‘Selections from The Mullin Collection’ gross $19m

The fate of the ‘crown jewels’ of the late Peter Mullin’s famous museum in Oxnard, California, will be revealed on another occasion, but local firm Gooding sold 114 ‘selections’ from the world-class collection last Friday that, in total, grossed $19,016,296. The sale was topped by the 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis 'Special Cabriolet', doubling its estimate to achieve $6,605,000 all-in.

Once again, the familiar figure of English auctioneer Charlie Ross was at the controls of what was quite a lengthy event. One lot was withdrawn.

At a glance:
 
* Gross, motor cars: $19,016,296
* Percentage sold by number: 100%
* Top-selling car: 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis 'Special Cabriolet' $6,605,000 gross, $6,000,000 net (est. $2.5m to $3.5m, pictured, top)        

At $6.6m, the gorgeous Type 57C Aravis was “LaFerrari Aperta money”, as one wag opined on Instagram. RM Sotheby’s does not have an Aperta at its forthcoming Canadian auction of a “curated collection of dreams” this June. But it does, amongst the “iconic examples of automobiles, sneakers, and sports memorabilia” have a LaFerrari coupé for $3.85m to $4.25m. So to state that Peter Mullin was “one of the last true collectors”, and “we shall not see his like again”, is not really true. Seeking out and amassing fine things of significance – for those with the means – is part of human nature. But it is reasonable to consider that the pool of aficionados interested in Peter Mullin’s particular sphere of buying pre- and immediately post-War French cars en masse is a diminishing one.

Back to the headlining Bugatti – other than based on a surbaissé, ‘S’, or ‘lower’ chassis, this supercharged-from-new Type 57C Aravis is as good as it gets. First delivered to French racing driver Maurice Trintignant, it even finished 11th in his hands at the Grand Prix du Comminges in August 1939. Trintignant helped with the restoration by Scott Sargent in the early 2000s, just after Peter and Merle Mullin purchased the car out of an estate sale. Once again, the result is proof that best-of-the-best pulls in the big figures. We congratulate the new owner of the former Pebble Beach Class Winner (above) and look forward to seeing the famous car once again on the show circuit.

Elsewhere, the Mullin family’s own 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster runaround sold for a lowish but correct (US-spec, wrong colours) $1,105,000. Over forty per cent of the catalogue beat upper estimate. Many delights in the listing define the expression ‘niche’: a 1925 Altos Moto Derny Type 15, est. $5k to $10k, that sold for $42,560, anyone?

Every entry had been on long-term display and came with a “will require mechanical attention and in some cases significant restoration” footnote. All the Bugatti ‘standards’ did well, a 1936 Type 57 Ventoux (est. $200k to $250k) sold for $511,000; a 1930 Type 46 Semi-Profilée Coupé (est. $700k to $900k) was bought for $1,105,000. All prices gross.

It was a sad day to see so many Mullin cars leaving Oxnard. But they go to pastures new and we wish them, and their new owners, bon voyage!

Gooding & Co Selections from The Mullin Collection Auction, 26 April 2024 – results

Total gross cars: $19,016,296Number of cars not sold: 0
Number of cars withdrawn: 1
Total number of cars: 114
Number sold: 114
Percentage cars sold by number: 100%
Percentage by value average low/high estimate: 126%
Percentage of cars sold below low estimate: 32%
Percentage of cars sold not met avge of estimates: 45%
Percentage of cars sold met/exceeded top estimate: 43%
Average value of cars sold: $166,810
Average year of cars offered: 1941
Percentage of cars offered at No Reserve: 100%

Photos by Peter Singhof, strictly copyright