City of Cars: Is this the world’s best motoring museum?
Bugatti heaven —
The Cite de l'Automobile in Mulhouse, France is known as Bugatti heaven for a collection that includes 122 models, including this 1939 57C.
Geof Hiscock
Formula 1 grid —
The Cite de l'Automobile holds more than 430 cars collected by the Schlumpf brothers. Among them are this Grand Prix racing lineup led by the Bugatti Type 251.
Geoff Hiscock
Bugatti 57S —
French textile baron Fritz Schumpf was obsessed with Bugattis. His collection, now open to the public, includes this 1936 Bugatti 57S.
Geoff Hiscock
Twin Ferraris —
A 1964 Ferrari 250 LM (left) and a 1993 Ferrari 512 TR are among the vehicles on display at the Cite de l'Automobile. The museum was opened in 1982.
Geoff Hiscock
Fritz Schlumpf's Mercedes —
This 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing was personally driven by motoring obsessive Fritz Schlumpf.
Geoff Hiscock
Ferrari, Mercedes and Gordini —
A classic line up of Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Gordini sports racers in the Cite de l'Automobile. The Schlumpf brothers began collecting their cars in secret, storing them in their textile warehouses.
Geoff Hiscock
The Egg —
Designed by architect Paul Arzens, a 1942 aluminum and plexiglass city car known as "The Egg" is among the more unusual autos in the collection.
Geoff Hiscock
Alfa Romeo —
The Schlumpf collection resembles a who's who of the automotive world and includes this 1936 Alfa Romeo 8c 2900 A Pinin Farina Berlinett.
Geoff Hiscock
Phaeton Tonneau —
The Cite de l'Automobile collection charts the birth of performance motoring with machines like this 1894 Panhard & Levassor Phaeton Tonneau.
Geoff Hiscock
Bugatti Royale Esders —
Not the real thing, sadly. This Bugatti Royale Esders is a 1990 reconstruction of the original.
Geoff Hiscock
Royale Coupe Napoleon —
This 1929 Bugatti Royale Coupe Napoleon is one of only six Royales produced by Bugatti and is likely worth millions of dollars. It was once Ettore Bugatti's personal car.
Geoff Hiscock
Driven to downfall —
The Schlumpf brothers' obsession with Bugattis and other sports cars led to heavy debts that helped ruin their textile business.