A Legacy Finds a New Home

Peter Mullin was a cornerstone of the international rare car collecting community. Throughout his life, he excelled as a prominent financial executive, a dedicated philanthropist, and the visionary founder of the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California. Following his passing in September 2023 and the subsequent closure of his private museum in 2024, many enthusiasts questioned the future of his world-class collection, which famously included the largest assembly of Bugattis on the planet.

The answer has arrived in the form of a major collaboration with the Petersen Automotive Museum. A significant portion of the Mullin collection has been integrated into the Petersen’s renowned Vault. To celebrate this milestone, the museum has unveiled the Mullin Family Gallery, providing the public with unprecedented access to some of the most significant pre-war French automobiles ever produced.


Three Decades of Automotive Passion

The collection was the result of a 30-year labor of love by Peter and his wife, Merle, which began after Peter’s initial encounter with a 1937 Delahaye. Their passion grew to include rare Delages, Talbot-Lagos, and an extensive array of Bugattis and Peugeots. The Mullin Automotive Museum, which opened in 2010, was widely celebrated for recreating the elegant atmosphere of the late 1930s Paris Motor Show.

Reflecting on the transition, Merle Mullin shared the vision behind the move:

«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.»

The Inaugural Collection

The Petersen has described this acquisition as a landmark event in its institutional history. The initial installation at the Mullin Family Gallery features several iconic vehicles, including:

  • 1922 Hispano-Suiza Type H6B “Skiff Torpedo”
  • 1926 Bugatti Type 37A
  • 1926 Bugatti Type 50S by Million-Guiet
  • 1938 Delahaye Type 145 “V-12 Coupe” by Henri Chapron
  • 1939 Delahaye T-165 V-12 “World’s Fair”
  • 1951 Bugatti Type 101C by Gangloff
  • 1951 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport by Stabilimenti Farina

Future Exhibitions

Looking ahead, the museum plans to host a major, comprehensive exhibition in 2028 that will highlight approximately 30 selections from the French collection. This ongoing curation serves as a tribute to Peter Mullin’s enduring motto: «If you can dream, you can make it happen.»