The 1913 Mercer Raceabout

The Mercer Type-35R Raceabout is a stripped-down, two-seat speedster, designed to be 'safely and consistently' driven at over 70 mph (110 km/h). It was capable of over 90 mph (140 km/h). The Raceabout's inline 4-cylinder T-head engine displaced 293 cubic inches (4,800 cc) and developed 55 horsepower at 1,650 revolutions per minute. The Raceabout became one of the premier racing thoroughbreds of the era, it was highly coveted for its quality construction and exceptional handling.

The car featured a three-speed manual transmission, solid front axle with live rear axle, and two-wheel rear mechanical drum brakes with a foot-operated transmission brake.

The Mercer Type 35R Raceabout defined the concept of “sports car”. It won races and the hearts of sporting drivers from its inception. Few automobiles can claim the distinction of having remained valuable throughout their histories. The Mercer Type 35R is one of them.

The 1913 Mercer Raceabout is among the most classic American-made cars. One of its defining features was a small, monocle windshield that was good for the driver, but useless for the passenger. Another interesting feature was the Mercer's gas-lamp lights, which were used even though electric lights were available. That's because they could be removed at race time, helping to minimize the car's weight. The car, considered advanced at the time, originally sold for $2,250. A 1913 Mercer Raceabout sold for $2,530,000 in 2014