Last Mercer rolls to Pebble Beach

When the Pebble Beach Motoring Classic commences on Aug. 7, Johnny Crowell will don his leather cap and goggles and settle in behind the wheel of his 1925 Mercer Series 6 Raceabout — the last Mercer ever to exit the factory.

The Roebling family, along with designer Finley Robertson Porter, debuted the Mercer Raceabout Type 35R in 1911. The result was one of the most admired sports cars of the early era: a stripped-down, two-seat speedster designed to be driven fast. By 1925, they had perfected it; the Series 6 is the only model to be powered by a six-cylinder engine, and Crowell’s car, one of just two Series 6 Raceabouts in existence, is the only Mercer to have factory-installed four-wheel brakes. “All of the other Raceabouts went like hell but wouldn’t stop,” says Crowell.

It seems that Crowell has every intention of seeing just how fast the car deemed America’s first race car will go, and right beside him, giving new meaning to the term “trooper,” will be Crowell’s wife, Christine. “We are going from Seattle to Pebble Beach, touring 1,500 miles with no top, no windows and a sorry excuse for a windshield … and I suspect we will get some rain,” jokes Crowell. “My wife will love it.”

The Pebble Beach Motoring Classic is the ultimate road trip for automotive enthusiasts. The trip begins in Seattle, Washington and winds through the Cascade Mountains, scaling Mount Hood and circling scenic Crater Lake, then eventually crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and tracing the Pacific Coast toward its final destination—the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where Mercer is a featured marque this year.

On arrival, Crowell’s Mercer, which he acquired in February, will make its post-restoration debut on the Concours show field. This historic automobile was previously owned by the same family for more than 70 years. “It was driven hard and put away wet,” said Crowell. “It was operational, but I wouldn’t have wanted to drive it more than a few feet.” The car is being restored by Adams Custom Engines in Sparks, Nev., with the goal of keeping it as original and authentic as possible while making it a sound driver.

This year’s Concours d’Elegance will host an assemblage of quintessential, one-of-a-kind and rarely seen Mercers. In addition to the last production Mercer brought by Crowell, Dave and Denise Sanders will be showing a rare 1931 prototype Mercer Merrimac Convertible Coupe that was built in a failed attempt to revive the marque.

In addition to Mercer, the concours will feature Cars of the Maharajas, Saoutchik Coachwork, AC and AC (Shelby) Cobra, Fiat, Sport Customs and German Motorcycles. Information and tickets are available at www.pebblebeachconcours.net.

To learn more about the Mercer and thousands of other prewar cars, check out our Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1942.