2022 RM Sotheby’s Paris Sale (Petitjean Ferraris Announced)

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Marcel Petitjean’s collection of 28 road Ferraris, including a 288 GTO and 275 GTB/4, is on sale without reserve at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 classic car auction.

Petitjean Ferraris Collection on sale in the RM Sotheby's Paris 2022 classic car auction
Alex Penfold ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s announced that The Petitjean Collection ‘Part II’, a collection of 28 Ferrari road cars spanning 30 years from 1959 to 1989, will be on offer without reserve at the Paris 2022 sale during Rétromobile week. The most expensive cars in this collection are a 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO (estimate €2,400,000 – €2,600,000), a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (estimate €1,700,000 – €2,000,000), 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta (estimate €900,000 – €1,100,000) and a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet (estimate €850,000 – €1,100,000). These Ferraris join the previously announced 2003 Ferrari 550 GTC (estimate €2,000,000 – €2,500,000) at RM Sotheby’s Paris sale.

RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 Classic Car Auction

RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 classic car auction: 2 February 2022 at Place Vauban as part of the Paris Rétromobile Week 2022. In 2021, RM Sotheby’s sold two cars for over a million dollar in the online auction that replaced the regular Paris February sales.

In 2020, RM Sotheby’s earned €16.5 million at its Paris sale with a sell-through rate of 75%. In 2019, RM Sotheby’s earned more than €32.4 million with a sell-through rate of 79%. In 2018, RM Sotheby’s earned €23,745,335 with a fairly strong 83% sell-through rate. In 2017, RM Sotheby’s achieved a gross sale total of €27,576,400 ($29,451,595) with a sell-through rate of 78%. In 2016, RM Sotheby’s grossed €19 million with a sell-through rate of 79%.

Marcel Petitjean Ferraris at RM Sotheby’s Paris Sale 2022

1985 Ferrari 288 GTO on sale in the RM Sotheby's Paris 2022 classic car auction
Alex Penfold ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The collection of Marcel Petitjean represents one man’s passion and dedication to building a fine collection of cars, which began as far back as the 1960s. RM Sotheby’s in 2020 sold 97 of the cars within the Collection in an online-only, no-reserve auction. RM Sotheby’s is now offering ‘Part II’ Ferrari only, which forms an incredible representation of 30 years’ of Maranello’s finest road cars.

Oliver Camelin, Director of Sales, Switzerland at RM Sotheby’s, commented: “We are absolutely delighted that Monsieur Petitjean has entrusted this incredible collection to RM Sotheby’s for us to sell as part of our Paris auction. The collection has been built over many decades and represents some of Ferrari’s most important road cars of the era. And above all, the 275 GTB/4 and 288 GTO are perhaps two of the most significant examples of their respective models in existence.”

The top four Ferraris on offer from this collection at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 are:

1985 Ferrari 288 GTO

Red 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO on sale in the RM Sotheby's Paris 2022 classic car auction
Alex Penfold ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The collection is headed by a 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO (estimate €2,400,000 – €2,600,000), a car that represents the peak of supercar development at the time it appeared, and which was only the second model in Ferrari’s history to carry the immortal letters, “GTO”. Only 272 production examples were built and boasted a V-8 turbocharged powertrain and carbon fiber and Kevlar composite bodywork.

This 288 GTO was delivered new to Bepp Mayer, a German racing driver who was particularly well-known for racing BMWs, including a 3.5 CSL. Mayer specified a considerable number of options, including air conditioning, power windows, and radio, to complement the classic Rosso Corsa paintwork and Nero leather interior. Mayer kept it for 13 years before it passed to Monsieur Petitjean, with only 6,986 km from new. Since joining the Petitjean Collection in December 1998, this 288 GTO has been used sparingly, so only a further 2,600 km have been covered, and it includes its original tools and manual.

Today the car is presented with only 9,559 km from new and is arguably one of the most outstanding 288 GTOs in existence.

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 on sale in the RM Sotheby's Paris 2022 classic car auction
Alex Penfold ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (estimate €1,700,000 – €2,000,000), chassis no. 09021 is a car of significant importance, being the first-ever production ‘four cam’ 275 GTB/4 of only 330 examples built. Displayed by Franco-Britannic Motors for Ferrari at the 1966 Paris Salon de l’Automobile and later used as the demonstrator prior to sale to renowned Parisian fashion designer Charles Jourdan. The Paris Salon de l’Automobile was arguably the premier automotive show of the time, and 09021 appeared at the 53rd edition, which opened on 6 October 1966, revealing the new GTB/4 to the world.

After the Paris Salon, 09021 was registered as “1688 TN 75” and used as a demonstrator, playing an important role for the technical inspections with the ‘Service des Mines’ for road approval and making various press appearances, including a review in the June 1967 edition of Sport Auto. Shortly after, the car was sold to its first private owner, Charles Jourdan, who registered it as “444 JZ 26”. The world-renowned fashion designer enjoyed his GTB/4 for two years before it passed through Automobiles Charles Pozzi to its second owner, Monsieur Petitjean, on 8 October 1969, as confirmed by the original invoice on file.

Since this time, 09021 has been registered as “8891 QG 67” and has been little used, whilst the engine was subject to a comprehensive rebuild. After an extraordinary 52 years of single ownership, the first production GTB/4 is publicly available for the first time and is a truly unrepeatable opportunity.

1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta 

Silver 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta on sale in the RM Sotheby's Paris 2022 classic car auction
Alex Penfold ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta or “Lusso”, (estimate €900,000 – €1,100,000) is arguably one of the most successful and visually appealing grand tourer cars ever manufactured. Introduced at the 1962 Paris Salon as a replacement for the 250 GT Coupé, the Lusso—an Italian word for luxury—was fitted with a newly styled interior complemented by a revised dash panel and leather upholstery throughout and featured the 3.0-litre short-block “Colombo” V-12 engine.

With only 350 examples constructed between 1962 and 1964, the example offered was manufactured in February 1964. Finished in Argento over a Rosso leather interior, it was sold new into Switzerland and joined the Petitjean’s Collection in 1986 and has remained on static display since. Although requiring recommissioning prior to use, the car is an exceptionally original example of one of Ferrari’s most beautiful V12 road cars.

1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet

Red 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet  on sale in the RM Sotheby's Paris 2022 classic car auction
Alex Penfold ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Only 201 examples of the 250 GT Series II Cabriolet were produced between 1959 and 1962. The the1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet (estimate €850,000 – €1,100,000) on offer features lovely Pininfarina-styled and manufactured bodies and the 3.0-litre “Colombo” V-12 coupled with a four-speed manual gearbox, making the car an exceptional grand touring version of the competition-derived 250 California Spider.

This 250 GT Cabriolet is part of the early Series II production run, leaving the Maranello factory finished in Grigio Conchiglia over a Rosso leather and vinyl interior. It retains its matching-numbers engine and rear axle and has been part of the Petitjean Collection for 26 years.

Petitjean Ferrari Collection on Sale at RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 Auction

The entire Petitjean Collection Part II Ferraris on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Paris 2022 classic car auction are:

The Petitjean Collection ‘Part II’

  • 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet by Pinin Farina    
  • 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 Series III by Pininfarina          
  • 1964 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series I by Pininfarina  
  • 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso by Scaglietti        
  • 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 by Scaglietti      
  • 1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series II by Pininfarina
  • 1968 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 by Pininfarina 
  • 1968 Ferrari 330 GTC by Pininfarina      
  • 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 by Pininfarina    
  • 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta by Scaglietti  
  • 1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 by Bertone   
  • 1975 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB          
  • 1975 Ferrari Dino 208 GT4        
  • 1976 Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 by Pininfarina
  • 1977 Ferrari 308 GTB ‘Vetroresina’ by Scaglietti  
  • 1978 Ferrari 308 GTB by Scaglietti (roof signed by M.Schumacher)          
  • 1978 Ferrari 308 GTS
  • 1978 Ferrari 512 BB      
  • 1979 Ferrari 308 GTS   
  • 1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi ‘Project’
  • 1984 Ferrari 308 GTB Quattrovalvole     
  • 1984 Ferrari 400i          
  • 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO   
  • 1986 Ferrari Testarossa ‘Monospecchio’ 
  • 1986 Ferrari GTB Turbo
  • 1987 Ferrari 328 GTS   
  • 1987 Ferrari Mondial 3.2 Cabriolet         
  • 1989 Ferrari Mondial T Coupé   
  • 1996 Ferrari F310 Show Car      

Paris Rétromobile Week Auctions 2022

Classic Car Auctions

The traditional Paris Rétromobile Week was postponed from early February to 16 – 20 March 2022. The Artcurial auction was postponed too but currently, Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s are maintaining the early February dates.

  • Bonhams: Les Grandes Marques à Paris Sale on 3 February 2022.
  • Artcurial: Rétromobile Sale on 18 – 20 March 2022.
  • RM Sotheby’s: Paris Auction 2 February 2022.

Paris Auctions 2022 Results

Paris Auctions 2022 Previews

Paris Auctions 2022 Announcements

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