Everyone knows that racing improves the breed. But, it seems like no other American car brand embraced that more in the industry’s infancy than the Mercer Automobile Company. Founded in 1909 by the Roebling family of Brooklyn Bridge fame, out of what was left of the Walter Automobile Company, they quickly began assembling cars.

But it was their Raceabout that truly put the brand on the map, as they began racing all over the country with much success; becoming what many consider to be America’s first sports car. Clifford W. Zink does a wonderfully thorough job of telling the Mercer story in his book Mercer Magic. 

It’s a great Must Read of a brand that may not have lasted that long, but certainly made its mark in automotive history.