1912 Mercer Raceabout Series 35-J in Race Mode & We Take a Ride on My Car Story with Lou Costabile
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- On "My Car Story" we're in West Suburbs of Chicago on 7-25-15.
We're looking at a 1912 Mercer Raceabout Series 35-J.
The car's Owner is Herb Lederer. He’s had the car since 1992. He shares details of the cars history, how to start the car, and we take a ride.
ENJOY!
I've just sat and watched this video and I don't think I've ever sat so quiet before in my life. Since being a child I've had a fascination for this most beautiful car. It's grest to see a gentleman like this enjoying, and caring for a piece of engineering excellence.
Hi Brian, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this CZcams Channel, Lou
This proves that engineering involved in these works of precision and art were hand built to last for future generations.Its great to see a lot more younger people are actually restoring the earlier automobiles.Made in Mercer County,Trenton New Jersey.Mercers were in competition with the Stutz.
Real Craftsman building there great cars :-)
-Running late in the sense that I just discovered this video but it’s a beauty of an episode. Very educational and entertaining. Thank you Lou for sharing. Great that you got to ride on it as well!!
Hi Angel, Happy to read you found this one :-) Glad to read this video was "Very educational and entertaining.". You're welcome, Lou
My dream car. The look , the sound, everything is perfect. I remember Ken Purdy's account of the restoration of his Mercer. I think I still have the book around somewhere. I've had it since 1967.
Hi David, Happy to read this is a "dream car" for you :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this CZcams Channel, Lou
Over thirty years ago I started making a 1/16 scale model of this, and left it half built until I retired. Have just taken it out of the box again, and this video has inspired me to put my very best efforts into making it as true to the original as I can.
Thank you many times for making and posting the video. Like other people making comments here, I just sat entranced for the whole journey.
Magic.
Hi Tony Wood, Thank you for viewing, sharing a comment you're inspired, and that is awesome to read your back on your project :-) Lou
@@loucostabile Just one thing - Do you know why it has a right hand drive? Because I'm in Australia it didn't click for a while.
But the car was definitely a USA creation, and I can't see many exports to the UK in the early 1900's.
Not sure.
I don't know what is nicer: the car or the town he lives in, America really is a lovely place.
You're right, both are very nice. I hope when you have some time on CZcams.com you'll type in "My Car Story with Lou" and I hope you'll see other cars you like. Thank you for viewing and commenting, Lou
I discovered a photograph of my mother and grandmother sitting in a Mercer in 1919. They were living in the canal zone making it some what unusual. Took some searching to ID the car.
Hi George, Happy to read you found a car like the one your Mother & Grandmother were sitting in, Lou
So good to see these old cars being driven.
Hi shedjammer, Glad to take you along for the ride :-) Lou
WHAT A SOOOUND!!!... I keep watchin' this video about an hour, it's just the best!
+Valeriy Reiter Hi Valeriy, Really amazing car (over100 years old!). Take care, Lou
Lou Costabile It would be even more nice to see her at speed :-) I saw a 1914 Model T Fire Chief Runabout in our town year before, it's original, unrestored and in running condition!))) These cars are just a testament of pure mechanics and real engineers, almost no modern marketing
+Valeriy Reiter That sounds like a great sight to see! Thanks for sharing, Lou
Beautiful piece of engineering from my home town of Trenton NJ.
Happy to read you enjoy the looks of this hometown car :-)
Great seeing this MADE IN NEW JERSEY classic car! Thanks for the ride.
Hi Erik, Happy to read you enjoy this "NJ classic car!" :-) You're welcome. Hope you see many more cars on this CZcams Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this CZcams Channel, Lou
Automotive Art..... 😋👍
A True Treasure and Inspiring Heritage.........
Hi John, Happy to read you enjoy this car :-) Lou
What a gorgeous old car, Lou! Thanks for allowing us to ride along.
RonN448 Hi RonN448, Glad you shared and enjoyed the ride, Take care, Lou
+RonN448 Hi Ron, I agree with you a great old car. Take care, Lou
wow, that is definitely a change of pace, beautiful car
Happy to read you enjoy this old timer :-)
"You have to be Nuts to Drive a Stutz!"
:-)
Wow. Big thank you for the ride. I used to have a 2 speed 1914 Excelsior twin cylinder motorcycle and I always wondered if it would keep up with the Mercer. Not really I think now, but still a fast and thrilling machine.
Hi Caesarllion, Glad you enjoyed the ride / video. Thank you for sharing your story, and adding to this one. You're welcome, Lou
What happened to it?
Lou that was a FUN ride! Great man, great automobile! Peter Brooks.
Hi Peter Brooks, Glad you enjoyed it. I realized quickly there as Herb took a corner there were no seat belts in 1912! :-) Lou
that's smooth shifting and fast
Nice :-)
Seen one today it was an amazing vehicle
Awesome ! Thank you for viewing and sharing.
Incredible car. BTW, it's 'intents and purposes', not 'intensive'.
Hi Todd, Happy to read you enjoy this "incredible car" :-) Thanks for the correction, Lou
My favorite car is the early Stutz Bearcat. But why do the Mercer and Stutz Bearcat look exactly alike? I've never been able to find the answer. Did Stutz just copy Mercer--was there no car copyright back then?
Hi, Thank you for sharing, and discussing the two, although I'm not sure why they look alike, I hope you'll enjoy this video too, enjoy, Lou czcams.com/video/ypiRvEwciy8/video.html
gallantrycross x I think they looked quite different, I will admit a lot of cars look pretty similar but the more I look at it the more different they are.
The Stutz was in close competition with Mercer.The Stutz had a different contour in the rear and was a bit more robust than the Mercer.They’re both beauties but i do love the Stutz.
There's also a 35-C and 35-R. What are the differences between these three versions?
A "C" & an "R"
Yeah, my Mercer has a four on the...umm...side.
That's funny :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing, Lou
Took me a second :)
This car came to a local car meet once, people pretended the other 150 cars at the show didn't even exist.
Hi KaDuWin, Wow, that's interesting. Thank you for viewing & sharing, Lou
@@loucostabile Likewise, thank you as well.
"Artillery" wheels are very unsuitable for racing although they were used. When they fail the car almost always digs in and flips.
Rob Mackenzie Hi Rob, Didn't think about wheels failing, thanks for viewing and sharing, Lou
Good morning.
We're filming an in-depth documentary on the Mercer Automobile for a non-profit to be distributed on platforms such as the Roebling Museum, Roku and possibly Amazon Prime Video. We'd like to know if we can use any portion of this video footage (czcams.com/video/H4WtX69pK2U/video.html) in the documentary. We would have you sign a release and give credit to the authors and your production company.
Please contact me at rob@caddisart.com | 856-719-0273 x 100
Thank you very much!
Robert Blanda, CaddisArt Digital Media Productions
Hi Rob, I went to your website - under construction. I called and Ext 100 was disconnected. NO YOU CAN NOT USE MY VIDEO, Lou
@@loucostabile Yes, our website was under construction but is now back up. However, the Phone shouldn't be disconnected. We had two employees that man the phones while I was away on vacation, so perhaps internet was out while you called? Please try again, I'd be happy to speak with you. I am here all week, then doing a MERCER shoot on Saturday the 19th. 856-719-0273
rob@caddisart.com www.caddisart.com