1912 Mercer Raceabout replica

Dean Weller is a magician with metal. His hand-built replica of a 1912 Mercer Raceabout is the most recent example of his ability to turn an idea into three-dimensional reality.

 Weller, of De Soto, Kan., has been restoring and building cars for 28 years, much of that time spent in his shop, the old Ford garage in downtown De Soto that was built in 1918. He bought the building for its showroom, but he added a two-story addition in back to expand the lower-level storage area and create a south-facing, glass-walled workshop on the upper level. He often spends six days a week in his shop during the winter, and his hobby keeps him young and active despite the fact that he is in his eighth decade.

 Weller is a perfectionist who does all his own work, with the exception of chrome plating, some machine work and upholstery.

 Weller has long been an admirer of the Mercer, said by many experts to be the premier sports car of the brass era. A top example brought $1,595,000 at auction in 2006.

 While many of Weller’s projects have been based on Model A Fords, his Mercer replica is built on the chassis of a 1930 Pontiac. After careful measuring, he discovered that the Pontiac was the perfect foundation. The engine sat low in the frame, the wheels were made of wood, and the hydraulic brakes would give the car good stopping power. The brakes on Mercers were not strong.

 The car took about a year from start to finish, and the result is spectacular. Weller’s craftsmanship is flawless. He formed nearly every piece of the car by himself, including hand-rolling the bead on each fender. This is the first time he has attempted to build fenders from scratch. The brass radiator shell is a work of art in itself, and he created it, too.

 Weller thought to himself, “I’ll never be able to own a real Mercer, so why not build my own?”

 Driving the car is unmistakably a thrill for Weller, and it generates stares of disbelief wherever he takes it.

 “I’ll never do anything more important than this,” Weller said after taking his car out for photography near De Soto. “This is my crowning achievement.”

 So, if this is his crowning achievement, what will he build next winter? Weller muses on the possibility of re-creating a Stutz Bearcat, which was a rival to the Mercer.

 “It would be fun to own one of each,” he said, but he has to find either another 1930 Pontiac chassis or one that is comparable. Given Weller’s history, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a Stutz replica roaming the streets around De Soto about this time next year.