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.