The Mullin Automotive Museum has announced it will display six French classics at various events during Monterey Car Week, August 16-20. Selected from the museum’s collection, the vehicles will be showcased at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering and The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
“The motorcars we will bring to Monterey were specifically selected based on their competition history, as well as elegant styling and compelling stories,” said the museum’s namesake founder, Peter Mullin. “Aligning with our objective, these meticulously maintained classics should be enjoyed on roads and racetracks.”
The events and the automobiles scheduled to be in attendance are:
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion – August 16–20 Laguna Seca will again host the world’s most historically significant competition cars, driven the way they were truly intended. In attendance will be four cars from The Mullin:
- A 1931 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix (above, Michael Furman photo courtesy of the Mullin Automotive Museum) competing with Derek Hill behind the wheel. Returning to Laguna Seca as reigning pre-1940 Sports Racing & 1927-1951 Racing Cars class champion, Hill looks to repeat that victory with the Type 51, the 12th of 40 such examples built. Chassis no. 51132 has been raced successfully throughout Europe and Africa, and now at Laguna Seca.
- A 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Competition Roadster, to be driven by Peter Mullin himself, this pre-war roadster was engineered to perfection over decades of racing. The result is an automobile that is as stunning at speed as it is standing still. This type 57SC has already won best-in-class honors at The Quail, and now seeks to take the checkered flag at Laguna Seca.
- The Mullin will also show a 1946 Delage D6 Grand Prix, which secured podium finishes at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1949, the 24 Hours of Spa in 1949 and the 12 Hours of Paris in 1948. The Delage was driven by Henri Louveau as a works entry in period at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. At this year’s Reunion, Peter Mullin’s son Tim will take the wheel. With only five in existence, this will be a rare opportunity to see one at speed.
- A 1950 Talbot-Lago T26C Grand Prix will be driven by Dutch racer and 24 Hours of Le Mans veteran Hans Hugenholtz Jr. The Talbot-Lago campaigned throughout Europe in period, and has been a familiar sight at historic races under the ownership of Peter Mullin during the last 20 years. Chassis no. 110052 has raced throughout Europe as well as both North and South America.
The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering – August 18 Following its stint at the Rolex Reunion, the Bugatti Type 51 will be driven through the public streets of Monterey to the lawn at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering. There, it will be shown among other automotive royalty, competing for Best-in-Show honors.
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance – August 20 The world’s premier concours event will feature two automobiles from The Mullin. Produced in Le Mans France, a 1905 Leon Bolle will grace the Pebble Beach golf course. The Leon was a popular entrant in early French auto races, attaining then blistering speeds of 30 mph. A 1951 Bugatti 101C will also be entered. The extremely rare post-war Bugatti is the only 101C fitted with a supercharger, and the second of just seven produced. During the post-war era, the 101C was a last-ditch effort to revive the brand. Though unsuccessful, the importance of this automobile cannot be understated today.
