The Mullin Automotive Museum’s standout vehicle was also named Best in Class, Pre-War French Coachwork and was a previous recipient of “Best in Show” at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elégance
OXNARD, Calif. (March 6, 2023) – The Mullin Automotive Museum’s 1935 Voisin Type C25 Aérodyne was awarded “Best of Show” at the 28th Annual Amelia Concours D’Elegance, held at The Golf Club of Amelia Island on Sunday. Merle Mullin, director of the Mullin Automotive Museum and wife of car collector Peter Mullin, was present to receive the award after the Aérodyne also won Best in Class, Pre-War French Coachwork earlier in the afternoon.
One of just six made and only four known to exist today, the Aérodyne showcases airplane pioneer and manufacturer Gabriel Voisin’s focus on weight reduction with alloy touches such as the headlight trim, fender lights and door handles made specifically for this car. Prior to this weekend, the vehicle was well-known for winning “Best of Show” at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elégance. It remains one of only a handful of four-door cars to secure the honor.
“Winning here at this amazing venue on this beautiful day on Amelia Island has been an A-plus experience for us,” says Merle Mullin. “We were up against some serious contenders, so I am very honored that the judges chose us to win.”
Epitomizing the Art Deco movement of the 1930s with its blue-and-grey painted exterior, automated retractable roof, wraparound fenders and high beltline, the 1935 Voisin Type C25 Aérodyne was a culmination of Gabriel Voisin’s experience with aeronautics and was proclaimed his “car of the future.” Purchased by the Mullins in the early 2000s, the Voisin underwent a comprehensive three-year restoration. During the restoration, the fabric company that originally produced the materials for the interior was identified, and miraculously, the design remained in the company’s archives. The original looms and, unbelievably, two of the craftsmen from the 1930s were also located. The end result is an interior that is impeccably close to the original.
“It’s amazing to see the Voisin Aérodyne stand the test of time and delight assorted generations of automotive enthusiasts over the last two decades,” said Peter Mullin, founder and CEO of the Mullin Automotive Museum. “Its restoration was a highly methodical process, but one that was ultimately worthwhile.”
Additional vehicles from the Mullin collection can be found at the Vero Beach Museum of Art’s “Rolling Sculpture: Streamlined Art Deco Automobiles and Motorcycles” exhibit. On display through April 30, residents of Florida can view up-close the 1938 Hispano-Suiza H6B Dubonnet Xenia (“Best of Show Avant-Guerre” winner at the 2022 Chantilly Arts et Élégance Richard Mille), the 1934 Avions Voisin Type C27 Aerosport Coupe (“Best of Show” winner at the 2021 Hampton Court Concours of Elegance) and the 1929 Bugatti Type 46 Semi-profile Coupe.
For more information about the 1935 Voisin Type C25 Aérodyne and other vehicles in the Mullin Automotive Museum collection, please visit www.MullinAutomotiveMuseum.com.
About the Mullin Automotive Museum
The Mullin Automotive Museum is located at 1421 Emerson Avenue, Oxnard, California 93033, in the building formerly occupied by the Otis Chandler Vintage Museum of Transportation and Wildlife. Tickets must be purchased in advance at MullinAutomotiveMuseum.com. To see photos of the exhibits and the cars on display, please follow the Mullin Automotive Museum’s official channels on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
