The Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California, has announced that it will cease operations and close its doors forever, effective February 10, 2024. Following the death of founder Peter Mullin last September at age 82, his wife Merle has decided to close the museum.

Peter Mullin’s passion was French cars from the 1930s and the museum he founded in 2010 largely reflected that. An enviable ensemble of cars from Bugatti, Voisin, Delahaye, Delage, Talbot-Lago, Peugeot, and others makes up the bulk of the collection. However, the influence of the broader Art Deco movement was also on display in the form of furniture, sculpture, and other artifacts from the era.

The museum collection was exceptionally curated by Mr. and Mrs. Millin, and featured many rarities. One such example was the so-called “Lady of the Lake,” a 1925 Bugatti that was submerged in Lake Maggiore in Italy for more than 75 years. Another current exhibit at the time of the closing announcement was “L’epoque des Carrossiers: The Art and Times of the French Coachbuilders.”

The Peterson Museum in nearby Los Angeles has reportedly arranged to house the four race cars in the collection. It’s uncertain what will happen with the museum’s more than 60 other carriages and motor vehicles, however. For now,  you can still visit the museum’s website at www.mullinautomotivemuseum.com.