WORDS: NATHAN CHADWICK | PHOTOGRAPHY: SCHLUMPF COLLECTION
The French National Automobile Museum – The Schlumpf Collection, has announced a series of special events to celebrate its 40th anniversary, and is marking the occasion with a special display entitled Mechanical Icons and Other Curiosities.
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The collection, located in Mulhouse, in the Alsace region of France, is home to more than 450 vehicles from Maseratis to Rolls-Royces, and from Citroëns to Mercedes-Benzs, in a 20,000m2 display space. The Mechanical Icons and Other Curiosities exhibition, which runs until November 6, 2022, provides a rare opportunity to experience automotive artefacts that are usually kept away from public viewing. The exhibition begins with a display of items collected by Fritz Schlumpf, ranging from sedan chairs to more unusual artefacts.
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One such item is a hand-pump fire truck from the Hartmann-Schmalzer factory, which dates back to the 19th century, and there are also windows into Schlumpf’s Swiss heritage, such as a sleigh with a lion’s head that could be drawn by horses or dogs, and a Swiss Post stagecoach, also dating from the 19th century. The museum also delves into Schlumpf’s love affair with Bugatti, with 123 on display – the world’s largest number of Bugattis in a single collection. One to particularly seek out is the Type 46 that was converted into an ambulance during World War Two.
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The exhibition also demonstrates how the museum is safeguarding automotive treasures, celebrating automobiles of all shapes and sizes, from luxury marques to small popular cars. There’s a chance to see luxury legends such as a Mercedes-Benz 770K Grosser, Delahaye Type 87, Hispano-Suiza H6C alongside nostalgic everyday cars such as a Volkswagen 1200 Type 2 Export dating from 1951, plus more besides. There’s also a chance to see how the museum was developed from a spinning mill into the centre for automotive excellence it is today.
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The museum is also holding a special event to celebrate European Heritage Days; it takes place between Saturday 17 and 18, 2022. More details here.