This shabby old Plymouth may sell for up to $700,000 after sitting in a storage container for 35 years — take a closer look

• This 1971 Plymouth may look like any other decades-old muscle car, but it might rake in a whopping $700,000 when it heads to auction next month.
• Having spent 35 years hidden away in a storage container, the car is mostly original, and certain parts of it are in pristine condition.
• It's also exceptionally rare, which helps to explain the hefty price tag.
• The car will cross the auction block at Mecum Auctions' 33rd Original Spring Classic, which takes place on July 10 to July 18.

A beat-up, 49-year-old Plymouth is headed to auction next month, and pre-auction estimates say it may sell for more than a brand-new Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Rolls-Royce.

That's because the 1971 Plymouth Cuda up for sale through Mecum Auctions isn't just any old muscle car. Not only is it from the convertible Cuda's last production year, it's also one of only 17 1971 drop tops to come equipped with the high-performance, 440-cubic-inch V8 engine option. Moreover, it's one of only two such examples to be built for export, rather than the US market, making it extra rare and desirable.

On top of all that, this car spent 35 years of its life locked away in a storage unit, meaning it's highly original and largely unrestored. Classic-car collectors have been known to pay top dollar for untouched and unmodified "survivor" cars, contributing to this particular Cuda's sky-high pre-auction estimate of $500,000-$700,000.

Take a closer look at the car below, before it crosses the block at Mecum Auctions' 33rd Original Spring Classic on Friday, July 17.

A long-hidden, unrestored Plymouth Cuda is headed to auction next month, and it could bring in a whopping $700,000, according to pre-auction estimates.

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

Though it may look like any other beat-up, old muscle car, this Cuda is exceptionally rare and special, hence the steep price tag.

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

First off, it's from 1971, which was the final production year for convertible Cudas.

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

It's one of only 17 convertible models from that year that came outfitted with the Cuda's beefiest engine option, a 440-cubic-inch V8.

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

The engine is rated at 385 horsepower, which was impressive for 1971 and still respectable by today's standards.

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

It's definitely lost a few horses since its glory days, but whoever buys this specimen probably isn't taking it racing anytime soon.

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

Adding to its rarity, this is one of only two Cudas with these specs that were built for export to Canada or overseas.

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

The cherry on top is that the car is a bonafide barn find — it spent 35 years tucked away in a storage container.

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

It's cosmetically unrestored and looks much like it would have back in the 1970s, save for some wear and tear.

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

The interior may be a little dusty ...

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

... but the seats are pristine ...

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

... and the dashboard is in impeccable shape, with no visible cracks or fading.

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

On the exterior, this 1971 Cuda boasts desirable features like chrome bumpers ...

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

... a rear spoiler ...

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

... and body-color-matched mirrors.

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

It has all its original body panels ...

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

... but its powertrain has been refreshed ...

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

... and a hood scoop has been added.

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.

Save for those minor mods, the Cuda up for sale is pretty much as original as it gets. But we'll have to wait until Mecum's 33rd Original Spring Classic to see what sort of dough it rakes in.

1971 Plymouth Cuda.      Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.