Mullin Museum extends exhibit of classic Voisin cars

Car fans -- especially those interested in pre-World War II French icons -- have a little more time to enjoy some ultra-rare classics in Southern California.

The Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard has announced it is extending through June an exhibit of Voisin automobiles and motorcycles. The exhibit was previously scheduled to close in April.

“The success the Voisin exhibit experienced over the past six months has been amazing,” Peter Mullin, owner of the museum, said in a statement. “It is with great personal pride that we continue to recognize and showcase such a design visionary and aviation pioneer.”

Photos: Highlights of the Voisin auto exhibit

La Vision de Voisin, which Highway 1 chronicled in March, showcases 17 Voisin vehicles designed and built by Gabriel Voisin. The Frenchman was an early aviation pioneer and made a fortune in World War I building planes for France and its allies.

After the war, he turned his attention to building some of the most intricate and expensive cars of the pre-WWII era.

Only several hundred remain today, and many are worth millions of dollars. Mullin (the man) has the world’s largest collection of the rare cars, 16 of which are included in the exhibit.

One of the cars in the exhibit, the 1935 Voisin Type C25 Aerodyne, won Best of Show at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, arguably the most prestigious prize in the classic car world.

The car, which cost as much as a Bugatti when new, features intricate details such as Lalique crystal ashtrays, a power-retractable roof, and bold art deco fabric on the doors, seats and roof, sourced from the same French textile mill that wove the fabric for the cars when new.

The exhibit, and the rest of the Mullin Automotive Museum, will be open to the public April 13, 19 and 27; May 11 and 24; and June 8 and 22.

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