MERCER

MERCER 

This short-lived, but left an imprint on the American company was named for Mercer County, part of New Jersey, where she was located. All its activities are almost completely different from what is happening in the rapidly growing automotive industry in Detroit. Company owned by the family of magnates Rebling (Roebling), became famous for building the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, but not having the experience to the automotive industry. In addition, all three of the founders of this company died before 1918, and one of them crash when "Titanic" in 1912
Over 15 years of existence at the Mercer worked different designers. The first time her car was made ​​by North American standards, but the company has earned a reputation with the help of a model "35 Raceabout" ("Reysebaut") in 1911, it differed very little bodywork and windscreen-monocle. These cars were carried away while American fans of sports.

Mercer Raceabout 35C1912 Such was the Spartan vehicle purchased and rich buyers

The machine had nizhneklapanny engine capacity 4926 cm3 with a T-shaped combustion chambers. Its advertising was designed to deal with the factory racing team, speaking on highways across the country. In 1911, Mercer took the cars 12 and 14 in Indianapolis. The following year they were the first and second in the race for the prize of Kane County in Elgin, Illinois, and then came third in the race for the prize of Elgin, where "Mercer" competed with cars is much higher class. Later, from the management company Mercer followed this statement: "To take the first two places in Elgin is the same as take candy from a child, but to come third in the race production cars with engine capacity of 4.9 liters - a kind of achievement."

The first model created Finley R. Porter (Finlay R. Porter), and the following model of "22" - EH Delling (EN Delling). Introduced immediately after World War II model of "4" and "5" designed AK Schultz (AS Shultz). Even in the early 20's. When Americans are increasingly attracted to the mass production of Ford ("Ford") and General Motors ("GM"), the company continued to build Mercer own special cars, but with expensive design features, such as engines with non-removable head unit, and outdated appearance.

Mercer 35] with 4-cylinder 5-liter engine with a Continental T-shaped combustion chambers

It is not surprising that in the end demand for its products dried up, and the company was unable to repeat the commercial success that accompanied the emergence of Raceabout. The volume of production amounted to more than 500 copies. Trying to replace the 20-ies. old motors on the overhead valve engine of Rochester ("Rochester") just pulled the inevitable end: the last car was sold to Mercer in 1925

In 1931 the company Elcar Motor Car ("Elkar Motor Car") from the State of Indiana tried to revive the brand, using inline eight-cylinder Continental ("Continental"), 140 hp, saying that such a vehicle can develop a speed of 161 km / h The project collapsed after the construction of the two samples.

351 Mercer Raceabout ("Mepcep Reysebaut 351") 1911-1914

At the time, created by Finley Porter Raceabout named the best sports car ever made in America. Given the presence of competitors, this statement is worth a lot. In fact, a remake of racing Raceabout Mercer 3OM. Changes in order to get a road car, little has been done. In a civilized form of racing chassis was the radiator, hood, seats and two bucket-type spare tire behind them, and openly standing fuel tank. Doors were not, because there was no per se and side body.

Raceabout was primarily a sports car. Spartan "35J" was surprisingly fast

The only protection from the elements - wind steklomonokl round to the driver, mounted on the steering column, and the passenger was on his own. Full-size windshield was missing, there was tension devices for the awning. All this gave the car a unique charm and allocated among its competitors.

Nizhneklapanny 5-liter engine in the "353" not extremely effective, but developed a high torque

Engine Company supplied the Continental ("Continental"). The four-cylinder engine nizhneklapanny Beaver ("Beaver") with a T-shaped combustion chambers at the time was considered a powerful and vysokoobrotnym (he developed the 1800 r / min). Since the car was light (curb weight of 1.04 tonnes for a wheelbase of 2.7 m), he developed a high speed. The brakes were in the "infancy": drum on the rear wheels driven by a lever and a transmission driven by the pedals. Naturally, the model produced by hand, it is worth much, but on the other hand looked great. Many Americans wanted to buy it. 4 years before modernization was made ​​more than 500 pieces Raceabout. Then the car became less attractive, having received an unwelcome addition, as a soft top vehicle.

"353" did not even have a soft top, and this instance - and steklamonoklya. Competing with the manufacturer of such machines Mercer Stutts (Stutz) said, "No car is worse than a Mercer". Reply Mercer: "You fool, if you drive a Stutz"

Characteristics (35J, 1911)

Engine: P4 nizhneklapanny

Bore and Stroke: 111,1 x127 mm

Displacement: 4925 cm3

Maximum power: 56 hp

Transmission: 3-speed manual

Chassis: the steel frame

Suspension: dependent on semi-elliptic leaf springs

Brakes: drum on the rear wheels and the transmission

Body: 2-seater open

Maximum speed: 113 km / h

Options Mercer Raceabout Mercer 22

Model "22" the company introduced in 1915, is a modernized old car with an engine capacity nizhneklapannym 89 hp with L-shaped combustion chambers and the body not only with the sides, but with a front-seat sofa.