A former race car driver collected 9 Lamborghinis including some of the rarest ever to start a museum, but now he's selling them — take a closer look at the Italian icons

Kristen LeeMay 24, 2020, 18:43 IST

1984 Lamborghini Countach LP500 S by Bertone.Dirk de Jager/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

RM Sotheby's is hosting a European auction that includes the Petitjean Collection.
The Petitjean Collection has almost 100 cars and all of them will be offered without reserve.
Nine Lamborghinis, stretching across the brand's storied history, are one of the auction's centerpieces.
The auction will open on June 3.

Another online-only car auction is going up on the block.

For its European Sale auction, auction house RM Sotheby's decided to shift to an online-only affair, similar to its ongoing Driving into Summer online-only auction. In particular, it will feature the Petitjean Collection, offered entirely without reserve.

The Petitjean Collection is an incredible single-owner collection that took half a century to amass, according to RM Sotheby's. Marcel Petitjean, its current owner, is a French ex-race car driver that put his money toward a collection of rare and valuable cars starting in the late 1960s with the intention of starting a museum.

He seemed to have a particular affinity for Lamborghinis as there are nine in the collection.

The auction house says that though the cars have been kept in a dry storage facility, they haven't been driven in years and will need recommissioning if a buyer wants to drive them.

The Petitjean Collection will go up for auction between June 3 to June 11. There are nearly 100 cars in the collection, including two Porsche tractors and nine Lamborghinis: two Countach models, a Diablo, an Espada, an Islero, a Jalpa, a Jarama, a Miura, and an Urraco.

Keep scrolling to see them all.

Read the original article on Business Insider

There are almost 100 cars in the Petitjean Collection, which will be for sale without reserve as part of RM Sotheby's online-only European Sale auction on June 3 to June 11. Nine of them are very special Lamborghinis.

1971 Lamborghini Espada. Diana Varga/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

There are almost 100 cars in the Petitjean Collection, which will be for sale without reserve as part of RM Sotheby's online-only European Sale auction on June 3 to June 11. Nine of them are very special Lamborghinis.

This is a 1971 Lamborghini Espada.

1971 Lamborghini Espada. Diana Varga/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

The Espadas are easily identifiable through their extensive use of rear glass.

1971 Lamborghini Espada. Diana Varga/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

Here's another look at it. It looks like a greenhouse.

1971 Lamborghini Espada. Diana Varga/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

The interior has some gorgeous wood trim.

1971 Lamborghini Espada. Diana Varga/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

And it could seat four!

1971 Lamborghini Espada. Diana Varga/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

This is a 1971 Lamborghini Jarama 400 GT.

1971 Lamborghini Jarama 400 GT. Dirk de Jager/2020 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

It's one of the rarest Lamborghinis ever made.

1971 Lamborghini Jarama 400 GT. Dirk de Jager/2020 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

A mere 177 400 GT models were ever produced.

1971 Lamborghini Jarama 400 GT. Dirk de Jager/2020 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

Unfortunately, there's some engine damage on this one that needs repairing.

1971 Lamborghini Jarama 400 GT. Dirk de Jager/2020 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

It was added to the collection in 2010.

1971 Lamborghini Jarama 400 GT. Dirk de Jager/2020 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

Ah, the 1968 Lamborghini Miura.

1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 by Bertone. Diana Varga/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

It is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful cars ever made.

1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 by Bertone. Diana Varga/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

It has a mid-mounted, 4.0-liter V12 engine.

1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 by Bertone. Diana Varga/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

The Miura is also recognized as the world’s first supercar.

1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 by Bertone. Diana Varga/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

It was also apparently the fastest production car of its time.

1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 by Bertone. Diana Varga/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

This one is estimated to sell for at least $760,000.

1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 by Bertone. Diana Varga/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

The 1986 Lamborghini Jalpa, on the other hand, looks far less radical than the Miura.

1986 Lamborghini Jalpa. Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

It still maintains those beautiful mid-engine proportions, though.

1986 Lamborghini Jalpa. Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

It was supposed to be an entry-level sports car.

1986 Lamborghini Jalpa. Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

Basically, the Gallardo of its day.

1986 Lamborghini Jalpa. Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

That blocky instrument cluster is cool

1986 Lamborghini Jalpa. Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

This one is a 1974 Lamborghini Urraco P250.

1974 Lamborghini Urraco. Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

Lamborghini only ever made 520 Urracos.

1974 Lamborghini Urraco. Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

It was intended as a competitor for the Ferrari Dino and Alfa Romeo Montreal.

1974 Lamborghini Urraco. Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

All the gauges lined up in a row like that is a good look.

1974 Lamborghini Urraco. Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

This particular one has a replacement engine.

1974 Lamborghini Urraco. Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

The 1970 Lamborghini Islero is perhaps the least-known Lamborghini.

1970 Lamborghini Islero 400 GTS. Diana Varga/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

Lamborghini only built 226 Isleros.

1970 Lamborghini Islero 400 GTS. Diana Varga/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

Their styling shows restraint and class. Ferruccio Lamborghini himself drove one.

1970 Lamborghini Islero 400 GTS. Diana Varga/Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

This isn’t the only Lamborghini Countach in the Petitjean Collection.

1979 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S by Bertone. Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

But it is a 1979 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S.

1979 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S by Bertone. Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

It has just 13,800 km on the clock, which is approximately 8,600 miles.

1979 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S by Bertone. Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

It's finished in a lovely dark blue paint.

1979 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S by Bertone. Courtesy of RM Sotheby's