the
indisputable icons of America's performance car legacy. Mercer's
Raceabout was introduced in 1911 and virtually overnight, it
redefined standards for performance automobiles and moved the
needle on technical innovation through its pioneering design and
advanced specifications.
The Mercer's heart was a T-head four-cylinder engine of just under
five liters, producing approximately 55 horsepower, a remarkable
figure in its day. Designed by engineer Finley Robertson Porter,
the Mercer achieved a low center of gravity thanks to the engine
sitting as low as possible in the chassis, allowing for excellent
handling and roadholding, while a raked steering column allowed for
a svelte low profile. The Raceabout was marketed as a car that
would exceed 70 mph in an era when most cars on America's roads
struggled to crack 40. The reality, however, was that a Raceabout
in stock form was capable of more like 90 mph-if its driver was
brave enough-and could easily be souped up to hit the magic
"century" mark.
It was a car designed for racing and wealthy sportsmen alike, and
race they did, winning overall in five of six events the factory
entered in 1911, and notably finishing third overall at the second
running of the Indianapolis 500 in 1912. Nineteen-thirteen brought
further updates and innovations to the model, notably including the
addition of a four-speed transmission in place of the earlier
model's three-speed. Only a few dozen of these cars exist today,
with many of the remaining examples having been converted to
Raceabout bodywork from Runabouts, or cars which have been put
together over the years around engines or other spares. Very few
surviving Raceabouts are known to have been delivered as Raceabouts
from new, and even fewer can boast a documented history from day
one. This is one such Mercer.
Mercer 35-J Raceabout Serial No. 35J-1273, Engine No. 1004
This 1913 Type 35-J Raceabout is offered for sale after a
remarkable 65 years of cherished ownership by a single family in
the Lone Star State of Texas. Its history has been meticulously
documented over the decades and, quite remarkable for a 111-year
old automobile, its ownership is known and traceable back to its
very first owner.
Delivered new as a Raceabout, this example was sold in 1913 to
Rufus C. Cushman, Jr. of Cambridge, Massachusetts. This is
documented by written statements from Cushman, as well as in a 1958
affidavit given by William Crepeau of Cambridge, who stated that he
was the salesman who actually sold the car to Cushman while
employed at the Fred S. Smith Company.
Cushman would enjoy the car for the first six years of its life,
selling it in March 1919 to Raymond N. Skilton, a hockey player
from Cambridge, for $1,900 as recorded in historical documentation
and bills of sale on file. The first known photo of the Raceabout,
dated 1919, shows Skilton and four young children sitting happily
upon the newly purchased Mercer. The car was reported to have
originally been grey, according to an account from Skilton's
son-in-law, and appears to have lacked several features with which
it is fitted today, including a monocle windshield, center mounted
Rushmore searchlight, and third "dickey seat" mounted atop the
passenger side running board.
Skilton would enjoy the car for a few months and clearly was
interested in exploring the limits of the Mercer's performance
potential on the roads surrounding Cambridge. In 1919, the
30-year-old was involved in a high-speed accident while attempting
to race a train; he left the road, the Mercer hit a tree and rolled
several times.
Two period images document the aftermath of this 1919 accident. The
Mercer can be seen upside down, with its wooden spoke wheels
broken. A handwritten caption on the back of one photo captures the
scene: "Mercer was going about 80 mph and clipped rear of mailman's
Buick which was backing out of a driveway. Mercer flipped several
times. Minor injuries only."
It is understood that Skilton had the car promptly repaired, but
given that the car's frame had been bent in the accident, to repair
it properly necessitated the substitution of a replacement chassis.
As a result, the car does not exhibit a chassis number stamping on
the rear crossmember. Following its return to the road, Skilton
continued to enjoy the Raceabout for two more decades, reportedly
gifting it to his wife as a wedding present in 1924. According to
Skilton's son-in-law, in 1925 their baby was nearly born in the
Raceabout after a rather shaky ride on the local roads! The
Skiltons would ultimately retain the Mercer until about 1940-41.
Around that time, Skilton apparently loaned the car, under
pretenses which are unclear, to Eddie Herbert of Wolfeboro, New
Hampshire, apparently for the purpose of sawing wood (the intention
being to hook up a buzz saw to the rear axle). It appears the car
was never modified, however, and Herbert allegedly gave up on the
Mercer after being unable to get the car running; it is understood
that he sold the car for $30 to Roderic Blood of Newton,
Massachusetts in August 1941. A period image available in digital
form depicts the Mercer around this time in New Hampshire, looking
forlorn and shabby after what appears to have been a period of
disuse and some neglect. From Blood the Mercer would be sold on to
Jack Fetterolf of Pennsylvania in March 1942, for $300.
By the early 1940s a "vintage car" scene was starting to emerge and
the idea of collecting the great classics blossomed among a tight
knit group of early enthusiasts. Mercer Raceabouts were starting to
be revered and collected and an owner's group was becoming
formalized, with Mercer values correspondingly on the rise. The
list of Mercer Raceabout owners would grow to include pioneering
collectors such as David Uihlein, Henry Austin Clark, and Bill
Harrah, sportsmen such as Cunningham founder Briggs Cunningham,
legendary automotive artist Peter Helck, among numerous other
automotive luminaries. Jack Fetterolf was one of these early
enthusiasts who recognized the many attributes of Mercer's 35
Raceabout and sought to add one to his stable.
Upon purchase, Fetterolf engaged Samuel Baily, a fellow Mercer
owner, to complete an initial restoration on the Mercer to ready it
for vintage car outings. A September 1942 photo depicts three
Raceabouts at an AACA club outing at Lamb's Tavern in Pennsylvania,
these including Fetterolf's now-restored car 1004 (our subject car)
flanked by Alec Ulmann's Raceabout as well as Samuel Baily's.
Ulmann would go on to establish the Sebring, Florida endurance
races some years later, bringing FIA endurance competition to the
United States.
As Mercers were gaining in value, Raymond Skilton decided to try
and pursue an ownership claim to his old car, alleging it had been
stolen from him, and period correspondence and documentation on
file details his efforts in the 1940s and early 1950s to try and
regain ownership. Ultimately, Skilton did not possess a title
document or any copies of prior registration paperwork, and with
the Mercer having undergone several changes of ownership since the
alleged theft, he was forced to concede his ownership claim to the
car as, after all, Jack Fetterolf had a valid Pennsylvania title
and possession of the car. Fetterolf would continue to enjoy his
Mercer for the next 17 years until 1959, actively participating in
the Mercer Association and AACA activities, and generally enjoying
his Racea...for more information please contact the seller.
