Oxnard, California, a city once vibrant with automotive history and display, has recently seen a noticeable shift in its cultural landscape with the closure of two prominent car museums in quick succession. Following the shuttering of the esteemed Mullin Automotive Museum earlier this year, the Murphy Auto Museum has announced its impending closure in July, marking a significant loss for car enthusiasts and the local community. This double closure not only reduces the attractions for visitors but also raises questions about the future of automotive museums in the region.
The Murphy Auto Museum, a staple for local car lovers, is preparing to drive off into the sunset after years of showcasing a diverse collection of vintage and antique vehicles. Founded in 2002 in Ventura before moving to Oxnard, the museum has been a labor of love, dedicated to preserving and displaying automotive history. Visitors to the Murphy Museum were greeted by an eclectic mix, starting with an enchanting display of die-cast cars and model trains, leading into a fascinating array of mid-20th-century travel trailers, and culminating in the main attraction: approximately 40 meticulously maintained vehicles.
David Neel, the executive director of the Murphy Classic Car Collection, who has been at the helm of the non-profit operating the museum since 2014, cited his retirement as the primary reason for the closure. Despite efforts to find a successor or secure a more affordable location through local city and county partnerships, no viable solution emerged. The museum, reliant on weekend admissions and storage fees from private collectors who housed their vehicles in the 14,000-square-foot facility, has faced declining revenues in recent years, making the situation unsustainable.
Oxnard Mayor John Zaragoza expressed his sadness at the news, recalling the museum as a key destination for car aficionados. His sentiment echoes the broader disappointment felt by the community, especially coming so soon after the closure of the Mullin Automotive Museum.
The Mullin Automotive Museum, which closed its doors in February, was renowned for its unparalleled collection of classic French automobiles, particularly Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, and Voisin. The museum was the vision of Peter Mullin, a passionate collector who sadly passed away, leading to the museum’s closure. The Mullin Automotive Museum was not just a display of cars; it was a celebration of art deco design and French automotive artistry, attracting international visitors and setting a high standard for automotive museums globally. Its absence leaves a significant void in the landscape of car museums, particularly for those with an appreciation for European classics.
The Murphy Auto Museum, while different in focus from the Mullin, also offered unique attractions. Among its highlights were a Herbie the Love Bug replica, a striking Excalibur reminiscent of a 1920s roadster, and a rare 1931 Rolls Royce Phantom I Boattail Roadster with ties to Carroll Shelby. The collection also included a charming 1969 Morris Minor Traveller Woodie and a remarkable 1927 Holt prototype travel trailer, believed to be the oldest unused travel trailer in the world. These diverse pieces contributed to the museum’s appeal, drawing around 10,000 visitors annually.
Daniel Murphy, the founder, envisioned the museum as an inclusive space for everyone, especially those involved in vehicle restoration. He aimed to create “everyone’s kind of museum,” a place where people could connect with automotive history and share their passion. The closure of both the Mullin and Murphy museums signals a challenging time for automotive cultural institutions in Oxnard. While the reasons for closure differ – retirement in the case of Murphy and the passing of the founder for Mullin – the combined impact is undeniable. Oxnard is losing significant cultural assets that catered to car enthusiasts and contributed to the city’s attraction for tourists and locals alike.
As the Murphy Auto Museum prepares to close its doors permanently on July 7th, the remaining weekends offer a final opportunity to experience its collection. The monthly car show on the third Sunday will also continue until the closure. Located at 1930 Eastman Ave., the museum is open on weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For those interested in automotive history and display, especially in light of the recent closure of the Mullin Automotive Museum and now the impending closure of the Murphy Auto Museum, a visit in the coming weeks would be a timely and poignant experience, marking the end of an era for car museums in Oxnard.
