The Mullin Automotive Museum opened its newest exhibit April 14. The exhibit focuses on the “crown jewels” of the museum's collection: sculpture, artifacts and vehicles demonstrating the exceptional skill and craftsmanship of French master coachbuilders. The exhibit's title is “L’époque des Carrossiers: The Art and Times of the French Coachbuilders.”
During the Era of Coachbuilding, many people of the highest socioeconomic status chose to commission artisans and visionaries to design and craft elegant, extravagant automobile bodies best described as works of rolling art. “L’époque des Carrossiers” explores the greatest examples of this style, featuring the works of French builders such as Bugatti, Citroen, De Villars, Figoni and Falaschi, Henri Chapron, Henri Labourdette, Million, Guiet & Cie., Pourtout, Jacques Saoutchik, Vanvooren and Gabriel Voisin.
Several of the cars returning just for this exhibit are fresh off major wins, including the 1939 Bugatti Type 57SC Aravis Cabriolet by Jean Bugatti and Gangloff, which received Best in Show at the 2018 La Jolla Concours d’Elegance. Other classics of note include the 2018 “Best of the Best” winner, the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic by Jean Bugatti, and the 1937 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS ‘Goutte d'Eau' (Teardrop). The Teardrop, which will join the exhibit in October, was designed by Joseph Figoni and was named “Best of the Best” in 2016.
“Our new exhibit pays tribute to the artistry of France’s finest coachbuilders through the most exceptional examples of their work,” said Peter Mullin, founder and CEO of the Mullin Automotive Museum. “While many of the cars stay true to the French automotive styling and share similarities in their design, the exhibit helps highlight the subtle nuances that distinguish each artist from one another.”
“L’époque des Carrossiers” will run through Spring of next year. To buy tickets or learn more about the Mullin Automotive Museum, visit www.MullinAutomotiveMuseum.com.