THIS 1969 FERRARI GTB/4 DAYTONA IS WORTH 1.5 MILLION POUNDS. YES, REALLY!
A regular Ferrari 365 GTB/4 in this condition would be worth no more than £500,000 today, but this 1969 model will be selling for three times that amount when auctioned off next month! This will be when it goes under the hammer at RM Sotheby's upcoming sale at Ferrari's home in Maranello, Italy.
Despite being in "barn-find state", the reason this particular car is so expensive is that it is a unique car – only one made – and has been hidden away in Japan for 40 years! Over the decades, Ferrari enthusiasts have been unable to trace this car and even questioned its very existence.
This is the only aluminium-bodied version of the GTB/4 Daytona to be produced by the iconic Ferrari company. There were five lightweight alloy racers created for the track for the 24 Hours of Daytona event – but this is the only one ever produced than could legally be driven on the road with a registration plate, indicators and normal seat belts affixed.
The biggest factor that makes this car so collectable is that most enthusiasts believe it was lost forever – after it was shipped to Japan in 1971, it was not spoken of for 40 years!
And it may look like it's in a rocky state now, but experts say they believe it is in good authentic condition.
It turns out, the most recent of four Japanese owners – Makoto Takai – purchased the unique 365 GTB/4 in 1979, and had it locked up for almost half a century.
Only a few collectors knew the car had survived out there, while many others were unaware that such a special and important car was still in one piece.
Since many attempts were reportedly made to buy it to no avail, next month's opportunity to own the unicorn Ferrari is an extremely special occasion indeed!
The "barn-find state condition" is unlikely to scare any serious Ferrari investors away. 40 years of inactivity should mean for a fairly preserved powertrain.
For peace of mind, however, the car underwent a thorough evaluation by an expert in all Ferrari vehicles, and this confirmed the presence of the matching chassis and engine numbers guaranteeing it is the one-of-a-kind model.
In fact, an inspector said that the interior was "remarkably authentic" and in a "very good condition" – even though it looks a little rough around the edges in these pictures.
The odometer shows that the car has covered only 36,390km (or 22,611 miles).
The unicorn Ferrari has undergone some "minor cosmetic modifications" during its Japanese registration, but the originality and condition of the interior are still as authentic as ever!
After inspecting the car, the inspector, Marcel Massini said: "What a super scarce Daytona barn find, the only remaining aluminium-bodied production GTB/4, sold new to Luciano Conti, a close friend of Commendatore Enzo Ferrari."
Even though the pictures are a bit rough, the 4.4-litre V12 unit has hardly been used for a car that is now almost 50 years old.
RM Sotheby described this unicorn Ferrari as a "unique car that no other collector can claim ownership to, this Daytona holds distinct ties to its competition brethren yet never turned a wheel in anger and was instead preserved for decades."
"Presented here in remarkable unrestored condition, having been domiciled for many years and never significantly refurbished, there is no better Daytona for the discerning connoisseur, as it offers limitless opportunities for enjoyment."
The 1969 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta Alloy by Scaglietti will be sold alongside other Ferrari collectables at the Legenda a Passione sale on 9 September.