Schlumpf collection mulhouse

[hairnet]

Only few as they're all on normal camera

 

Peugeot next

[Laseraligningfoofooflanges]

That tatra's mental haha

[mercrocker]

Doesn't look like they have fucked it up too much since I went there in '84.    I can still remember standing there practically with my mouth open.   Actually, I think it was open.   Wide. 

Pity the original plan of a Dakota roof-top restaurant didn't materialise but it is a stunning place inside.

[BavarianRetro]

I went in '84 too. It wasn't long after it was nationalised and the workers burning a Bugatti a day until they got paid was still news.

 

We were touring some of Europe's museums and racetracks in an MGBGT. Hectic schedule.

 

"Right boys, we'll get in here early doors, scoot round, take a quick shufty at the railway museum and we'll be on the road for lunchtime."

 

We were queuing up for it opening - the only ones.

 

We went in, looked about, had our lunch, looked about, had our tea, looked about and we were finally flung out at closing time.

 

We went to the railway museum the next day.

 

Unbelievable place. Unbelievable story. Everybody with any interest in old cars must go there at least once.

 

But be warned. It's a full day shot!

[martybabes]

I've been.  Twice.  It is B R I L L I A N T

[Fat_Pirate]

I went a couple of years back, it is indeed ACE.  Unfortunately I went with some heathens who couldn't understand why I was taking photos of a Renault 25 rather than a Veyron.

[hairnet]

Or the weird Reno 4

[Fat_Pirate]

The stumpy one?

 

 

Here's the 25 too... yum

 

 

More yum:

 

[406V6]

There's a very interesting book from the 70s "The Schlumpf Obsession" which tells the story of the place. Mainly about the cars but some information about the brothers and how they assembled the collection. It's available cheaply - I paid less than £4 buy-it-now on ebay including post.

[hairnet]

The audio thing was a bit confusing but the bit where they said when they restored something it had to ultra perfect

[simmo]

There's a very interesting book from the 70s "The Schlumpf Obsession" which tells the story of the place. Mainly about the cars but some information about the brothers and how they assembled the collection. It's available cheaply - I paid less than £4 buy-it-now on ebay including post.

 

I have one of these books somewhere.  From a vague  memory I think the brothers had a factory and the workers had a dispute/riot and trash some of the unrestored vehicles.  Not sure if its in the book or elsewhere; there's a photo of them burning an Austin 7  ??

[BavarianRetro]

Great story, but briefly, the Schlumpf brothers were textile magnates. They made fortunes out of mills, basically by exploiting the workers and secreted away, over many years, a huge collection of Bugattis.

 

One of the mills was used as a workshop/store/restoration shop and the whole thing was kept secret from the workers.

 

The textile business was beginning to struggle by the early 70s. But the brothers, primarily Fritz, if I remember correctly, continued taking money out and buying Bugattis.

 

There were strikes and industrial unrest until the workers found out about the car collection when they took over the mill holding the cars and occupied it. In true French industrial relations style - you have to give them credit, they know how to avoid the ACAS route - they burned a car a day until eventually the French government nationalised the mill and the collection.

 

The brothers left Alsace in exile I think.