Schlumpf Collection

The Musée National de l’Automobile – Collection Schlumpf, located in Mulhouse, Alsace, France, is the largest car museum in the world. It features an impressive 25,000 square meters of exhibit space, with 17,000 square meters dedicated to a single vast hall.

At the heart of this extensive collection are 400 vehicles amassed by brothers Fritz and Hans Schlumpf. Once affluent textile industrialists, the Schlumpfs’ passion for collecting historic automobiles led them to amass one of the most significant car collections ever assembled. Their financial ruin, caused in part by their expensive hobby, eventually led to the creation of this museum.

The museum’s exhibits include a diverse range of vehicles, showcasing the evolution of automotive engineering and design. Notable among the collection are racing cars from the legendary Bugatti brand. Among the 87 Bugatti cars displayed are two of the six surviving Bugatti Royales (Type 41), as well as a recreation of another Royale. A Bugatti Royale sold for 8 million dollars at auction in 1991, highlighting the rarity and value of these automobiles.

Other highlights of the collection include a Léon Bollée Dreirad Voiturette (1896), a Gardner-Serpollet Doppelphaeton Typ A (1902), a Mercedes Doppelphaeton (1905), a Lancia Epsilon (1912), a Hispano-Suiza J12 (1934), and a Ferrari 250 LM (1964). Additionally, the museum holds a Mercedes “Silberpfeil” Typ W 154 II (1939) and the second of only two Bugatti Type 251 models.

The entire collection is classified as French cultural heritage and is therefore not available for sale. This status ensures the preservation of these historic vehicles, offering a unique glimpse into the history of automotive design and innovation.