Corsica Coachworks

Corsica Coachworks was a small coachbuilding business founded in 1920 just after World War I. They were builders of true bespoke car bodies employing no in-house designer. They realised clients' designs for them. Almost every Corsica body is unique.

Low-chassis Daimler double-six 50 hp
4-seater drophead coupé (1931)
by Corsica
chassis modified by Reid Railton at Thomson & Taylor Ltd
Bentley Speed Six (1930)
Bugatti 57T (1935)
Wolseley Hornet Special bodied by Corsica Coach Works (1934)

History

Corsica Coachworks was run by Charles Henry Stammers (1884-1945), his brothers-in-law, Joseph and Robert Lee, and Albert Wood. The company name referred to the address of its original premises in Corsica Street, Highbury (Islington, North London). After a few years the business relocated further out of town to an alleyway off The Broadway, Cricklewood (Northwest London). Throughout its existence Corsica Coachworks remained small, never employing more than 20 people.

Products

Most Corsica bodies were fitted to the more sporting types of car, with bodies produced for Daimler, Bentley, Bugatti, Alfa Romeo, British Salmson, Frazer Nash, Humber, Lea-Francis, Rolls-Royce and Wolseley models. At least 14 Bugatti Type 57s were furnished with Corsica bodies.

Just as the business was closed at the beginning of the war the company completed a Rolls-Royce limousine for Princess Marie Louise "and there may have been a few others like it".

Design

Every body would have been unique but a few dealers required short runs of a particular shape. If the owner's ideas on a body shape were too unformed, a contract draughtsman would be called in. The foreman body maker, Bert Skinner, would draw the entire body on plywood hanging on the wall including full-scale sideviews. After the body's frame had been built, the sheet aluminium or Dural would be shaped around it. Wings (mudguards) would be first outlined freehand in wire, then metal shaped to fit.

Employees

At peak:

  • Screenmaking and fittings 3
  • Paint shop 4
  • Trimming shop 3
  • Body shop up to 7
  • Panel shop 3
  • wing maker
  • blacksmith

These details have been supplied from memory not records.

Famous clients

Sir Malcolm Campbell, Ford Dagenham, Nico Embiricos, 'Taso' Mathiesen, Colonel Giles, Colonel Sorrel (Bugatti London), Forrest Lycett, Cecil Kimber, Donald Healey

Legacy

The two most important principals, C. H. Stammers and Joseph Lee, died during World War II. Their premises were sold to S Smith & Sons. Robert (Dick) Lee moved to coachbuilders Alpe & Saunders in Kew, then formed FLM Panelcraft in High Street, Putney, moving later to Battersea (Fry, Lee, McNally). They made the bodies for HWM cars, the famous Gulbenkian taxi and the Tulipwood Hispano-Suiza.

References
  • Mike McCarthy, The Boys from Kings Cross, Classic and Sportscar magazine, p.p. 110-115, June 1991. Interview with Jack and Charles Stammers, sons of the founder.
  • Nick Walker: A–Z of British Coachbuilders 1919–1960. Shebbear 2007 (Herridge & Sons Ltd.) ISBN 978-0-9549981-6-5.

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