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In 1963, when ex-Chrysler design chief Virgil Exner was commissioned by Esquire magazine to pen so-called “revival cars,” each interpreting vintage brands and their signature cues into a then-modern design. The Mercer is essentially a heavily re-skinned 289 cu. in. V-8, four-speed manual Shelby Cobra 289 built by Turin coachbuilder Sibona-Basano, was one of four drafted initially. Still, the only one selected by the American Copper Development Association to serve as a showcase for its wares. As a result, it hired Exner and provided that it was chock full of brass and copper. While the bodywork isn’t crafted from copper or brass, most interior and exterior trim is. Copper is used in everything from the radiator shell, exhaust guards, wheels, and inner door panel trim; even the disc brakes were crafted from copper, as the ACDA believed the material’s “superior thermal conductivity” helped reduce fading. It was sold back in 2011 by RM Auctions for $660,000.
Source & Images: OldConceptCars
