Peter Mullin’s French Art Deco Collection Finds a Permanent Home at the Petersen Automotive Museum

On July 18 2024, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles unveiled the Mullin Family Gallery inside its renowned Vault. The new exhibit showcases a selection of pre-war French automobiles transferred from the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California, after its permanent closure in early 2024. The gallery marks the first public display of a substantial portion of the collection that Peter Mullin assembled with his wife Merle over three decades.

Mullin Collection Finds a Home at the Petersen Museum

Peter Mullin (chairman of Mullin Barens Sanford Financial) was a leading figure among international rare-car collectors. In 2010 he and Merle founded the Mullin Automotive Museum, which housed the world’s largest Bugatti collection and a celebrated array of Delages, Talbot-Lagos, Voisins, and Hispano-Suizas. Following Mullin’s death on September 18 2023 at age 82, the museum closed, and the Mullin Family Foundation gifted the cars to the Petersen, a museum with which Mullin had a long partnership—including chairing its board in 2015 and presiding over its 2015 renovation.

Mullin Collection Finds a Home at the Petersen MuseumRoad & TrackHagerty

• Peter Mullin – collector, philanthropist, former chairman of Mullin Barens Sanford Financial.

Mullin Collection Finds a Home at the Petersen Museum

• Merle Mullin – co-founder of the Mullin Automotive Museum, trustee of the Mullin Family Foundation, Petersen board member.

Mullin Collection Finds a Home at the Petersen Museum

• Petersen Automotive Museum – Los Angeles institution that now houses the Mullin Family Gallery.

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• Mullin Family Foundation – donor organization that transferred the collection.

Mullin Collection Finds a Home at the Petersen Museum

The inaugural display includes, among others:

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• 1922 Hispano-Suiza Type H6B “Skiff Torpedo”

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• 1926 Bugatti Type 37A

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• 1926 Bugatti Type 50S (by Million-Guiet)

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• 1934 Avions Voisin Type C27 Aerosport Coupe

Mullin Collection Finds a Home at the Petersen Museum

• 1937 Delahaye Type 145 “Million Franc Delahaye”

Mullin Collection Finds a Home at the Petersen Museum

• 1938 Delahaye Type 145 “V-12 Coupe” (by Henri Chapron)

Mullin Collection Finds a Home at the Petersen Museum

• 1939 Delahaye T-165 V-12 “World’s Fair”

Mullin Collection Finds a Home at the Petersen Museum

• 1951 Bugatti Type 101C (by Gangloff)

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• 1951 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport (by Stabilimenti Farina)

Mullin Collection Finds a Home at the Petersen Museum

A larger exhibition featuring roughly 30 of the French automobiles is slated for 2028.

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The transfer secures one of the world’s most important assemblages of French Art Deco automobiles in a public institution, ensuring scholarly access and broader audience exposure. The gallery reinforces the Petersen’s reputation as a steward of automotive heritage and fulfills Mullin’s vision of preserving “sculpture in motion” for future generations.

Mullin Collection Finds a Home at the Petersen Museum

Merle Mullin emphasized that the collection was built to “preserve the extraordinary artistry, innovation and craftsmanship of French Art Deco automobiles” and to share those masterpieces with the widest possible audience. She noted that Peter always regarded the Petersen as the appropriate steward. Petersen executives echoed this sentiment, describing the gift as “one of the most significant moments in the museum’s history” and highlighting Mullin’s role in shaping the museum’s modern identity.

Mullin Collection Finds a Home at the Petersen MuseumRoad & TrackHagerty

No published criticism or opposing viewpoints were identified in the available reports.

Mullin Collection Finds a Home at the Petersen Museum

All sources consistently describe the transfer, the opening date, and the planned 2028 exhibition; no discrepancies were found.

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• “One of the most significant moments in the Petersen Automotive Museum's history.” — Petersen Automotive Museum

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• “Together, we built this collection with the dream of preserving the extraordinary artistry, innovation and craftsmanship of French Art Deco automobiles,” — Merle Mullin

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• “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.” — Merle Mullin

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• “If you can dream it, you can make it happen,” — Peter Mullin

Mullin Collection Finds a Home at the Petersen Museum

• “Peter believed these automobiles belonged to history, not to us,” — Merle Mullin (as reported by Brandan Gillogly)

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