Press Releases

THE PETER MULLIN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM FOUNDATION SELECTS AUTOMOBILE METAL SHAPING

AS COACHBUILDER FOR FAMED BUGATTI COUPE

Celebrated Southern California Collection Partners with Renowned Coachbuilder

To Complete Jean Bugatti's Masterpiece

Oxnard, Calif. (April 27, 2011) - The Peter Mullin Automotive Museum Foundation, organized to support nonprofit public charities that are dedicated to the study, preservation and public display of classic automobiles or public education regarding classic automobiles, today selected Automobile Metal Shaping Company (AMS), to construct the body for Jean Bugatti's famed 1939 Bugatti Type 64 Coupe Chassis #64002.

Originally designed and constructed by Jean Bugatti (Ettore Bugatti's eldest son), the 1939 Bugatti Type 64 chassis was never completed, as Bugatti tragically died while test driving the Le Mans winning Bugatti Type 57 C "Tank". In celebration of Bugatti's legacy, the Peter Mullin Automotive Museum Foundation, Art Center College of Design and Stewart Reed Design collaborated to produce a concept based upon Jean Bugatti's original drawings. AMS has been entrusted with the great honor of completing this revolutionary work of art based on their depth of experience in automotive restoration and prototype construction.

Peter Mullin, Chairman of the Board of the Peter Mullin Automotive Museum Foundation and Chairman and Founder of the Mullin Automotive Museum states, "We are delighted to announce the appointment of Automobile Metal Shaping Company as the coachbuilder to complete this historic automobile. AMS is known among top collectors and manufacturers for their extraordinary work with exceptional cars. Similar to the Type 64, Mike Kleeves and his team at AMS have one foot in the past and one foot in the future - with all the skills of old-world craftsman and the imagination of the modern automotive design industry. Jean Bugatti would be happy to see this car completed."

Stewart Reed, Principal of Stewart Reed Design states, "While we want to respect the Type 64's evolution from the Type 57 as a dramatic new coupe, Bugatti was clearly pushing design into new materials use as evidenced by the lovely all-aluminum chassis reminiscent of aircraft construction. Kleeves' proven reputation with the best technologies and his deep appreciation for quality automotive development are key to our realizing what Bugatti was intending for the Type 64."

Mike Kleeves, Director and Owner of Automobile Metal Shaping Company is honored and excited to help finish Jean Bugatti's Type 64 for the Peter Mullin Automotive Museum Foundation.

Bugatti's Type 64, designed as a successor to the Bugatti Type 57, was originally constructed with a wheelbase of 130-inches and a 3.3-liter DOHC engine with 135 horsepower and was able to reach 120 mph at top speed. AMS will honor the original concept and design of the vehicle incorporating the vehicles' originally-proposed papillon door, slightly different in its architecture from a gullwing door - which Jean Bugatti designed in 1939, fourteen years before Mercedes-Benz produced their similar, famous 300SL gullwing door.

About the Mullin Automotive Museum:

The Mullin Automotive Museum is a facility that pays homage to the art deco and machine age - eras that produced exquisite art and magnificent automobiles. The museum is home to examples of the finest historic French automobiles from the Bugatti to the Voisin, as well as significant and representative decorative art from this same period. Housed in the building previously owned by legendary newspaperman, Otis Chandler, this 46,821 sq. foot museum will incorporate elements that reference the past as well as the present in its distinctive design. For more information about The Mullin Automotive Museum, to view visiting hours or make a reservation, please visit www.mullinautomotivemuseum.com/

About Art Center College of Design:

Founded in Pasadena, California in 1930 by Edward A. "Tink" Adams, Art Center College of Design's mission is "Learn to create. Influence change." Dedicated to educating tomorrow's design professionals with a commitment to socially responsible design, Art Center College of Design has a reputation for producing some of the world's leading artists and designers. For more information, please visit http://www.artcenter.edu/

About Stewart Reed Design

Stewart Reed Design consults designs and fabricates industrial and transportation design concepts for manufacturers and private clients around the world. Reed has designed and fabricated over 20 concept vehicles throughout his career, and in 1994 established Stewart Reed Design, consulting for clients such as Lockheed Martin, Michelin, Cunningham Motors and other niche and major auto manufacturers.  Stewart enjoys judging concours and other design-oriented events including Amelia Island, Louis Vuitton Concept Competition in Paris, Eyes on Design, Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Michelin Challenge Design and many others. For more information, please visit http://www.stewartreeddesign.com/

About Automobile Metal Shaping Company:

Automobile Metal Shaping Company (AMS) of Kimball, Michigan was established in 1979 as a restorer of exotic sports and racing cars. With experience, they soon developed a good reputation for fabricating new body panels that were no longer manufactured or otherwise available. This eventually expanded into building prototype bodies for the major American car companies.  Today AMS fabricates automobile bodies in aluminum and steel in their well-equipped facility for private collectors and for the automotive industry. AMS has completed numerous restorations for top private collectors and worked with some of the finest classic automobiles - including several Ferrari 250 GT California Spiders, custom-bodied Packards, a 1926 Wills St. Clair and a 1957 Porsche 550A Spyder. AMS was also entrusted to rebody the 1910 Buick Bug Racer Special 60. Of note, AMS' prototype projects have included the 2004 Ford F150 truck, the 2005 Ford Mustang, and the 2009 Chevrolet Suburban.

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Thursday, 28 April 2011