Vintage Celeb 1939 Mercury 99A Racer 'The Doodlebug' Appears On EBay - HotCars

Following World War II, the automotive scene was teeming with enthusiasts who were not afraid to try out new things. At the time, the so-called doodlebug – a car made from various unrelated parts – was born. Like hot rods, it was how they customize their classic cars. One of these doodlebugs, a 1939 Mercury 99A Racer still lives on and was recently sold on eBay.

A Racer Made From Various Disparate Parts

Bearing a vehicle identification number of 99A56716, this 1939 Mercury 99A Racer is not an ordinary doodlebug. Through the decades, this 1939 hot rod has built a name of its name, and in fact, it is known as "The Doodlebug." It started off its life underpinned by a 1939 Mercury chassis with the original Flathead V8 engine and three-speed transmission. This V8 features an Offenhouser triple carburetor intake manifold as well as special heads.

Built somewhere in the Philadelphia/Northern New Jersey area, the Doodlebug came into the possession in the mid-1950s of a young female racing enthusiast named Grace Curry. While it wasn’t clear if Grace drove 1939 Mercury 99A Racer to races, but she – being a race driver and the car being a racer-- might have pushed the Doodlebug to its limits a couple of times. She might have also piloted the car to some races, but that matter remains to be confirmed.

Doodlebug Is A Celebrity Featured In Various Publications

1939 Mercury 99A Racer Autorama magazine — Via eBay

Good news is that the Doodlebug avoided being totaled and managed to survived spirited drives. In fact, this 1939 Mercury 99A Racer remains operational until today and can be driven on road (it has a clean California title). Various modifications on the Doodlebug might have been implemented in the past decades, but the listing on eBay does not indicate so.

Nevertheless, the fame of this vintage racer was highlighted by being in various publications. For instance, Grace was featured with the Doodlebug as "Queen of the 1956 International Autorama" in Philadelphia in 1956. It was also featured in several magazines and newspapers, including the February 1957 issue of Motor Trend, May 1957 issue of 'Rod Builder & Customizer' and April 1957 issue of Motor Life. Most recently, the Doodlebug was featured in the November 2020 issue of Hemmings Classic Car magazine.

Interior Complete With Preserved Seats

1939 Mercury 99A Racer interior — Via eBay

Wrapped in golden exterior finish, this 1939 Mercury 99A Racer features a complete interior. Its bucket seats have been preserved through and it even has seatbelts. Its dash is still complete with gauges, although it can't be verified if those are working. It was recently sold on eBay for $15,039, with bidding started at $14,500.

Source: eBay

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Julybien Atadero (1252 Articles Published)

Julybien Atadero writes from the island of Cebu covering various automotive topics including new sports cars, classic muscles, pickup trucks and SUVs. While I like peace and quiet, I love playing with my kid. When I have nothing else to do, I watch documentaries and animations.