Ever take on a project that proved a little too ambitious? Sure, we all have. In fact, several have tried to restore this old Ferrari over the years. And if you think you're up to biting off more than they could chew, it could be yours to undertake next.

What you're looking at is a 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, precursor to today's 812 Superfast. Chassis number 14273 was originally ordered by a British customer in right-hand drive in Argento Auteuil with a black leather interior, picked up at the factory in Maranello, and driven (at speed, we're sure) up the coast to Monte Carlo for the grand prix.

Its first owner, John Cussins, was an enthusiast, hillclimb competitor, and something of a collector of sports and racing cars. A few years after taking delivery, the car was involved in a major accident, rolling down a slope only to be retrieved with a chain harness that did as much damage to the body as the crash did in the first place.

The remnants changed hands several times over the following years, including to one individual who planned on converting it to Spider form and chopped off the roof, but never completed the project. Ultimately the car ended up sitting in a state of disrepair in storage for some three decades.

Its current owner bought it in 2006 and set about restoring it to its former glory. He too stopped short of the finish line, but his undertaking saw him rebuild the roof and source many parts that had gone missing, to the point that it now has everything its next owner could need to bring it back to life – including its original engine and speedometer, showing 26,117 miles.

If you think you could pick up where its current and previous owners left off, Collecting Cars will soon auction off the car and all its accompanying parts, ready to absorb all your time, energy, and whatever other resources you might have to throw into it.