Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, known for its elegant French cars, to close.
Jan 27, 2024 00:55:05 #
Scott Ramsay
Loc: La Mirada, CA
I have followed Ugly Hedgehog for several years and I have gained a lot of insight into photographic tools and techniques. I took a high school summer photo class way back when and the bug bit hard and never let go. I put myself through college working in a Southern California camera store. I probably spent most of my earnings on more camera stuff. My first serious camera was a Nikon F, that I bought in 1968. I still have it (although it is a bookend today) and I am fortunate that many of the lenses are still usable on my D850. My working days are mostly in the rearview mirror today, but I can still be coerced into shooting an occasional high school reunion.
I took a final chance the other day to visit the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California, before its planned closure on February 10. The museum was opened in 2010, offering the public a close-up viewing of the collection of Peter Mullin, that consists of over 60 European cars from the early 1900s. The cars are all (save for one) fully restored and in operation condition. Mr. Mullin was known to take the cars to locations all over the world to drive in races and rallies. Mr. Mullin’s passing last September put the closure of the museum in high gear with the planned disposal of much of the collection. Four cars will be donated to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, while several more will go to auction.
The museum was known for its art deco design and housed over 47,000 square feet of exhibit space. In addition to the vehicles, the gallery includes sculptures, artifacts, a roof top garden, and theater.
There are no velvet ropes or other barricades to keep viewers at a distance. It is possible to get up close and personal to these cars, many of which are one-of-a-kind. It is only requested that viewers avoid touching the cars.
Walking through the facility is like stepping back in time to an auto showroom in Paris in the mid-1900s. Most of the vehicles on display are Bugattis, but other French models are also shown. Even though you might have a lot of money to collect cars, it makes sense to specialize in a specific area. Therefore Mr. Mullin collected Bugattis, Hispano-Suiza (Spanish-Swiss), which had a factory in France, and Peugeot. Volunteer docents are always on hand to answer questions and share stories about the cars.
Guests often leave the Mullin Automotive Museum touched by the incredible story of the 1925 Bugatti Type 22 Brescia Roadster, dubbed “Lady of the Lake” due to its time at the bottom of Lake Maggiore. The vehicle is a prime example of painstakingly crafted artwork created by Ettore Bugatti and finished by the likes of Mother Nature. For this reason, our founder vows never to restore the vehicle to its original condition, preserving the anecdotal evidence of its remarkable story, which tugs at the heartstrings of museum patrons.
The folklore surrounding the “Bugatti of the Deep” was ubiquitous among the inhabitants around Italy’s Lake Maggiore, precariously located on the Swiss border. This 1925 Type 22 Brescia Roadster belonged to Grand Prix driver René Dreyfus, who lost it in 1934 Paris during a drunken poker game to Swiss playboy Adalbert Bodé. Soon after, Bodé left for home in his new prize with no cash in hand, unable to pay the car’s import duties when stopped by Swiss officials at the country border. Bodé walked away, leaving the officers to dispose of the automobile into the lake — as the 10-year-old car held little value at the time. The Bugatti tale ceased to be a local myth by 1967, when deep-diving technology, withstanding enormous amounts of water pressure, located the submerged classic. This led amateur divers — 70+ years after — to plunge to the depths of Lake Maggiore to catch a glimpse.
A random beating resulting in the death of a local boy led to the car’s eventual recovery and sale in 2008. To combat youth violence, the local diving club voted to raise the submerged Bugatti and donate the proceeds to a non-profit foundation established in the name of the tragedy’s victim. An immense crowd of thousands witnessed the Type 22 surface from Lake Maggiore on July 12, 2009. The following year, it was purchased by Peter Mullin at the Bonhams auction at Paris’ Retromobile.
I took a final chance the other day to visit the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California, before its planned closure on February 10. The museum was opened in 2010, offering the public a close-up viewing of the collection of Peter Mullin, that consists of over 60 European cars from the early 1900s. The cars are all (save for one) fully restored and in operation condition. Mr. Mullin was known to take the cars to locations all over the world to drive in races and rallies. Mr. Mullin’s passing last September put the closure of the museum in high gear with the planned disposal of much of the collection. Four cars will be donated to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, while several more will go to auction.
The museum was known for its art deco design and housed over 47,000 square feet of exhibit space. In addition to the vehicles, the gallery includes sculptures, artifacts, a roof top garden, and theater.
There are no velvet ropes or other barricades to keep viewers at a distance. It is possible to get up close and personal to these cars, many of which are one-of-a-kind. It is only requested that viewers avoid touching the cars.
Walking through the facility is like stepping back in time to an auto showroom in Paris in the mid-1900s. Most of the vehicles on display are Bugattis, but other French models are also shown. Even though you might have a lot of money to collect cars, it makes sense to specialize in a specific area. Therefore Mr. Mullin collected Bugattis, Hispano-Suiza (Spanish-Swiss), which had a factory in France, and Peugeot. Volunteer docents are always on hand to answer questions and share stories about the cars.
Guests often leave the Mullin Automotive Museum touched by the incredible story of the 1925 Bugatti Type 22 Brescia Roadster, dubbed “Lady of the Lake” due to its time at the bottom of Lake Maggiore. The vehicle is a prime example of painstakingly crafted artwork created by Ettore Bugatti and finished by the likes of Mother Nature. For this reason, our founder vows never to restore the vehicle to its original condition, preserving the anecdotal evidence of its remarkable story, which tugs at the heartstrings of museum patrons.
The folklore surrounding the “Bugatti of the Deep” was ubiquitous among the inhabitants around Italy’s Lake Maggiore, precariously located on the Swiss border. This 1925 Type 22 Brescia Roadster belonged to Grand Prix driver René Dreyfus, who lost it in 1934 Paris during a drunken poker game to Swiss playboy Adalbert Bodé. Soon after, Bodé left for home in his new prize with no cash in hand, unable to pay the car’s import duties when stopped by Swiss officials at the country border. Bodé walked away, leaving the officers to dispose of the automobile into the lake — as the 10-year-old car held little value at the time. The Bugatti tale ceased to be a local myth by 1967, when deep-diving technology, withstanding enormous amounts of water pressure, located the submerged classic. This led amateur divers — 70+ years after — to plunge to the depths of Lake Maggiore to catch a glimpse.
A random beating resulting in the death of a local boy led to the car’s eventual recovery and sale in 2008. To combat youth violence, the local diving club voted to raise the submerged Bugatti and donate the proceeds to a non-profit foundation established in the name of the tragedy’s victim. An immense crowd of thousands witnessed the Type 22 surface from Lake Maggiore on July 12, 2009. The following year, it was purchased by Peter Mullin at the Bonhams auction at Paris’ Retromobile.
The showroom floor seen from the upper mezzanine.
(Download)
1930 Bugatti Type 46 Cabriolet
(Download)
1939 Bugatti Type 64 Coupe
(Download)
1934 Avions Voisin Type C27 Grand Sport Roadster - Original owner was the Shah of Persia.
(Download)
1935 / 49 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante
(Download)
1937 Delahaye Type 135M Cabriolet
(Download)
1925 Bugatti Type 22 Roadster - The story explains this interesting car.
(Download)
Jan 27, 2024 05:38:09 #
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Jan 27, 2024 10:47:36 #
Not really a "car guy", but Wow!
Interesting story, any idea how deep the lake is?
If it's as deep as you imply, and I'm assuming cold too, I'm surprised that it's in such poor condition.
I just checked...nearly 600 feet deep and, yes, very cold at that depth. Although not too bad for swimming.
I lived in base housing at Point Mugu Naval Air Station for a couple years in the early '90's near Oxnard.
Interesting story, any idea how deep the lake is?
If it's as deep as you imply, and I'm assuming cold too, I'm surprised that it's in such poor condition.
I just checked...nearly 600 feet deep and, yes, very cold at that depth. Although not too bad for swimming.
I lived in base housing at Point Mugu Naval Air Station for a couple years in the early '90's near Oxnard.
Jan 27, 2024 11:16:20 #
Great series, Scott. The funny thing is that I lived in Oxnard for twenty years and was not aware of the existence of the museum, my Bad. I went back and read your intro that it opened in 2010, now I know why I wasn't aware
of it, I moved back to Texas in 2009, again, my BAD.
of it, I moved back to Texas in 2009, again, my BAD.
Jan 27, 2024 12:23:15 #
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Jan 27, 2024 14:25:41 #
An excellent tour (photos and narrative), Scott! It is a shame that this venue will close, but only death and taxes are forever. In this case, death brought on the taxes.
Jan 27, 2024 15:40:18 #
When money is no object! Fascinating story about the "Lady of the Lake." Sorry for closure of the museum.
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