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Mullin Automotive Museum to Debut 1930 G.A.R. at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance


1930 G.A.R. B5 Roadster  (select to view enlarged photo)
1930 G.A.R. B5 Roadster

1930 G.A.R. B5 Roadster Early Example of Sophisticated French Race Car Produced by Rare, Nearly-Forgotten Marque Shown in European Classic Class

Oxnard, Calif. July 9, 2013 - The Mullin Automotive Museum, a Southern California institution devoted to the preservation of French art and automobiles from the Art Deco era, today announced it will debut its restored 1930 G.A.R. Type B5 Roadster (chassis #795) at the 63rd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on August 18.

A rarely-seen marque, the G.A.R. name was derived from the first three letters of its founder's surname, Gardahaut. Crafted in small numbers in the Parisian suburb of Asnières, the 1930 G.A.R. B5 Roadster was an expensive investment in its day at 26,000 Francs. Chassis #795, one of approximately three or four B5 models in existence, is a shining example of G.A.R.'s signature voiturette race cars - advanced in design, yet modest in size. The nimble competition car features a sophisticated 1.375-liter inline eight cylinder engine, which enabled it to reach speeds of 130 km/h. Chassis #795 was successfully campaigned in motorsports for several years, racing at the 1930 Algier-Djelfa race and the 1932 Circuit de L'Aisne.

One of the most challenging tasks to date for the Mullin Automotive Museum was restoring the 1930 G.A.R. Type B5 Roadster. Because of the short of life the G.A.R. marque (1922-1934) and the low number of vehicles produced, very little is known about French automaker. In August 2012, the Mullin Automotive Museum brought the daunting task of reviving chassis #795 to automotive restorer and historian Brian Hoyt of Perfect Reflections. After almost a full year of extensive research and restoration work, the nearly-forgotten G.A.R. has solidified its place in automotive history.

"The G.A.R. meets every criteria we look for when bringing a new vehicle into the Mullin collection. It's a special example of an important French race car that led a short life, yet captured significant wins with some of the most sophisticated engineering of its day," said Peter Mullin, Founder and Chairman of the Mullin Automotive Museum. "It brings me great joy to offer the public a chance to experience such a special car for which they would likely otherwise never encounter in their lifetime."

Those unable to attend the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will have the opportunity to view this rare piece of automotive history at the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, Calif. this fall, among the Mullin's magnificent collection of French art and coachbuilt automobiles from the Art Deco era. For more information on the 1930 G.A.R. Type B5 Roadster, please log onto http://www.mullinautomotivemuseum.com

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About the Mullin Automotive Museum
The Mullin Automotive Museum is a facility that pays homage to the art deco and machine age design eras (1918-1941) that produced exquisite art and magnificent automobiles. It officially opened its doors for the first time in the beach community of Oxnard, Calif., in spring 2010.