Mercer

US, 1910 – 1925; 1931

(1) Mercer Autocar Co, Trenton, N.J., 1910

(2) Mercer Automobile Co, Trenton, N.J., 1910 – 1925

(3) Elcar Motor Car Co, Elkhart, Ind., 1931

The Mercer car was named after Mercer County, New Jersey, where the Mercer car was made. The most famous Mercer car of all was the Mercer Type 35 Runabout of 1911, designed by Finlay R. Porter. The specification of this Mercer car was ordinary enough, embracing at first a 5-litre, 4-cylinder, Continental-built T-head engine that produced a little over 10bhp per litre at a leisurely 1.700rpm. There were 3 forward speeds. The classic ‘body work’ consisted of a bolster tank, two bucket seats, and a monocle windscreen. However, in common with other speedsters, the Mercer car weighed very little and could pull a high axle ratio, which helped the Mercer car to attain a guaranteed 70mph. In 1912, by contrast, a few Mercer cars were made with the Owen Magnetic’s Entz transmission. A more efficient, L-head engine giving up to 89bhp at 3.000rpm according to tune was substituted in 1915. Also, the Mercer car had a 4-speed gearbox. This 22 Series was designed by E.H. Delling. However, some of the old Raceabout’s character was lost, in that the body of the new version had sides and a bench-type front seat, instead of the two stark bucket seats of the first type. Indeed, full touring Mercer cars were offered as well. The Mercer Series 4 and 5, beginning in 1919, had yet another designer in A.C. Schultz, and even had an electric starter. Nevertheless, these Mercer cars were still European in concept in that the engines had a fixed head and a magneto, and drove through a plate clutch and, however much they had compromised with popular taste, the Mercer car could still attain 75mph. A six with an ohv engine made by Rochester was introduced at the same time, and sixes alone were made from 1923. The old line of Mercer cars finally died two years later. However magnificent they may have been, the Mercer car bore too little relation to what the public wanted to survive. Production never exceeded 500 Mercer cars a year. An attempt was made by the Elcar Motor Co and the engine by Continental. The latter was a straight-8 providing 140bhp and 100mph.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; TRN

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