The 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic and 1939 Delahaye Type 165 from the Mullin Automotive Museum’s collection will go on loan to the Spanish museum for the summer, Mullin Automotive Museum staff announced.
The two cars from the Mullin Automotive Museum’s collection of rare French automobiles will appear at the Guggenheim Museum in Spain from April 5 to Oct. 1, as part of its “Motion. Autos, Arts, Architecture” exhibit.
On display at the Guggenheim from the Mullin Automotive Museum’s collection will be the 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic. One of only two left in the world, the Atlantic is Jean Bugatti’s masterpiece built at the height of the Art Deco era, the museum said. Fully-enveloped wheels, an intricately-designed scooped radiator shell, and hand-riveted roof seams pay homage to the era’s fascination with machine and design. The Atlantic won the “J.B. & Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car” award at the 2021 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Also, part of the exhibit will be the Mullin’s 1939 Delahaye Type 165 that was chosen to represent France at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. The coachwork features the curves that became a signature of Figoni & Falaschi’s teardrop style. Dubbed “The Car of Tomorrow,” the Delahaye marked the end of an era for French carmakers as Europe and the United States became engulfed in World War II.
“The Atlantic and Type 165 are from a period when French automotive design was at its peak. Cars of that era were more about expressions of design, individuality and art than strictly function,” said Mullin Automotive Museum founder Peter W. Mullin. “Having them at the Guggenheim is an honor and a recognition of the influence of automotive design on other artistic and creative forms. We are excited for European car and design enthusiasts to experience them firsthand.”
Unique pieces of French automotive-related fine art from the Mullin Automotive Museum will also display at the Guggenheim, including Rene-Jules Lalique’s glass sculptures “Vitesse (Goddess of Speed)” and “Victoire (Spirit of the Wind/Victory,” and Rene Lalique’s “Longchamps Horse Head-Single Mane.”
