Most Beautiful Collection of French Cars EverPetersen Automotive MuseumPhilanthropist and businessman Peter Mullin spent most of his life assembling one of the most extraordinary collections of French Art Deco automobiles ever created. The old prayer that those with money acquire taste and those with taste acquire money was answered perfectly in Peter Mullin, whose magnificent collection of French cars of the 1930s came to its Art Deco peak when he brought them all together in the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California.The Mullin, as it was known, operated only 14 years, from 2010 to 2024, lined with every beautiful Bugatti, Delage, and Delahaye ever to draw an eye. Founded by Peter and his wife Merle, the privately owned museum was the pinnacle of automotive fine art. But with Peter Mullin's passing in 2023, the future of the collection was uncertain. At the time all that was announced was that four of the cars would go to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, where Peter had been chairman.Those four were a 1937 Talbot-Lago T150 CS 'Teardrop,' the 1938 Hispano-Suiza H6B Dubonnet Xenia, the 1939 Delahaye 165, and the 1938 Delahaye 145. The rest, it appeared at the time, were to be sold.Petersen Automotive MuseumThere were 115 lots from the Mullin Museum sold at a Gooding & Co. auction at the Mullin Museum in 2024, including many Bugattis, Delages, and Delahayes. More had been sold at Gooding & Co.'s auction that same year at Amelia Island, including Voisins and Delahayes.AdvertisementAdvertisementYet, apparently, there were still more sitting around, 20 or 30 more, to be exact, in the hands of the Mullin Foundation, and it's those 20 that will form a new display at the Petersen."On July 18, the Petersen Automotive Museum will unveil the Mullin Family Gallery, featuring automobiles from the legendary Mullin Collection inside the museum's renowned Vault, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience what is widely regarded as one of the finest, rarest, and most valuable collections of pre-war French automobiles ever assembled," read a Petersen release. "The exhibition celebrates the Mullin Family Foundation's landmark gift to the Petersen and fulfills collector, philanthropist, and longtime museum champion Peter Mullin's vision that these automotive masterpieces would one day be preserved and shared with the broadest possible audience at the museum he helped shape."Peter believed automobiles represented one of the purest forms of industrial art, and he viewed the French Art Deco movement as one of the greatest periods of artistic and engineering achievement of the 20th century, the Petersen said. Long before his passing, he envisioned the Petersen Automotive Museum becoming the steward of the collection, ensuring these extraordinary automobiles would continue inspiring future generations while reaching a global audience in Los Angeles. Today, that vision is being realized through the leadership of Merle Mullin and the Mullin Family Foundation, whose landmark gift ensures the collection will remain accessible to the public for generations to come.Petersen Automotive Museum"Peter believed these automobiles belonged to history, not to us," said Merle Mullin, co-founder of the Mullin Automotive Museum, trustee of the Mullin Family Foundation, Petersen Automotive Museum Board Member, and internationally respected automotive collector. "Together, we built this collection with the dream of preserving the extraordinary artistry, innovation, and craftsmanship of French Art Deco automobiles. 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."AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Petersen said the gift of the cars represents one of the most significant moments in its history and ensures that one of the world's foremost collections of French automotive art will remain publicly accessible for generations to come. Peter Mullin played a pivotal role in shaping the modern Petersen, championing its transformation into one of the world's leading automotive museums. His vision for the museum extended beyond its galleries and exhibitions, making it fitting that his collection would ultimately find its home there."It would be difficult to overstate Peter Mullin's impact on the automotive world and on the Petersen Automotive Museum itself," said Executive Director of the Petersen Automotive Museum, Terry L. Karges. "Peter helped build the museum we know today, and it is an incredible honor to fulfill his vision by becoming the steward of this extraordinary collection. There is no better place to preserve these remarkable automobiles and share their beauty, history and artistry with visitors from around the world."The inaugural exhibition, opening in the Petersen Vault July 18, will celebrate the Mullin Family Foundation's gift while offering visitors an exclusive first look at many of the collection's most celebrated automobiles in an intimate setting. But not all of them. It also serves as a preview of a much larger exhibition planned for 2028."In 2028, the Petersen's existing Mullin Family Gallery will host a major exhibition featuring nearly 30 vehicles from the collection, transforming the museum's signature gallery into one of the most significant presentations of French Art Deco automobiles ever assembled," the Petersen said. "Together, the two exhibitions represent Peter Mullin's enduring vision of making these automotive masterpieces accessible to enthusiasts, scholars and the general public alike."Petersen Automotive MuseumAmong the vehicles debuting this summer are the legendary 1937 Delahaye Type 145 'Million Franc Delahaye,' the award-winning 1934 Voisin C27 Aerosport Coupe, and an extraordinary selection of Bugatti, Talbot-Lago, Delage, Peugeot and Hispano-Suiza masterpieces.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe vehicles which will go on display in 2026 include:1922 Hispano-Suiza Type H6B "Skiff Torpedo"1926 Bugatti Type 37A1931 Bugatti Type 50S by Million-Guiet1934 Voisin Type C27 Aérosport Coupé Reconstruction1934 Voisin Type C27 Grand Sport Roadster1935 Voisin Type C25 Aérodyne1936 Delahaye Type 135CS1937 Hispano Suiza K6 Break de Chasse1937 Peugeot 402L Eclipse by Pourtout1937 Peugeot 302DS Darl'Mat Cabriolet by Pourtout1937 Delahaye Type 135 M Cabriolet1937 Delahaye Type 1451937 Talbot Lago T-150-C-S "Teardrop" Coupe1938 Delahaye Type 145 "V-12 Coupe" by Henri Chapron1939 Delahaye T-165 V-12 "World's Fair"1939/49 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante1950 Talbot-Lago T26C Grand Sport by Stabilimenti Farina1951 Delahaye Type 235 Cabriolet by Saoutchik1951 Bugatti Type 101C by Gangloff1951 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport by Stabilimenti FarinaTickets and additional information are available at Petersen.org/exhibits.