Lot 212: 1905 CORRE TYPE F 8HP REAR-ENTRANCE TONNEAU

COACHWORK BY DELALANDE OF CORBEVOIE

Cream with black upholstery

Engine: De Dion Bouton water-cooled single-cylinder 106 x 120mm bore and stroke, 1,058cc, with automatic inlet valve and De Dion Bouton coil ignition and carburettor; Gearbox: three speed & reverse, cone clutch, shaft-drive to bevel back axle; Suspension: front and rear, semi-elliptic leaf springs; Brakes: rear wheel and transmission; Right hand drive

In the world of the automobile, leaving a successful business bearing the name of the creator and starting all over again has been by no means unusual. Names that immediately come to mind are those of Carl Benz, August Horch and Ransom Eli Olds, who did just this and had a second life making vehicles bearing the names C Benz Söhne, Audi, and Reo, respectively. There were others, and one of these was Jaques Corre.

In 1899 he set up l'Agence Industrielle d'Automobiles in the Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret to deal, as The Motor-Car Journal put it, in 'Corre motor-tricycles and quadricycles (De Dion motor), De Dion and Renault voiturettes, Peugeot cars, etc.' Corre must have had a very good relationship with the Renault brothers because in the first year of Renault car production he was selling their cars, but 'badged' with the Corre name. In 1900 he started publicising Corre motorcars as an independent make and the motoring press of the day noted 'the car is practically identical with the well-known Renault vehicles.' Indeed, apart from a marginal difference in the bonnet the cars were visually and mechanically Renaults. As with Renault, Corre raced his 'products' and when the intrepid Jaques took first place in the voiturette category of the Circuit des Ardennes race in July 1902 his Corre looked just like the 8hp Renaults that had competed in the Paris-Vienna race the month before, but no Renaults were entered for the Belgian event.

Whilst Renault developed its own engines from 1902 onwards, Corre remained faithful to De Dion Bouton units, and later augmented these with Aster engines, but mirrored the Renault change from tubular to pressed steel chassis for 1905 and the location of the radiator at the dashboard. Whatever the origins of his cars, Corre seemed to be successful and added the La Licorne (unicorn) name to his products. Then in 1907 he up and left to produce Corre, Le Cor and J C cars at Rueil until the Great War, whilst Corre-La Licorne soon dropped the founder's name. The story in a way comes full circle, for when the final La Licorne factory was sold in 1950 - it was bought by Renault.

Everything about this delightful car confirms its date: the Type F was Monsieur Corre's designation for the single-cylinder model of 1905, the number of the De Dion Bouton engine places it towards the middle of that year, and the LC (London) registration began being issued in May 1905. For those who will lament that it is not from 1904, they miss the point, for historically it is fascinating since it almost certainly represents what a single-cylinder Renault would have been had Louis not decided at the end of 1904 to cease the manufacture of single-cylinder cars bearing the Renault name.

It appears to be correct in all aspects and has a coachbuilt body, number 173, by Delalande of Corbevoie. The car is equipped with a fine pair of BRC-Alpha self-generating headlamps, Lucas sidelamps, rear-view mirror, horn and exhaust whistle. Although it has been museum stored the work necessary to put it into good running order appears to be minimal. Not only would it be entirely suitable for Veteran Car Club events and Les 'Teuf Teuf' rallies back in its native land, but a new owner could also seek admission to the English club that caters so well for older Renaults: the Renault Frères - at least as an associate!

Incidentally the name Corre rhymes with door, not with quarry.