Spectacular French Art Deco Auto Collection
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
The new Mullin Family Gallery at The Petersen is sensational.
Peter Mullin was well known amongst the small world of international rare car collectors, and a visit to his Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California, was a treasured treat. It took Mullin and his wife Merle nearly 30 years to put their collection together, but when he passed away at age 82, some wondered: What would happen to his car collection? Especially when the Mullin museum permanently closed early in 2024.
Now we know the answer. A vast portion of Mullins' cars have been transferred to the Petersen Automotive Museum's famous Vault in Los Angeles, where they will live on and where patrons can experience selections of one of the most important collections of pre-war French automobiles in existence. The Petersen is calling the gift “One of the most significant moments in the Petersen Automotive Museum’s history.”
Click to enlarge | Credit: Petersen Automotive Museum
“Together, we built this collection with the dream of preserving the extraordinary artistry, innovation and craftsmanship of French Art Deco automobiles,” said Merle Mullin. “It was equally important to us that these masterpieces would one day be shared with the broadest possible audience. Peter always believed the Petersen Automotive Museum was the right steward for that responsibility, and it is deeply meaningful to see that vision fulfilled. We are proud to know this collection will continue inspiring generations of enthusiasts, historians, and future collectors.”
“If you can dream it, you can make it happen.” Peter W. Mullin
Among the vehicles on display at last weekend’s initial installment: a 1922 Hispano-Suiza Type H6B “Skiff Torpedo,” a 1926 Bugatti Type 37A, a 1926 Bugatti Type 50S by Million-Guiet, three Voisins, a pair of Peugeots from 1937, a 1938 Delahaye Type 145 “V-12 Coupe” by Henri Chapron, a 1939 Delahaye T-165 V-12 “World’s Fair,” a 1951 Bugatti Type 101C by Gangloff, and a 1951 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport by Stabilimenti Farina.