It’s always a shame to see a vintage car in a “barn find” condition, and even more of a sorry sight when it’s a Ferrari in question. Having been hidden away in a dusty garage for over 40 years, the pictured 1969 Ferrari GTB/4 Daytona may not look like much. What even the most dedicated of Ferrari fans don’t know, however, is that the car is really a diamond in the rough.

Here’s a little history lesson: back in the early 1970s when Ferrari Daytonas were fiercely dominating the private racing scene, over 1,200 models were built. Of these, five models were specially equipped with a lightweight, aluminium-alloy body, making it perfect for the racetracks. Ferrari did make an exception for one additional model, however, which was instead built specifically for road use — and it’s the only one like it in the world.

The car’s history is equally illustrious, having passed through 6 different owners from Italy and, later, Japan. Its last owner, Makoto Takai, had the legendary car stashed away in Japan for a good four decades before it was (thankfully) discovered.

As declared by a Ferrari expert who examined the car, the street-ready Daytona is essentially in the same condition as it had been in its heyday. It may look a little shabby now, but it will definitely pay off to have it restored to its original glory. With a black leather interior and a red finish on its tailor-made aluminium exterior, the car comes with extra features such as power windows and plexiglas headlights. The odometer also reveals that the car has travelled 36,390 km.

You can expect there to be much fanfare around the 1969 Ferrari Daytona once it goes under the hammer on September 9 at a special Ferrari auction hosted by RM Sotheby’s. Being the world’s only remaining aluminium-bodied production GTB/4, the car is expected to fetch between €1.4 million and €1.7 million. Other models, such as a new LaFerrari Aperta, will also be up for sale at the Ferrari Factory in Maranello to commemorate the car manufacturer’s 70th anniversary.