Chassis Number: 1967
The Mercer Type 35-J Raceabout offered here, chassis 1967, hails from the final year of T-head production, 1914. This car features many subtle improvements that were implemented since the model’s introduction, most notably the desirable 4-speed gearbox that was unveiled in 1913. The car’s history is known since the mid-1930s, when it was owned by the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company of New York. In 1944, famed opera tenor and pioneering car collector James Melton persuaded the oil company to part with its prized Mercer. After Mr. Melton, ownership of the Raceabout passed to Edward N. King of New Jersey. Another passionate collector, Mr. King owned several other Mercers and managed the Mercer registry. In the mid-1960s, he commissioned the premier restorer Ralph Buckley, himself a Mercer fanatic and 1914 Raceabout owner, to restore this car to its original splendor. Upon completion in 1967, it was awarded an AACA National First Prize. Failing health ultimately forced Mr. King to sell the Mercer to Thomas J. Lester, the famed Ohio-based collector. He owned the Raceabout for a brief period, however, as Jerry S. Foley III soon talked him into selling it. Amazingly, Mr. Foley has owned the Mercer since 1971 and it appears virtually the same as it did when he purchased it. Mr. Foley exhibited the Raceabout on rare occasions and made some minor improvements to its presentation, including sourcing the proper Fletcher carburetor that’s unique to the 1914 model. The Mercer presents beautifully today in its light-yellow livery and possesses the hallmarks of a genuine Raceabout including a proper in-sequence-to-the-chassis 35-J engine, no. 1702, and correct chassis-number stampings visible on the frame, hood and both front fenders.
