“This is reportedly the only alloy-bodied, non-racing 365 GTB/4 built.”

That’s what classic car expert Jared Zaugg said in an email to CNN.

Zaugg was referring to a very special Ferrari Daytona which had been missing for 40 years, all the while “gathering dust in a Japanese barn after being shipped out of Italy in 1971”:

Completed in 1969, the car was exported to a Japanese dealership in 1971 and then featured in the January 1972 issue of Car Graphic, a Japanese motoring magazine.

After passing hands several times, it ended up in the barn of its last owner, Makoto Takai, some time around 1980.

Ferrari had only ever commissioned one “street version” of the Daytona with a full aluminium body:

Between 1969 and 1973, Ferrari produced over 1,200 units of its 365 GTB/4, a two-seat grand tourer capable of 174 mph and unofficially nicknamed “Daytona.”

It also commissioned five lightweight alloy versions of the car, to compete in the endurance race 24 Hours of Daytona. And just one alloy version that was street legal.

And this is that car:

A little dusty, the “barn find” will be put up for sale unrestored with the odometer only displaying just over 34 500 km.

It will be a main feature at one of the largest Ferrari auctions ever in Maranello, Italy this Saturday, RM Sotheby’s “expecting the car to fetch up to 1,7 million euros” (R26 million):

“I think it’s optimistic,” said Zaugg, of the estimate.

“Ownership of this will really amount to bragging rights, as in ‘I own the only one of its kind in the world.’ Nevertheless, it’s an impressive, highly original, high-performance capable Ferrari with a great story.”

“The alloy body offers weight reduction, which helps to improve performance. Add to that the state of original, time-capsule preservation and you have a very special car. This is a significant find.”

Of all the things that have been lost, who would have a thought a Ferrari to be one of them.

[source:cnn]