BARN FIND ITALIANS TO GO TO AUCTION

Hidden away for close to forty years in a storage building near Dallas, Texas, these vehicles were a rare find under layers of dust. Despite decades in storage, all three cars appear to be in good condition, the dry Texas climate no doubt a factor in their condition. The Italian trio will be amongst 750 vehicles representing all makes and models crossing the auction block at Mecum's Monterey Auction. The auction takes place August 18-20, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on the Del Monte Golf Course.

The '72 Daytona, generally regarded as one of Ferrari's all-time best GT cars, boasts a GT Berlinetta with a four cam (twin overhead cam) V12. The Daytona has a traditional front engine, rear wheel drive layout, independent suspension front and rear, and a 5-speed manual gearbox mounted in the rear to improve weight distribution. The 4.4L V12 Ferrari engine, topped by six Weber carbs, produces 347hp - enough to propel the two-passenger Daytona from 0-60mph in 5.3 seconds and achieve a top speed of 174 mph. This example shows only 9,752 miles on the odometer.

Ferrari created the Dino to produce a higher production, less expensive sports car featuring a V6 engine. The Dino first utilized Ferrari's system of coding the engine type and displacement into the model number; Thus, the Dino 246GT decodes as a 2.4lt, 6-cylinder GT (Gran Turismo).The lot on offer shows only 2,910 miles.

The Bora 4.9 was Maserati's mid-engine super car, introduced in 1974 and continued in limited numbers (275) through 1978. A closed coupe, the car features a wedge shape styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro, famous for the critically acclaimed Maserati Ghibli and the stunning Iso Grifo. The 275 horsepower 4.9L V8 gives the Bora the ability to hit a top speed of 177mph. If the mileage is any indication, the Bora is the least "used" car of the three, showing just 978 miles.