Who do you think has the best Ferrari collection in the world? David Lee, Ralph Lauren, or Gordon Ramsay? What if we told you that none of them does? What if we assure you that the best Ferrari collection was owned by a guy named Pierre Bardinon? He “unofficially” owned over 300 Ferraris, and created his museum. And no, this is not a fiction Wattpad story.

Encountering a Ferrari in person, let alone sitting behind the wheel and owning dozens of them, should be considered a heroic act. Pierre Bardinon, who died in 2012, was one of the last remaining heroes to collect and celebrate the beauty and excitement that the Ferrari brand represents.

His passion for Ferrari should become a story you tell your children at night. It’s the kind of story that inspires and brings out the best from people, whether they are crazy Ferrari fans or not. But not everyone thought so. Unfortunately, the French authorities, instead of lowering taxes to such collectors who represent something more than just cars, destroyed his collection. However, his collection will forever be remembered as a celebration of life and passion. To learn more about Bardinon and his out-of-this-world collection, read the 15 facts below.

15 His Collection Was Admired By Enzo Ferrari Himself

enzo ferrari
via cnn.com

Enzo Ferrari perhaps didn’t have his favorite Ferrari built yet, but he already acknowledged his beloved collection of Ferraris. When Enzo Ferrari was asked why there isn’t a museum of Ferraris, he answered there’s one already. He was talking about Bardinon’s collection. To have a Ferrari collection is one thing; to have a Ferrari collection loved and admired by Enzo is a different thing.

14 Pierre Was An Heir To The Chapal Family

ferrari chapal interior
via topspeed.com

Although Pierre was an heir to the Chapal tannery business that produced leather and supplied the American army in the 20th century, he was the one to make the brand known in the motorsport world. Following his passion for cars, he made the Chapel brand known for products used in the interiors of vehicles. Pierre wasn’t just a guy who inherited his money from his family. Instead, he used the money to create something long-lasting.

13 Nothing Is Comparable To Ferrari

ferrari 335s
via monsieurvintage.com

Pierre got acquainted with the motorsport world, and it changed his life. He became a crazy fan of the Le Mans race, and the sound of the Ferrari V12 turned his world around. That’s why he sold all his Buggattis and Jaguars and started buying and restoring Ferraris. According to Pierre, no car comes close to Ferrari. It is a work of art that will always increase in value. 

12 The Mas Du Clos Fields Became Bardinon’s Museum

mas du clos ferrari museum
via sfcriga.com

Pierre was on a continuous search for the most beautiful Ferraris, even if they were in horrible condition. He was especially interested in the Le Mans winners. But to collect them, Pierre needed a decent space. That’s why he turned the Mas du Clos fields that belonged to his family into a playground for his Ferraris, and a soon-to-be museum.

11 He Owned A Private Two-Mile Racetrack

pierre bardinon race track
via sfcriga.com

What’s the point of owning a crazy car collection and never using them? The purpose of cars and particularly Ferrari, is to be driven and celebrated for their speed and beauty. That’s what Pierre thought too. He couldn’t leave his precious Ferraris parked. Instead, he opened a two-mile race-track close to his castle. He also opened the racetrack for various car clubs and fanatics to use and enjoy.

10 Bardinon Collected Over 500 Cars

pierre bardinon 500 car collection
via lepoint.fr

Can you imagine a guy like Pierre to be modest? He didn’t like to brag about his cars in the media or anywhere. That’s why there’s no official number of how many cars he had. However, various sources have found out that he collected over 500 vehicles, and 300 of them were Ferraris. The most famous ones are the 335S, four 250 GTOs, a 330 P4, a 290 MM, a 375 Plus, a 550 Maranello, an F50, and an Enzo. Crazy, right?

9 His Family Sold Most Of The Ferraris

pierre bardinon ferrari at auction
via moneyinc.com

After Pierre and his wife died in 2012, the collection was inherited by his sons. However, the French authorities began asking for taxes that never got paid by Pierre. To pay the millions they owed to the French government, the Bardinon family had no choice but to start selling the collection. Sadly, such a beautiful and inspiring story has such a horrifying end.

8 In 2012 There Were Only 20 Cars Left

pierre bardinon ferrari collection
via fondationcartier.com

Yes, the supposedly 500 cars got all sold, and only 20 cars were left out of Pierre’s collection. Although no one knows which cars are still available, Marcel Massini, a Ferrari historian who was an acquaintance of Pierre, claimed the selection would be worth more than $200 million. He called the remaining cars the "Mona Lisas of the Ferrari World."

7 "Mona Lisas" Of the Ferrari World Valued At $70 Million

collection of ferrari 250 gto
via justacarguy.blogspot.com

However, the Bardinon family disagreed with Massini and valued the collection at $70 million. Whether Massini was ill-informed or Bardinon gave such a figure to avoid taxes is only a speculation at this point. What’s true is the ability of bureaucracy to destroy something as beautiful as Pierre’s collection.

6 His Son Was Sued For Breach Of Trust

ferrari 250 gto
via corthousenews.com

Pierre had two sons, Patrick and Jean Francois, and a daughter Anne. Patrick was the one who got close to Pierre, took care of the collection himself, and became an excellent driver. However, he was sued for breach of trust after selling the 1964 Ferrari 250 GTO for $42 million - a record at the time.

The French court ordered him to pay his siblings what they were owed. However, Patrick’s story is different. He claimed that the 250 GTO wasn’t part of the collection, but his own. The 250 GTO was a gift from Pierre himself after Patrick had an accident. Pierre thought that the 250 GTO needed a new life, and that life was Patrick’s.

5 The Ferrari 335S Took Part In 24 Hours of Le Mans

ferrari 335s le mans
via newatlas.com

Pierre restored the Ferrari 335s and immediately sent it to race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, the adventure of the 335s doesn’t end here. Its career continued in various other events, such as the Cuban GP and Gaston Andrey. It was the ultimate car of Pierre’s collection, with exceptional beauty, history, and origin.

4 There Are Rumors Bardinon Took Part In 1962 Coupe De Paris Himself

pierre bardinon jaguar e type coupe de paris
via girardo.com

According to RacingSportsCars.com, there’s a nameless Bardinon who took part in the 1962 Coupes de Paris race with a Jaguar E-Type. There are many rumors that it may have been Pierre himself. After all, Pierre was a fan of Jaguar, and he owned an E-type. There’s no evidence whether this rumor is true, but it is fascinating to think about it.

RELATED: 1964 Jaguar E-Type Resurrected After 40 Years Of Neglect

3 Pierre's Circuit in Creuse Hosted Porsche, Mercedes, And Many Others

porsches on the circuit of creuse
via drivetribe.com

Pierre Bardinon wanted nothing more than to celebrate the passion for cars with his friends. That’s why the Circuit of Mas du Clos hosted many teams, starting from Matra Sports, which was the first one ever to come and race on the track. After 1971, Porsche arrived as well only to be followed by Lotus, Ferrari, Bugatti, Bentley, Mercedes, Alfa Romeo, and even Toyota. Pierre's circuit had become a place for laps and laughs.

RELATED: Watch As These Vintage Porsches Duke It Out On The Track

2 The British Champion Anthony Reid Was Part of Bardinon’s Team

anthony reid
via motorsport.radio

Even Anthony Reid, the great British racing champion, was happy to spend his time at Mas du Clos. He joined the team and was hosted by the Bardonin family, whom he recalls as extremely fabulous and welcoming. Unfortunately, the circuit was closed a year later, because it wasn’t up to the standards that the French government wanted it to be. And thus, one of the most beautiful French tracks got permanently closed and remains only a memory.

RELATED: 10 Greatest Racetracks in Europe

1 Greatest Ferrari Collection To Ever Exist

pierre and ferraris
justacarguy.blogspot.com

The collection of Pierre Bardinon doesn’t exist anymore, unfortunately. Nonetheless, it’s deeply rooted in our hearts and minds as one of the best collections ever to exist. Pierre will be remembered as a Ferrari hero, whose vision created not only a Ferrari museum but a museum of excitement and beauty of speed.

NEXT: Ferrari World: A Look Inside The World’s Largest Indoor Amusement Park