Fritz buys his first Bugatti
Bugatti and Schlumpf: two complementary names
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Bugatti and Schlumpf: two complementary names
The Schlumpf brothers’ collection began with the purchase of a Bugatti, a real competition car, from the prestigious Alsatian car manufacturer.
Then, in 1951, Fritz Schlumpf took part in the Goldbach hill climb race with this car.
Until 1957, Fritz did not fully invest himself in his collection. And for some time he remains a simple amateur…
Between 1960 and 1963, Fritz Schlumpf secretly bought a large number of vintage cars.
From 1960 onwards, Fritz shifted into high gear, relying on a vast and complex network of recruiters. In addition, the cars were collected in Mulhouse in the HKC factory, which had been freed for this purpose. In addition, they will be displayed in the large spinning room. Afterwards, the workshops will be transformed into a restaurant and 900 lamp posts imitating those of the Alexandre III bridge in Paris will be used for the decor.
The two brothers were about to open their museum to the public, when in 1976, the Schlumpf brothers’ textile industry went bankrupt following the oil crisis. In 1977, the laid-off workers discovered the existence of the secret collection and the affair came to light.
This is why the Association of the National Automobile Museum was created to manage the museum.
Opened on July 10, 1982, the National Automobile Museum in Mulhouse was an immediate success.
The collection’s exhibits help to explain and deepen all the cultural aspects of the automobile, both as a technical object and as a social phenomenon. Initially constituted by the famous Schlumpf collection, the Museum’s collection is of incomparable interest and wealth. But beyond the pleasure of discovery that it offers to its visitors, the Museum also pursues other projects.
The most obvious of these have been the implementation of educational activities, the restoration of cars and their return to service. More discreet but no less important, the rapid constitution of a documentation fund allows researchers to gather all useful information concerning the cars presented in order to provide elements of understanding for our visitors.
The National Automobile Museum houses the most beautiful automobile collection in the world with over 450 exceptional cars.
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The National Automobile Museum houses the most beautiful automobile collection in the world with over 450 exceptional cars.