Surname jibe sparked search for and rebuild of rare historic car
A taunt by a motoring journalist led to Kevin and Ruth Mercer searching for, buying and rebuilding a rare nearly 100-year-old car that shares their surname and is part of the Geraldine Vintage Car and Machinery Club.
The 1923 Series 6 Mercer, built by the Mercer Automobile Company that was based in Trenton, Mercer County in New Jersey in the United States, was among the nearly 100 vehicles that turned up for the All American Car Rally in Timaru on Sunday.
Kevin Mercer said he was driving a Model A Ford when the journalist taunted him by saying ‘‘with a name like yours you should be driving a Mercer’’.
‘‘I’ve had this car since 1996 after trying to find one for six years. It was basically written off when I got it and in a lot of parts,’’ he said. ‘‘I knew very little about them at the time.’’
All American rally organiser, Grant Stewart, of the South Canterbury Vintage Car Club, said the Mercer was quite a rare car and Kevin says he believes only three have ever been brought to New Zealand with only five driveable versions of the Series 6 – manufactured 1923-26 – still operating worldwide.
‘‘From extensive research we believe only three Mercers have been imported to NZ. This was the first, the second was imported in 1928 from Australia and raced in the NZ Motor Cup (on Muriwai Beach) by Hugh Carter.’’
Kevin says they imported the third, again from Australia in 1996, to provide the balance of original parts to complete their car and ‘‘the remains of that car are now in Canada to assist completing another’’.
The Mercers’ car is looking for a new home though with it wearing a ‘‘for sale’’ sign at Sunday’s rally.
‘‘We’ve got a bit old and there are not a lot of creature comforts in the car.
‘‘We are looking for something a little bit more modern.’’
And by modern, Kevin reveals his replacement car will still need to be at least 50 years old.
He is negotiable on the price for the Mercer but says it will need to be ‘‘north of $100,000’’, adding a similar one sold in Portugal a few years ago for US$350,000 (NZ$573,538).
‘‘If it was a 1911 model it would be worth about $3 million.’’
Kevin’s extensive research into the car leads him to believe it may have raced at the famous
Pike’s Peak hillclimb in Colorado that began in 1916.
‘‘The AAAC racing plaque indicates it is car #1 and a preproduction six-cylinder Mercer #1 gained fourth place in 1922 driven by Haines,’’ Kevin said.
Stewart said the rally ‘‘was an excuse to get together and show off the toys’’.
A Dodge Charger was voted the best car on the day at Sunday’s All American show.
After the show, about 70 of the vehicles and their owners enjoyed an afternoon cruise to the Roger Mahan Heritage Centre near Geraldine.
Stewart said the event had also fund-raised for Cardiac Kids and he expected about $1000 had been raised.