1916 Mercer Touring Car, Used by Edsel and Eleanor Ford

01

Artifact Overview

The Mercer Automobile Company of Trenton, New Jersey, was founded in 1909 and quickly made its reputation in performance cars. The Mercer Raceabout, introduced for 1911, was capable of better than 90 miles per hour and won numerous races. Edsel and Eleanor Ford used this more sedate touring car on their 1916 honeymoon. Money and management problems closed Mercer in 1925.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Automobile

Date Made

1916

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

00.240.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Edsel B. Ford.

Material

Steel (Alloy)
Metal
Canvas
Glass (Material)
Wood (Plant material)
Leather
Rubber (Material)

Color

Bluish green
Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 80.5 in
Width: 71.75 in
Length: 181.5 in

Inscriptions

radiator front: MERCER hubs: RUDGE-WHITWORTH S.R.B.-PHILA/MERCER Plate inside hood: MERCER / MERCER AUTOMOBILE CO. / TRENTON, N.J. / (Patents front Sept. 11, 1900 to May 18, 1909) / THE MANUFACTURER HEREOF IS LICENSED UNDER / THESE PATENTS / SERIES 22.72 NO. 3002