WORDS: DAVID LILLYWHITE | PHOTOGRAPHY: GOODING & CO.
Following the recent announcement that the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California is due to close on February 10, 2024 auction house Gooding & Company has revealed that it is to offer 20 cars from the collection at its Amelia Island, Florida sale on Thursday, February 29 and Friday, March 1.
In addition, Gooding & Company will also hold a standalone auction at the museum this coming April, where it will present an additional assortment of vehicle and automobilia lots from the collection. More details on that auction will be announced in coming weeks.
The collection was built up by Peter Mullin, who passed away in September 2023. On January 17, 2024, it was announced that the museum would close imminently.
The Amelia Island Auctions will feature 20 French and European automotive lots offered entirely without reserve, selected from the collection. The star lot is the 1925 Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix (estimate: $600,000-$800,000). Initially specified as a Type 35A, this example was the very first of its kind to be imported into England. It was purchased by Chris Staniland, a young Royal Air Force pilot and race car driver, who successfully competed with the Type 35 between 1925 and 1927. In the 1960s, the Bugatti was restored to Type 35C specification by the well known restoration firm Crosthwaite & Gardiner. A 1931 Bugatti Type 49 (estimate: $150,000-$225,000) featuring distinctive, four-door coachwork by Gangloff will also cross the block at Amelia Island.
Other lots include a 1936 Avions Voisin Type C28 Clairière Berline (estimate: $350,000-$450,000), one of two C28 Clairière Berlines known to survive today from the 30 such examples initially built. Notably, this car was featured in the 1961 Henri Verneuil film, Le President. Also offered is a 1946 Delage D6 Grand Prix (estimate: $300,000-$500,000), one of five D6 Grand Prix racers built for endurance events. A pair of Delahayes, consisting of a 1948 Type 175 GP (estimate: $150,000-$250,000) and a 1948 Delahaye Type 135 MS Cabriolet (estimate: $200,000-$300,000), also join the sale. The former is configured as a competition sports car, and the latter is a desirable triple-carburettor, 130bhp, MS-specification example in wonderfully unrestored, original condition.
An early 1911 Hispano-Suiza 15T Alfonso XIII (estimate: $300,000-$400,000), which formerly belonged to noted Spanish collector Francisco de la Rocha, is also on offer. The Hispano-Suiza was restored by marque historians in Spain, who refinished the car in competition livery evocative of a racing Alfonso XIII owned by Spanish gentleman driver Albert Roulinat. A pair of unrestored 1907 Niclausse cars, which remained in the family of their original owner, Juan Coma of Barcelona, for 100 years, are also on offer: a 1907 Niclausse Type D Tourer (estimate: $90,000-$120,000) and a 1907 Niclausse Type S (estimate: $50,000-$75,000). Peter Mullin purchased the pair directly from Mr Coma’s grandson, Juan Coma-Cros, and displayed them at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Several limited-production Citroëns will also be offered from the collection, including Chapron-bodied examples, such as a highly collectable 1963 Citroën DS19 Le Dandy (estimate: $150,000-$225,000) and a one-off 1965 Citroën DS19 Majesty (estimate: $120,000-$150,000). The DS19 Majesty was uniquely specified at the order of its original owner, René Gaston-Drayfus, who requested myriad bespoke features, including elegant metallic gray paint, knurled rockers and Connolly leather upholstery. A rarely seen 1938 Citroën 11B Traction Avant Coupé (estimate: $90,000-$120,000) finished in striking metallic gold paint will also be presented, alongside additional offerings.
The full list of cars for sale in Gooding and Company’s Amelia Island sale is below:
1925 Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix
1931 Bugatti Type 49
1936 Avions Voisin Type C28 Clairière Berline
1946 Delage D6 Grand Prix
1948 Delahaye Type 175 GP Recreation
1948 Delahaye Type 135 MS Cabriolet
1911 Hispano-Suiza 15T Alfonso XIII
1907 Niclausse Type S
1907 Niclausse Type D Tourer
1963 Citroën DS19 Le Dandy
1965 Citroën DS19 Majesty
1938 Citroën 11B Traction Avant Coupe
1935 Citroën 7C Traction Avant Cabriolet
1963 Citroën DS19 Concorde
1966 Citroën DS21 Le Leman
1930 G.A.R. Type B5 Roadster
1905 Richard-Brasier Type D Tourer
1952 Voisin C31 Biscooter
1938 Voisin Type C30 S Coupe
1924 Bucciali Type B6 Recreation
More details on the Gooding & Company website.
