There’s a lot to break down from Gooding & Company’s auction of “Selections from the Mullin Collection” auction held onsite at the Mullin Museum in Oxnard.
But there’s one glaring fact and that is that collectors’ appetite for great old cars, even the rusty restoration projects that made up much of this sale, is strong and backed up by ample liquidity.
So, “without further ado”, here are the numbers – including a summary of the 20 Mullin lots that Gooding sold in its Amelia Island auction two months ago:
| Lots Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Sold < Low Est | Sold > High Est | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ |
| Selections from the Mullin Collection, Oxnard, April 26,2024 (includes Automobilia) | ||||||
| 114/114 | 100% | 30.7% | 43% | $166,810 | $27,500
[16.5%] |
$19,016,296 |
| Gooding Amelia, Mullin Collection cars | ||||||
| 20/20 | 100% | 30% | 30% | $212,435 | $140,000
[65.9%] |
$4,248,700 |
Missing from both auctions were five premier cars from the collection:
- Going to the Petersen Museum in L.A. are:
- 1937 Talbot-Lago T150 CS Figoni & Falaschi Teardrop;
- 1938 Hispano-Suiza H6B Dubonnet Xenia;
- 1939 Delahaye 165; and
- 1938 Delahaye 145.
- The 1939 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic reverted to its 51% owner, Rob Walton.
The Amelia sales bring the Mullin Collection total to $23,444,996 including Automobilia.
Unsettled so far is the destination of the Mullin Collection’s prize exhibit, the Lago Maggiore submerged Bugatti Type 22 s/n 2461. Pebble Beach, David?
The Oxnard sale was well-attended on-site and included active bidding both on the phone and on the internet. In many cases – as the Sold > High Estimate component indicates – the bidding was unexpected. Successful hammer bids were 24.6% over the pre-sale low estimate total, in the top 2% of all auctions (both large and small) observed over the past thirty years.
But for reference Gooding’s 2006 sale of Otis Chandler’s collection in this building did better: $35,930,950 total (not including Automobilia) and 64% bringing hammer bids over the pre-sale high estimate.
Provenance is the singular discrete element in the perceived (and paid) values of the Mullin cars. “Mullin Collection” carries its own cachet that will always attach to these cars but many also were from the “Schlumpf Reserve Collection”, rusty but reasonably restorable barn finds that Peter and Merle Mullin bought as a group that had been assembled by the Schlumpfs over years and held in reserve for restoration and display. Several of them had been acquired in 1964 by the Schlumpfs from John Shakespeare in Illinois whose Bugatti fascination rivalled that of the Schlumpfs, adding another layer of provenance to the cake.
It is sad to see the Mullin Collection, so carefully assembled and curated, then painstakingly displayed along with Carlo Bugatti furnishings and Rembrandt Bugatti animal sculptures in a setting that re-creates the Belle Epoque cast iron architecture (beloved by those fortunate enough to attend Bonhams auctions at the Grand Palais in Paris) and festooned with Paris Auto Salon style banners, pass into history, converted into eight-figure dollars.
But that is the way it works and we, even Peter and Merle Mullin, are just custodians of these cars for future generations. Putting this legacy into the hands of David Gooding, the Gooding & Company staff and the ever-entertaining and concise auctioneer Charlie Ross is as close to assuring the cars will go to a committed, informed new generation as is possible.
Here are the forty lots viewed on-site. [There would have been more had Gooding been willing to provide a list of lots importable into my computer before the sale, saving the time needed to document lot number, marque, year, model, body style, estimates and identification numbers during the preview.] They are sorted by lot number. Photos are by Rick Carey and Jacob Kiblinger.
Lot # 1 1984 Citroen 2CV France 3 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N VF7AZKA00KA004499; Engine # 0909529482; White, Blue accent/White, Blue cloth; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $22,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $24,640. – 602/29hp opposed twin, 4-speed, folding canvas roof, cassette stereo. – Special edition of 2,000 units recognizing the competition of the France 3 sailing yacht in the America’s Cup regatta with nautically themed canvas seats and folding roof with blue stripes. Showing 3,632 km and essentially like new. – One of six Deux Chevaux in the Mullin Collection plus a Mehari beach car among a total of 33 Citroens. Jaunty and cheerful, this was the first automobile in the auction and kicked things off in fine style with a respectable result and a sound value.
Lot # 2 1926 Renault PG 4-Dr. Sedan; Engine # 2023; Light Grey, Light Grey Padded roof, Grey fenders/Blue velour; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Cosmetic restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $28,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $31,360. – 3,179/52hp inline four, Spreadlight headlights, tinted glass Parsolazur windshield visor, orange disc wheels, wide whitewalls, single rear-mounted spare, jump seats. – Chipped but sound older repaint and complete but odd color interior. Repainted and now dusty chassis. An ordinary old Renault but in good condition. – More than a Model T Ford in quality and performance but less money, a car that will be appreciated on any tour or local show field, This early auction result is outstanding and kicked the Mullin sale off on a positive note.
Lot # 7 1954 Renault 4CV Berline; S/N 2129471; Engine # 412436; Olive/Beige cloth; Estimate $15,000 – $20,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $21,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $23,520. – 747cc/21hp four, 3-speed, beige wheels, hubcaps, Michelin tires. – Preservation quality older paint and upholstery. Erratic chrome. Orderly restored engine compartment with miles on it. A museum display or weekend driver in decent condition. – In condition, at least, this is one of the better examples in today’s Mullin Collection auction, a presentable and usable driver. Among the vehicles offered it stood out which may account for it bringing a somewhat expensive price for its modest origins and even more modest performance.
Lot # 9 1926 Avions Voisin C7 Lumineuse Sedan; S/N 15262; Engine # 10262; Sand, Black fenders and roof/Brown cloth; Estimate $75,000 – $125,000; Cosmetic restoration 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $86,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $96,320. – 1,551/39hp sleeve valve four, 3-speed, luggage trunk, rear-mounted spare, bulb horn, Marchal headlights, running board trunks, polished wire wheel discs, traffic semaphores, sliding glass side windows, windshield visor. – RHD. Original family ownership for 53 years. Chipped old paint with rust worm tracks under it. Aged but sound upholstery. Oily chassis. All there but needs everything. – There were five Avions Voisin cars (and one Gnome-Rhone engined motorcycle) in the Mullin sale and even among all the usually idiosyncratic French cars they stood out for their originality of concept, their sleeve valve engines and Gabriel Voisin’s unique approach to practical, utilitarian coachwork. The bidders appreciated all of them including this early offering that was expensive for what it is and will be even more expensive after it gets the restoration it so richly deserves.
Lot # 11 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Galibier Coach, Body by Gangloff; S/N 57338; Engine # 237; Light Blue, Dark Blue fenders/Blue leather; Estimate $80,000 – $120,000; Unrestored original 5+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $179,200. – RHD. 3,257/135hp, 4-speed, wire wheels, Marchal headlights, Sanor horns, rear spare wheel mount. – Peeling paint, rusty body. Tattered upholstery. Scrofulous and missing many lights, gauges and details, a major restoration project if only for the time and money it will take to source or re-create the missing bits. – Gooding has a well-established reputation for presenting dilapidated, dirty barn find cars and getting superior price for them, a reputation that was more than enhanced by the results brought by the Mullin Collection’s many project cars including this picked-over Type 57 Galibier which blew away its high estimate with a hammer bid a third over its high estimate. Its restoration is both daunting and expensive.
Lot # 14 1947 Delahaye 135MS Coupe, Body by Chapron; S/N 800494; Engine # 800494; Blue/Blue leather; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Unrestored original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $62,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $70,000. – RHD. 3,557/160hp six, triple Solex carburetors, pre-selector gearbox, leaf spring spoke steering wheel, wire wheels, Marchal driving light and fog light. – Peeling paint, surface rust. tattered upholstery. Needs everything but all there and entirely original except for some missing pieces. – Preserved in the Mullin Collection for years as an example of a “barn find” and cited as a reference for many Delahaye restorations. The new owner has the difficult choice of continuing its preservation or undertaking the comprehensive and expensive restoration that would be required to put it back on the road and show field. Its notchback “coach style” Chapron coachwork is sleek but also utilitarian. It is impossible to argue with the bidders’ determination of value.
Lot # 15 1928 Hispano-Suiza 12NB Aircraft Engine; Engine # 430193; Estimate $15,000 – $20,000; Unrestored original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 25.00%; Final Price $52,500. – 2,200 cid/650hp V-12 complete with carburetors, magnetos, reduction gear and fixed-pitch wooden propeller. – Unrestored but largely complete, on a rolling display stand. – These Hisso V-12s powered many important aircraft of the 20’s and 30’s, perpetuating Hispano-Suiza’s reputation for performance and reliability. This example is impressive, but perhaps not as impressive as the price it brought, a display piece.
Lot # 18 1927 Bugatti Type 40 Break de Chasse; S/N 40485; Engine # 714; Light Blue, Wood/Red leatherette; Beige cloth top; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Unrestored original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $400,000 plus commission of 11.25%; Final Price $445,000. – RHD. 1,496/40hp, Cotal pre-selector 4-speed, turn indicators, woodrim steering wheel, Marchal headlights, wire wheels. – Rebodied with this “shooting break” utilitarian coachwork long ago and re-engined from chassis 40826 with some chassis upgrades. At one point owned by John Shakespeare in the U.S. and sold to the Schlumpfs in 1964 along with other Bugattis from Shakespeare’s collection. Acquired by the Mullins in 2008. Peeling, surface rusted original paint. Worn upholstery with a bucket style driver’s seat. Wood paneled cargo bed with curdled old varnish, full canvas top. Refinished woodrim steering wheel. Dirty and neglected, a complete but potentially rewarding project. – Offered early in today’s auction the bidders’ response to it ignored the practical rebody and engine and gearbox change, as well as its deteriorated condition, and brought an exception price for a vehicle that can only be described as “funky”. It was in the Schlumpf Reserve Collection, then in the Mullins’ Reserve Collection and now deserved a comprehensive restoration but one that will take its sunk cost to well above what it might be worth when it is done.
Lot # 22 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis Special Cabriolet, Body by Gangloff; S/N 57768; Engine # 75C; Blue, Ivory/Blue leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $2,500,000 – $3,500,000; Concours restoration 1 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $6,000,000 plus commission of 10.08%; Final Price $6,605,000. – RHD. 3,257/160hp supercharged DOHC inline eight, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, Dunlop tires. – Represented as the original engine, first owner racing driver Maurice Trintignant. Restored for the Mullins in its original colors with supervision from Trintignant and returned to its original configuration with a supercharger from Brineton Engineering. Class winner at Pebble Beach in 2005. Excellent paint, bright chrome, barely stretched upholstery, tight fitting top. Above reproach. – The centerpiece of this auction of cars from the Mullin Collection and sold for double the mid-point of the presale estimate range. It has a great history and outstanding open coachwork, the sort of attributes that make for record prices, but even taking all that into consideration it is one expensive car.
Lot # 26 1924 Turcat-Mery Type UG Limousine; S/N 7280; Engine # 20010; Burgundy, Yellow/Black leather, Beige cloth; Estimate $25,000 – $35,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $11,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $12,320. – RHD. 2,376cc overhead cam inline four, 4-speed, windup windows and division, dual sidemounts, SAM headlights, jump seats. – Chipped old preservation quality repaint, dull brass, torn front seat upholstery. Road grimy, greasy chassis. An unusual and rarely seen marque with some sporting history but in this case fitted with an erect and practical limousine body that must have severely taxed the small engine’s performance. – This was one of very few good values in the Mullin Collection auction, likely due to the stuffy formal coachwork. It is also likely to be the only Turcat-Mery wherever it goes.
Lot # 27 1913 Peugeot Bebe Roadster; S/N 10252; Blue/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $25,000 – $35,000; Cosmetic restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $32,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $35,840. – RHD. 855/10hp, 4-speed, red wire wheels, Mondia acetylene headlights, Lucidus kerosene sidelights, kerosene taillight, Duckson siren, folding windshield. – Shiny paint, worn upholstery, old top. Erratic brass. Aged but presentable and very cute. Tidy and orderly under the hood, a car that can be used in its present condition with some pride and confidence.. – Famed for being an early Ettore Bugatti design, the Bebe Peugeot is in a large sense a seminal creation. This example was, however, sold at Bonhams Olympia auction in 2007 for $42,762 (£20,700 at the time, this result is £28,700). It is an important element of Bugatti history and is worth every dollar of the diminutive price it brought here.
Lot # 29 1901 Decauville Roadster; Engine # 28; Burgundy, Black fenders/Black leather; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Older restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $56,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $62,720. – RHD. 8hp twin, Solar kerosene sidelights, bulb horn. – Originally cataloged as a 1902 Darracq, but it is not. Cracking old paint. Sound upholstery. Dulling brass. Presentable and usable but approaching re-restoration time. – A largely overlooked pioneering French marque with the high distinction of having inspired the design of the first car built by Henry Royce, eventually evolving into the Rolls-Royce. This car’s decent and usable condition invites mechanical freshening and an entry in the Brighton Run. The good probability of being accepted more than supports this price.
Lot # 30 1930 Darmont Morgan Sport Aero Roadster; S/N 5321; Engine # 50335; Dark Green/No interior; Estimate $5,000 – $10,000; Unrestored original 5 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $29,120. – RHD. Darmont water cooled vee twin. – Morgan pattern three-wheeler built in France under license from the Morgan concern in Britain. Singularly dilapidated. No seats, curdled rubber steering wheel rim. A challenge that needs more than everything. – As much work as it needs, however, the simplicity of the vehicle translates into a probably straightforward restoration that will show well at Morgan meets. While the $5-10,000 estimate range is realistic for the condition, at that level the decision to bid 2 1/2 times the high estimate doesn’t involve a lot of money. It can be a rewarding and uncomplicated project.
Lot # 33 1937 Wanderer W25K Roadster; S/N 180223; Engine # 180231; Pastel Green/Blue leatherette; Estimate $80,000 – $120,000; Unrestored original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $140,000. – Overhead valve supercharged 1,949/84hp inline six, 4-speed, wire wheels, vee windshield, supercharged, covered rear-mounted spare with a fin, Marchal headlights. – Acquired as part of the Schlumpf Reserve Collection. Peeling old paint with surface rust. Stiff upholstery. Dilapidated, missing some parts and needs everything but largely complete. – Best remembered as one of the four companies that made up Auto Union, now Audi, Wanderer employed Ferdinand Porsche to design the W25K with its small supercharger. One of few non-French vehicles in the Mullin Collection, this is highly attractive and deserves the expensive restoration that it desperately needs and can be afforded even at this slightly over high estimate hammer bid.
Lot # 36 1938 Avions Voisin C30 Cabriolet, Body by Louis Dubos; S/N 60007; Blue, Violet fenders/Brown leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $150,000 – $250,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $320,000 plus commission of 11.56%; Final Price $357,000. – Graham-Paige supercharged L-head six, 3,560/116hp, 3-speed, violet wheels, hubcaps, wide whitewalls, Marchal headlights and fog lights, opening windshield. – The final Voisin model, reportedly built for the 1938 Paris Salon. Good older paint with stone chipped rear fenders. Road dirty chassis. Some weak trim chrome like along the door caps. Dull aluminum taillight bases. Creased upholstery. Soiled top boot. Once was good but now tired and road used as well as conventionally styled that misses its Gabriel Voisin elan. – Gooding didn’t credit the Paris Salon history in its pre-sale description but that did nothing to inhibit the bidding for it, resulting in this generous over high estimate hammer result. The coachwork design is less than inspiring but the car’s history encourages another full restoration.
Lot # 38 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux Coupe; S/N 57297; Engine # 151; Blue, Black fenders/Brown leatherette; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Unrestored original 4 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $425,000 plus commission of 11.18%; Final Price $472,500. – RHD. 3,257/135hp, 4-speed, Cibie headlights, rear spare wheel mount, wire wheels. – Part of the John Shakespeare collection purchased by the Schlumpfs in 1964, then from the Schlumpf Reserve Collection to Peter Mullin in 2008. Peeling paint, surface rusted body. Stiff upholstery. Delaminated door windows. Largely complete except for a few missing trim details. Dirty chassis and engine compartment. A straightforward but expensive project. – Every bit and piece of this Type 57 Ventoux needs professional attention, if not replacement. Its resurrection will be both time-consuming and expensive, a process that starting from this price may be emotionally rewarding (in the sense of saving a quality old car from neglect and further deterioration) but offers no prospects of financial reward. It will be done with love and care, however, and the process and final product will be emotionally satisfying.
Lot # 39 1914 Delaunay-Belleville 1A4 Landaulette, Body by Rothschild et Fils; S/N 6743; Engine # 4407; Light Olive, Black fenders/Olive leatherette front, Flowered cloth rear; Black leatherette top; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $72,800. – RHD. Single sidemount, bulb horn, CAV cowl lights, Lucifer spotlight, Bleriot headlights, Eug. Habard opera lights, roof rack, speaking tube, pullup division and door windows, Klaxon electric horn. – Appears to be the original body fabric and upholstery including extravagant interior flower pattern cloth. Crudely repainted chassis. Good interior woodwork and varnish. Serviceable but aged and only cosmetically restored. – Delaunay-Belleville is a legendary early French marque famed for its quality and elegance. It lost its cachet in the Twenties, however, and eventually faded from view but the few surviving examples are notable for their rarity and quality, attributes that were acquired for only a moderate premium in this transaction.
Lot # 41 1930 Bugatti Type 41 Autorail Engine; Engine # 273;, /; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Unrestored original 5 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $56,000 plus commission of 25.00%; Final Price $70,000. – 12,763/200hp eight cylinder single overhead camshaft, single ignition. – Adapted from the design from the Type 41 “Royale” and employed in French railway “Automotrice Rapid Autorail” cars. A surface rusted and grimy original engine missing its dual carburetors and who knows what else. Mounted on a custom stand with casters. – “Bulky” hardly begins to describe the mass of this lump and it doesn’t have the intricate detailing and surface finishes that characterize Bugatti’s automobile engines. The Automotrice, designed by Bugatti and built in some 88 units each with two or four of these monsters (a total of 214 engines), was capable of over 170 kph (105 mph) and is credited with keeping Bugatti’s factory going during the Depression and remained in service until 1958. In addition to the 25% automobilia commission the new owner had to accommodate the not inconsiderable expense of shipping, which might have weighted down the bidders’ paddles.
Lot # 42 1928 Tracta D2 9CV Faux Cabriolet, Body by C. Ringlet; S/N 533; Engine # 22041; Metallic Grey, Red accent, Beige cloth roof/Brown pigskin vinyl; Estimate $50,000 – $75,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $72,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $81,200. – RHD. Inline overhead valve 4-cylinder, single carburetor, longitudinal 4-speed transmission, front wheel drive, Cibie electric headlights, Star spotlight, black cloth covered luggage trunk, rear-mounted spare, silver wire wheels, Firestone tires, top-hinged windshield. – Decent recent repaint and sound upholstery but otherwise aged and neglected. Orderly under the hood but with visible crude repairs to the cooling system. – The longitudinal gearbox necessitates the long hood that gives this low-slung Tracta its striking appearance. It was reported sold by Bonhams at Reims, France in 2009 for $84,422 (Euros 57,500 at the time, this result is Euros 76,000). The bought-in engine is not identified (Tracta used various suppliers but primarily S.C.A.P.). At an auction where obscure French cars in barn find condition brought some huge prices this result is a reasonable price to pay for an intriguing and attractive example of a little-known marque.
Lot # 43 1973 Citroen HY78 Van; S/N 5302496; Beige/Brown leatherette; Estimate $30,000 – $50,000; Unrestored original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $64,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $71,680. – 1,991/58hp, 3-speed, Food Truck equipped but with a Champagne vendor banner. – Original and showing 59,483 believable km. An unusual vehicle that is attractively preserved. It would be a hit at a French car meet if it dispensed the advertised product. – There is literally no comparable data in the U.S. and probably not much in France, made more difficult by the challenging combination of aged (but presentable) original finishes and obvious road use. The Mullin Collection bidders liked it, as this result shows and one must presume that they knew what they were doing.
Lot # 44 1937 Delage D8-120 3-pos. Cabriolet, Body by Chapron; S/N 51760; Engine # 51760; Maroon, Burgundy fenders and accent/Maroon leather; Burgundy cloth top; Estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000; Concours restoration 1- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $660,000 plus commission of 10.76%; Final Price $731,000. – RHD. 4,302/105hp, pre-selector Cotal 4-speed, maroon wheels, hubcaps and trim rings, rear-mounted spare, wide whitewalls, Marchal headlights and driving lights. – Featured in the movie An American in Paris and other movies. Class award winner at Pebble Beach in 2016. Concours restored and a little aged but still beyond perfect with excellent paint and chrome. Lightly creased upholstery. Tight fitting top. – It is doubtful that many will be as debbonaire as Gene Kelly touring the streets of Paris in this Delage in An American in Paris but it is reasonable to try. It confers the appearance of being cultivated and genteel to anyone riding in it. It is also one of the best values in the Mullin Collection sale.
Lot # 47 1907 Peugeot Type 99A Double Phaeton; S/N 6953; Engine # 6953; Dark Blue, Black fenders and bonnet/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $47,040. – RHD. 1,039cc single, varnished wood spoke wheels, BRC acetylene headlights and sidelights, Ducellier acetylene generator. – Cracked old repaint. Original upholstery except for reupholstered seat cushions. Not used in a long time but complete and a straightforward project. – By 1907 the automobile had passed well beyond this 9 (taxable) horsepower single’s technology, but it was still an elegant, refined conveyance for the privileged who weren’t motivated by its stately performance. It is a neat old thing, but not a paragon of French automobile design.
Lot # 49 1911 deDion Bouton Type DY Touring; S/N 37; Engine # 1124C; Cream, Black accents/Tan leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Older restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $56,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $62,720. – RHD. 2.4 litre inline four, BRC headlights, Dietz kerosene sidelights, bulb horn, Klaxon siren, O.S. speedometer, newer VDO speedometer, Alpha acetylene generator, electric taillights with turn indicators, varnished wood spoke wheels, brass oil tank, engine whistle. – Sound but aged and chipped old paint. Good varnish and newer wheels. Mixed condition brass. Tape repaired front seat upholstery with loose and missing buttons. Orderly but aged engine compartment. A presentable driver with practical 4-seat coachwork. – Under the patronage of Jules Albert deDion engineer Georges Bouton created, guided by the pioneering designs of Karl Benz, the first high-speed gasoline engines, eventually becoming the largest automobile manufacturer in the world and licensing its technical designs (including the semi-independent deDion driven axle) to other manufacturers worldwide. While Benz had a great idea deDion Bouton took it several steps farther and was the foundation upon which the automobile industry was built. This 4-cylinder Type DY is a later deDion evolution but still important in the automobile’s evolution.
Lot # 51 1931 Bugatti Type 40A Roadster; S/N 40902; Engine # 4; Blue, Red hood accent/Black leather, Red rumble seat; Black cloth top; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $270,000 plus commission of 11.85%; Final Price $302,000. – RHD. 1,625/50hp, 4-speed, black wire wheels, Scintilla headlights, side curtains, aluminum interior panels, rumble seat. – No early history but eventually owned by John Shakespeare from whom it was acquired by the Schlumpfs in 1964, then bought by the Mullin Collection in 2008. Casually painted long ago, otherwise aged and original but a charming Jean Bugatti design. – One of the better Schlumpf/Mullin Reserve Collection cars, it has had some long ago attention to preserve it and keep it (marginally) presentable. It continued the market performance of the Mullin/Schlumpf Reserve Collection barn finds by bringing a price vastly over its reasonable pre-sale estimate range and will cost the earth to restore. The extra displacement of the Type 40A is valuable, but hardly recognized in values.
Lot # 54 1911 Panhard-Levassor X17 Sedanca deVille, Body by Binder; Engine # 23685; Beige, Brown fenders and stripes/Black leather; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $140,000. – RHD.4,398/20hp sleeve valve four, 4-speed, Lucidus acetylene headlights, kerosene sidelights, O.S. speedometer, E&J kerosene taillight, pullup division and door windows. – Original (or very old) rear compartment upholstery, reupholstered driver’s seat. Thick old repaint with dust inclusions over old paint. Dull brass. A relic that deserves better. – A remarkably charming but neglected old piece that has had some restoration and preservation but not enough. Although… it’s probably enough for what it is. Le chauffeur and a footman are fully exposed to the elements with the privileged passengers protected behind a pullup division but that was the standard in the Teens. It is impossible not to like this Panhard a lot, elegant and stylish even though its nose is high in the air, figuratively. Its appeal is evident in the price it brought but even at this it should be a rewarding acquisition.
Lot # 57 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500473; Engine # 1989807500513; Silver/Green leather; Green cloth top; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,300,000; Cosmetic restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,000,000 plus commission of 10.50%; Final Price $1,105,000. – 2,996/250hp, 4-speed, chrome wheels, hubcaps, Michelin XWX tires. – Good paint and upholstery. Weak bumper chrome. Orderly restored engine in a compartment that is older. Good glass. Three deep chips near the hood right rear corner. – With a “low-pivot” swing axle independent rear suspension the 300SL Roadster’s handling was more predictable than the earlier Gullwing coupes and the convertible coachwork was more sporting but also comfortable and secure for touring. This was one of only a few (four) lots in the Mullin collection that weren’t French origin, a sign of how appealing a 300SL Roadster is for driving. Its condition is good but not without showing how much it was enjoyed on the road and its price is representative.
Lot # 59 1912 Renault Type CB Landaulette, Body by Brewster; S/N 32862; Engine # 2245; Burgundy, Black/Black leather, Beige cloth; Black leather top; Estimate $50,000 – $75,000; Older restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $230,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $257,600. – RHD. 2600/25hp four, red wood spoke wheels, Dunlop tires, Vesta electric headlights, electric sidelights, Sethos bulb horn, leather mudguards, diver’s helmet taillight, pullup division and door windows. – Sound older paint with some panel cracks. Sound upholstery. Dulling brass. The bulb horn is missing its bulb. Aged engine compartment. A sound and complete old vehicle but visibly aged. – A relic of another time from the early 20th century when elegance and privilege were still manifest in the vehicles that brought their owners to the hotels, concerts, galas and operas that they patronized. And patronized where the people who rode in the back of the landaulette whether in foul weather with the roof erected or fair weather with it folded while the chauffeur and footman rode in the front and in the open. It was a carriage with an engine rather than a team of horses. This Brewster-bodied Renault has needs, but arriving at the Met Opera or a Broadway opening in it is still breathtaking even if it is not as breathtaking as the price it brought.
Lot # 61 1924 Delage GL Skiff recreation; S/N 17244; Primer, Wood/Tan leather; Estimate $80,000 – $120,000; Incomplete restoration 4 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $89,600. – 5,954/100hp OHV inline six, 4-speed, drum headlights, dual rear-mounted spares. – Impressive copper riveted wood bodywork with bright varnish. Partially restored but an incomplete but spectacularly detailed engine compartment. Chassis number is from the firewall tag. Much remains to be done and many of the parts made during the re-creation process are only “loosely attached” for evaluation. – The finished product will be spectacular, however, and the bidders exercised restraint in anticipation of a lengthy and costly process. “Some assembly required.”
Lot # 62 1928 Avions Voisin Replica C28 Touring; S/N 9U39317B; Red, Black fenders, artificial dirt/Beige vinyl; Black cloth boot cover top; Estimate $30,000 – $50,000; Facsimile restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $8,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $8,960. – 4.2 Jaguar six, automatic, 4-wheel drive, fiberglass body. – Created from the whole cloth for the Clive Cussler book based movie “Sahara” starring Matthew McConnaughey as Dirk Pitt, patterned after Clive Cussler’s Avions Voisin C28 but suitably dressed up with dirt and bullet holes for the movie. – Voisin never built an open 4-door C28 but that didn’t curtail the movie’s producers who wanted its stars front and center and visible during a chase scene. No one at the historic car Mullin collection sale seemed to care and this is a bargain, one of the few this sale produced.
Lot # 66 1939 Peugeot 202 Berline; S/N 835646; Bordeaux, tape coachlines/Beige cloth; Estimate $15,000 – $25,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $38,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $42,560. – 1,133/30hp four, 3-speed, red wheels, hubcaps, Michelin tires, rear-mounted spare, skirts, rear-hinged doors, sunroof. – Preservation repaint, sound upholstery. Cracked and disintegrating dash knobs. Unrestored chassis. Appears sound and usable. – About as interesting as a 1939 Plymouth, this is a museum display condition car with indifferent paint and aged details. The France-focused bidders here at the Mullin Collection, however, treated it as a marvelous find and paid a whopping price for it. This transaction is an outlier even though the car is seriously cute with its sunroof and headlights hiding behind the grille.
Lot # 67 1933 Hispano-Suiza J12 Cabriolet, Body by Vanvooren; S/N 14004; Engine # 321018; Dark Blue/Light Grey leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Estimate $2,500,000 – $3,500,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,100,000 plus commission of 10.24%; Final Price $2,315,000. – RHD. 9,424/220hp OHV V-12, 3-speed, chrome wheel discs, dual enclosed sidemounts, Marchal headlights and spotlight, Dufaux adjustable shocks. – Owned in the U.S. by Dr. Sam Scher, then Richard Paine at the Seal Cove Museum and eventually by John Mozart for whom it was restored with the original engine. Alec Ulmann Trophy winner at Pebble Beach with three Class wins at Pebble over the years. Acquired by the Mullin Collection three decades ago and carefully preserved since then. Excellent older paint but failing chrome. Lightly cracked front seat upholstery but nearly untouched rear seat. Orderly but aged engine compartment with cracked exhaust porcelain. The interior trim doesn’t match the seats. Stately, elegant and aging gracefully. – This J12’s intriguing U.S. history involves Dr. Sam Scher, a pioneering cosmetic surgeon who owned many historic cars in the early 50’s, Richard Paine’s Seal Cove Museum, who acquired most of Dr. Scher’s cars when the doctor had financial problems, and John Mozart, whose collection over the years has included some of the most important classic cars in history. It is all encompassed in this J12, a seventy-year history of collecting, preserving and restoring magnificent cars. It is no longer in Pebble Beach quality condition, but it is and will always be a Pebble Beach car with advanced technology, excellent materials and manufacture, rarity, and appealing design and it is somewhat surprising that in this widely publicized auction of well-known cars it didn’t bring more, not even a successful bid at its low estimate.
Lot # 77 1928 Avions Voisin C14 Chartreuse Berline; S/N 28673; Engine # 28747; Black/Blue cloth; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Cosmetic restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $151,200. – RHD. 2,326/66hp sleeve valve six, 3-speed, hand operated windshield wipers, running board trunks. polished wheel discs, Marchal headlights, luggage trunk, rear-mounted spare. – Chipped but presentable old paint, good upholstery and interior trim. Dull exterior aluminum trim and bracketry. Orderly repainted chassis. An appealing but neglected car. – This Voisin begs for attention. It won’t take much to make it a great tour car but it takes attention even accepting the chipped paint. It’s a charming piece and it is impossible to argue with the price it brought here at the French-focused Mullin Collection auction.
Lot # 82 1956 Porsche 356A Super Speedster, Body by Reutter; S/N 82114; Engine # P80495; Black/Red leatherette; Black cloth top; Estimate $250,000 – $350,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $310,000 plus commission of 11.61%; Final Price $346,000. – 1,582/88hp, 4-speed, chrome wheels, hubcaps, Pirelli tires, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, Kardex documented. – Represented as a replacement engine which is within the range for its specs and year. Very good paint and chrome. Very good upholstery. Sharp, clean engine and somewhat dusty but restored chassis. – The fact that this Porsche 356A Speedster is one of a very few cars in the Mullin Collection not of French origin and part of the collection since 1992 speaks to its desirability and the pleasure of driving it. In contrast to many of the rather obscure and old French cars in the collection its value in today’s market is easily ascertained and this is a realistic result with some increment for its Mullin Collection provenance.
Lot # 88 1930 Bugatti Type 46 Semi-Profilee Coupe; S/N 46136; Black, Cream/Brown cloth; Estimate $700,000 – $900,000; Rebodied or re-created 1- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,000,000 plus commission of 10.50%; Final Price $1,105,000. – RHD. 5,359/140hp 24-valve SOHC eight, polished alloy wheels, Marchal headlights, Scintilla driving light, dual rear-mounted spares. – Excellent paint and chrome. Good upholstery and interior trim with more than the 354 km on the odometer should indicate. Shadowed front bumper chrome. Clean, sharp engine compartment and chassis. Faded radiator plating. A big, beautiful car whose rebodied restoration is aging gracefully. – Sold at the B-J/Coys Monaco auction in 2000 with crude Czech bodywork for 353,820 FFr ($49,059 at the time) and rebodied since then with this attractive Semi-Profilee coachwork, the Type 46 shared the Royale Type 41’s 130mm engine stroke but with a smaller 81mm bore, a torque-monster with limited high rpm performance. It is a known quantity but there is no reason for paying this much for even this finely designed and built repro coachwork.
Lot # 89 1924 Panhard-Levassor X47 Limousine, Body by Weymann; S/N 47739; Engine # 47739; Dark Green/Grey cloth; Estimate $25,000 – $35,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $28,000. – RHD. 1440cc sleeve valve four, single sidemount, varnished wood spoke wheels, SPE electric headlights, windshield visor, small luggage trunk, Besnard opera lights, spotlight. – Cracked old paint on the body fabric with a protective repaint. Sound interior. Dull brass. Grimy chassis. Irrelevant. – But, by any standard, it is a quality, quiet, sleeve valve contemporary of Henry’s Model T and a Model T with similarly elegant coachwork would bring many times this car’s price.
Lot # 96 1927 Bugatti Type 40 Faux Cabriolet, Body by Galle; S/N 40436; Engine # 304; Light Blue, Black leatherette roof/Blue cloth; Estimate $50,000 – $75,000; Unrestored original 5+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $220,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $246,400. – RHD. 1,496/45hp, 4-speed, silver wire wheels, Marchal headlights. – A Schlumpf Reserve Collection artifact that’s been scavenged for bits and pieces over the years and is missing gauges and its seat cushion. Dead old repaint, Rusty bright trim and radiator. Scrofulous. – This result is, simply, amazing. While the appeal of a rare Galle-bodied Faux Cabriolet is real and even tangible, the fact is that this is a picked over parts car with fixed roof coachwork. It is rare and wonderful (even with 45hp) but is it a quarter-million dollars wonderful in this condition? At least two people though so and this result reinforces the dedication to old cars that was manifest at the Mullin Collection auction.
Lot # 101 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Galibier Pillarless Sedan, Body by Graber; S/N 57535; Engine # 375; Grey/Green leatherette; Estimate $80,000 – $120,000; Unrestored original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $179,200. – RHD. 3,257/135hp, 4-speed, wire wheels, rear-hinged back doors, Bosch headlights. – Little early history before being added to the collection of John Shakespeare (not a poet, but related to the fishing gear family) and sold in 1964 to the Schlumpfs where it went into the Reserve Collection awaiting restoration. Now in the Mullin Collection since 2008, it is still awaiting restoration and missing details [sic] like radiator and data plate. Peeling old paint, surface rusting, stiff upholstery. Ratty and neglected, – It is easy to feel an affinity with this largely sound if violated old Bugatti. It was the king of the road (or at least the streets of Paris) in 1937 and is still elegant. It is, however, also in need of vital attention and any number of hard to find original-type parts that makes its price here nothing if not generous and optimistic.
Lot # 104 1923 Delage DE Torpedo Touring, Body by M. Taubes; S/N 12040; Engine # 912; Maroon, Black fenders/Black leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $78,400. – LHD. 2,120/32hp, 4-speed, Scintilla headlights, Lucifer spotlight, British Jaeger clock, black wire wheels, Michelin tires, dual windshields, center-facing jump seats, dual sidemounts, bulb horn. – Sound but indifferent quality repaint, upholstery and engine compartment. Dull nickel trim. Awful sidemount wheels painted over old rust pits. The chassis is orderly but unimpressive. A handsome but deeply flawed automobile. – Reported sold by Bonhams at Quail Lodge in 2006 for $76,050 in essentially the same condition as it was offered here where it brought a hammer bid of just $5,000 more than 18 years ago. It is better than the Schlumpf Reserve Collection cars in this sale but had less appeal to the project-focused buyers in Oxnard and on the phones and internet. It’s still expensive, just not as expensive as many of the rusty ex-Schlumpf projects.
Lot # 106 1902 Prunel Model F Cabriolet; S/N 296; Engine # 5916; Black, varnished mudguards/Light Blue leather; Estimate $30,000 – $50,000; Older restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $57,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $63,840. – RHD. One cylinder, Auteroche kerosene sidelights, bulb horn, varnished wood spoke wheels and fenders, Dunlop tires. – A 1964 AACA National First Prize winner at Hershey. Long displayed at the Briggs Cunningham Museum, then donated to the Crawford Museum. Acquired by the Mullin Collection in 1990. Cracked old paint, flaking varnish, worn upholstery, dull brass. A tired old restoration that’s had some attention but needs more. Perhaps usable with some attention. – One of the many qualities of the Mullin Collection is the presence of French marques few have ever heard of, like this Prunel. It’s obscure when a Google search yields no results. It is, however, an early car with a solid chance – after some research – of getting a place in the Brighton Run, a hope that can only have contributed to this superior result.
Lot # 107 1921 Avions Voisin C1 Limousine; S/N 804; Engine # 804; Black, Yellow primer/Black leather, Beige cloth; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Incomplete restoration 4 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $43,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $48,160. – RHD. 3,969/80hp sleeve valve four, Bleriot headlights, dual sidemounts, sliding division, jump seats, luggage trunk. – In process restoration with largely complete but badly moth-eaten and dilapidated interior. One owner from new until 1992. Body wood has been redone and some mechanical details attended to but it still needs everything. One of just two believed to survive in this body style. – Sold by Bonhams at Quail Lodge in 2008 for $87,750 in essentially the same condition but somewhat surprisingly the bidders here at Mullin substantially devalued it by about half. Their vision didn’t seem to match Peter Mullin’s but this is a realistic price for this Voisin limousine project.