Makes › Brewster & Co. · Coachbuilder (carrozzeria) – bodies, not complete cars · United States

Brewster & Co.

Brewster & Co. was an American carriage and automobile coachbuilder begun by James Brewster at New Haven, Connecticut, in 1810 and later based in New York. It built custom bodies, notably on Rolls-Royce chassis after Rolls-Royce bought it in 1925.¹

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1810Founded

Key facts

Founded: 1810¹ Independently researched
Founder: James Brewster¹ Independently researched
Headquarters: Long Island City, New York, USA (from 1910; earlier New Haven and Manhattan)¹ Independently researched

History

James Brewster (born 1788) opened his own carriage workshop at New Haven, Connecticut, in 1810, and a branch factory and warehouse opened in New York in 1827. Headquarters moved to New York (Broome Street) in 1856, and in 1910, under William Brewster, the company moved to a larger fireproof building in Long Island City. The firm became agent for Rolls-Royce chassis, and in 1925 Rolls-Royce bought out the faltering company; William Brewster resigned as nominal head in 1927, after which it continued making custom automobile bodies under others. A closure date was not found in the sources consulted.

Milestones

1810
James Brewster opened his own carriage workshop at New Haven.¹
1910
Headquarters and factory moved to Long Island City.¹
1925
Rolls-Royce bought out the Brewster company.¹

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1
Builders for the Carriage Trade (American Heritage, October 1956) Level C American Heritage
- In 1810 James Brewster opened his own workshop at New Haven
- "a larger fireproof building in Long Island City"
- "Rolls Royce bought out the faltering Brewster Company."
- James Brewster, born in Preston, Connecticut, in 1788
- in 1910 moved to "a larger fireproof building in Long Island City"
- 1810 founding; 1827 branch; 1856 New York; 1910 Long Island City; Rolls-Royce 1925; 1927 resignation
Accessed 2026-11-13