Tucked inside the wealthy enclave of Santa Barbara, California is one of the most awe-inspiring collections of pre-war French automobiles ever assembled anywhere on earth -- even inside France.
Just a few hours south of Monterey and Pebble Beach->ke2839, the Mullins Automotive Museum is almost as exclusive as the cars inside. And for good reason: dozens of the cars in the collection are priceless and completely unique.
The Mullins museum has dozens of Bugatti->ke16's, including the all-time most-valuable car ever: the Type 57 Atlantique. This is too easy and common, so we will focus on some of the more obscure pieces in its priceless collection.
There are highlights are every turn, but we've assembled some of the most influential and visually breathtaking cars here in a list of Top Ten Coach-Built French Imports - between 1930 and 1950.
This list could also have been called the "unpronounceables" because their names are quite complicated to say out loud. Doing so is a real treat, however, especially in the case of the all-star Hispano-Suiza H6C Xenia. This gorgeous coupe->ke141 has some of the most otherworldly styling ever seen then or since.
Winner of Best in Show at Goodwood 2009, this Hispano-Suiza features sliding side doors, a rounded fuselage design, and bespoke luggage that looks like a million bucks.
Click past the jump for all ten of these stunners: including a number of Bugatti->ke16's, Avoins Voisin and the first hard-top cabrio: the 1938 Peugeot 402L Cabriolet Metallique Decouvrable.
1938 Dubonnet Hispano-Suiza H6C “Xenia”
The Xenia coupe is one of a kind.
Manufacturer and Mechanical Specifications
Year and Model |
1938 Dubonnet Hispano-Suiza H6C “Xenia” |
Car Identifier |
Coachbuilder: Jacques Saoutchik |
Serial Numbers |
Chassis No. 103 |
Serial Numbers |
Production No. 1 of 1 Produced |
Serial Numbers |
Engine No. 103 |
Engine Material and Layout |
Aluminum Inline Six-Cylinder Engine |
Power output |
160 BHP At 3,050 RPM |
Displacement |
7,983 CC |
Engine Design |
Overhead Camshaft, |
Transmission |
4-Speed Manual Gearbox |
Suspension |
Solid Front Axle, Live Rear Axle With Four-Wheel Independent “Hyperflex” (Coil Spring) Suspension |
Brakes |
4-Wheel Servo-Assisted Drum Brakes |
1938 Dubonnet Hispano-Suiza H6C “Xenia” - Door Open Detail
1938 Dubonnet Hispano-Suiza H6C “Xenia” - Trunk Open Detail
1925 Bugatti Type 27 Brescia Torpedo
With a name like Torpedo, this Bugatti might have wanted to be a submersible from day one. Found on the bottom of a lake, it is almost too valueble in its current condition to undertake a full restoration.
Manufacturer and Mechanical Specifications
Year and Model |
1925 Bugatti Type 27 Brescia Torpedo |
Car Identifier |
Coachbuilder: Unknown |
Serial Numbers |
Chassis No. 2461 |
Serial Numbers |
Production No. 1 of 2006 Produced |
Serial Numbers |
Engine No. 879 |
Engine Material and Layout |
Inline Four-Cylinder Engine (Twin Ignt.) |
Power output |
45 BHP At 3,800 RPM |
Displacement |
1,496 CC |
Engine Design |
Overhead Camshaft |
Transmission |
4-Speed Manual Gearbox |
Suspension |
Live Axles With Semi-Elliptical Front Leaf Springs And Reversed Quarter-Elliptical Rear Leaf Springs |
Brakes |
2-Wheel Cable-Operated Drum Brakes |
Manufacturer and Mechanical Specifications
1938 Phantom Corsair Prototype
One one of these prototypes built, and it varies from the rest of this group as the only one not housed in Mullins Automotive Museum. Even so, its extreme aerodynamics and futuristic style fit right in with this group.
1931 Bugatti Type 54 Roadster
What makes this Bugatti->ke16 special is that is pre-dated the English roadster boom by more than 20 years.
Manufacturer and Mechanical Specifications
Year and Model |
1931 Bugatti Type 54 Roadster |
Car Identifier |
Coachbuilder: O. Uhlik (second body) |
Serial Numbers |
Chassis No. BC-70 |
Serial Numbers |
Production No. First of 10 Type 54s |
Serial Numbers |
Engine No. 1 |
Engine Material and Layout |
Inline Eight-Cylinder Engine |
Power output |
300 BHP At 4,500 RPM |
Displacement |
4,972 CC Supercharged |
Engine Design |
Double Overhead Camshaft |
Transmission |
3-Speed Manual Gearbox |
Suspension |
Live Axles With Semi-Elliptical Front Leaf Springs And Reversed Quarter-Elliptical Rear Leaf Springs |
Brakes |
4-Wheel Cable-Operated Drum Brakes |
1936 Avions Voisin C28 Clairiere Berline
In back paint with Berlim right in the name, this model was a political limousine created at precisely the wrong time. Its gangster style remains appealing even today, however.
Manufacturer and Mechanical Specifications
Year and Model |
Avions Voisin C28 Clairiere Berline |
Car Identifier |
Coachbuilder: Voisin |
Serial Numbers |
Chassis No. CG 28917 |
Serial Numbers |
Production No.: 1 of 30 Produced |
Serial Numbers |
Engine No. 53010 |
Engine Material and Layout |
Inline Six-Cylinder Engine |
Power output |
102 BHP At 3,800 RPM |
Displacement |
3,315 CC |
Engine Design |
Crank-Driven Double-Sleeve Valving |
Transmission |
4-Speed Electomagnetic Gearbox |
Suspension |
Live Axle With Semi-Elliptical Leaf Springs Front and Rear |
Brakes |
4-Wheel Lockheed Hydraulic Drum Brakes |
1938 Avions Voisin C30 Cabriolet
Manufacturer and Mechanical Specifications
Year and Model |
1938 Avions Voisin C30 Cabriolet |
Car Identifier |
Coachbuilder: Carrossier Louis Dubos |
Serial Numbers |
Chassis No. 60007 |
Serial Numbers |
Production No.: 1 of 30 (See Text) |
Serial Numbers |
Engine No. TBD Graham-Paige (Supercharged) |
Engine Material and Layout |
“L-Head” Six-Cylinder Graham Engine |
Power output |
116 BHP At 4,000 RPM |
Displacement |
3,560 CC Supercharged |
Engine Design |
Side-Valving, 2-Valves Per Cylinder |
Transmission |
3-Speed Manual Gearbox with Over |
Suspension |
Solid front axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs and friction shock absorbers. Live rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs and friction shock absorbers |
Brakes |
Hydraulic Brakes |
Manufacturer and Mechanical Specifications
1929 Bugatti Type 40 Break De Chasse
Meet the original Shooting Break, which directly inspired the current Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake.
Manufacturer and Mechanical Specifications
Year and Model |
1929 Bugatti Type 40 Break De Chasse |
Car Identifier |
Coachbuilder: Carrosserie Gangloff |
Serial Numbers |
Chassis No. 40485 (Stamped 40826?) |
Serial Numbers |
Production No.: 1 of c. 780 |
Serial Numbers |
Engine No. 714 |
Engine Material and Layout |
Inline Four-Cylinder Engine |
Power output |
50 BHP At 4,500 RPM |
Displacement |
1,496 CC |
Engine Design |
Overhead Camshafts |
Transmission |
4-Speed Cotal Pre-Selector Gearbox |
Suspension |
Solid Front Axles With Semi-Elliptical Leaf Springs And Friction Shock Absorbers, Live Rear Axle With Quarter-Elliptical Rear Leaf Springs and Friction Shock Absorbers |
Brakes |
4-Wheel Cable-Operated Drum Brakes |
1938 Peugeot 402L Cabriolet Metallique Decouvrable
Manufacturer and Mechanical Specifications
Year and Model |
1938 Peugeot 402L Cabriolet Metallique Decouvrable |
Car Identifier |
Coachbuilder: Carrosserie Pourtout |
Serial Numbers |
Chassis No. 616787 |
Serial Numbers |
Production No.: 1 of 500 |
Serial Numbers |
Engine No. 333787 |
Engine Material and Layout |
Inline Four-Cylinder Engine, 8 Valves |
Power output |
55 BHP At 4,000 RPM |
Displacement |
1,991 CC |
Engine Design |
Overhead Camshaft |
Transmission |
3-Speed Manual Gearbox |
Suspension |
Independent front suspension with lower links, transverse leaf springs and hydraulic dampers. Live rear axle with links, cantilever semi-elliptical leaf springs, links and friction shock absorbers |
Brakes |
4-Wheel Cable-Operated Drum Brakes |
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Coupe
A delightfully short wheelbase and almost shrink-wrapped panels make this one cute coupe.
Manufacturer and Mechanical Specifications
Year and Model |
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Coupe |
Car Identifier |
Coachbuilder: Jacques Saoutchik |
Serial Numbers |
Chassis No. 110101 |
Serial Numbers |
Production No. 1 of 36 |
Serial Numbers |
Engine No. 96282 |
Engine Material and Layout |
Inline Six-Cylinder Aluminum Engine |
Power output |
194 BHP At 4,000 RPM |
Displacement |
4,482 CC |
Engine Design |
Dual Overhead Camshaft |
Transmission |
4-Speed Wilson Pre-Selector Gearbox |
Suspension |
Independent Front, Transverse Leaf Spring with Upper Control Arms , Tubular and Friction Shock Absorbers. |
Brakes |
Live Rear Axle with Semi-Elliptical Leaf Springs, Tubular and Friction Shock Absorbers |
|
4-Wheel Lockheed Hydraulic Brakes |
1951 Delahaye Type 235 Cabriolet
A bit out of the age range from the header, but this stunning cabrio brings some of the Hispano-Suiza's fender drama to a production design.
Manufacturer and Mechanical Specifications
Year and Model |
1951 Delahaye Type 235 Cabriolet |
Car Identifier |
NA |
Serial Numbers |
Coachbuilder: Jacques Saoutchik |
Serial Numbers |
Chassis No. 818005 |
Serial Numbers |
Production No. 5th of 84 Produced |
Engine Material and Layout |
Engine No. 818005 |
Power output |
Inline Six-Cylinder Engine |
Displacement |
150 BHP At 4,200 RPM |
Engine Design |
3,557 CC |
Transmission |
Overhead Valves |
Suspension |
4-Speed Cotal Pre-Selector Gearbox |
Brakes |
Independent Front, Transverse Leaf Spring with Upper Control Arms and Lever Action Shock Absorbers. |
|
Live Rear Axle with Semi-Elliptical Leaf Springs and Lever Action Shock Absorbers |
|
4-Wheel Cable-Operated Drum Brakes |
Conclusion
For a walk back in time through some of the most celebrated and priceless historic automobiles, a visit to the Mullins Automotive Museum is a rare treat. With limited open days and pre-printed tickets a mandatory requirement, this museum will be one of the best adult field trips ever taken.