This IS an internet myth - although I would be happy with the Abarth 1300 Scorpione - let alone the other treasures..

A friend fired this email over - I will confess to a Walter Mitty moment

it's a hoax - but a good one! - http://www.hoax-slayer.com/barn-cars.shtml

Email contents below:

Amazing MUST SEE.....The BarnA recently retired New York man wanted to use his retirement funds wisely,decided to buy a home and a few acres in Portugal. The modest farmhouse had been vacant for 15 years; the owner and wifeboth had died, and there were no heirs. The estate was being sold to pay back taxes. There had been several lookers, but the large barn had steel doors, and they had been welded shut. No one wanted to go to the extra expense to see what was in the barn, and it wasn't complimentary to the property anyway... so, no one made an offer on the place.

The New York gentleman bought it as is, paying just over half of the property's worth; moved in, and set about to access the barn... curiosity was killing him. So, he and his wife bought a generator and a couple of grinders... and cut thru the welds. What was in the barn...?

A warehouse full of vintage high performance cars!!! Detailed below are some of the cars discoveredLancia Flaminia Zagato, Opel GT, Lotus Elan FHC, Lotus Super Seven Series IV, Lotus Elan DHC. Porsche 356, Austin Healey Sprite MkII, Volvo PV 544, Ford Y?,  Giulietta Sprint, Giulia Sprint Speciale (SS), Nash Metropolitan. Alfa Giulietta, Lotus Europa, another Lotus Elan FHC, Matra Djet? Lancia Flaminia Coupe,  Abarth 1300 Scorpione, Alfa 1900 Super Sprint, Balilla. Fiat Topolino II, Triumph TR4, Peugeot 202. BMW V8, Formula racers, Chryslers, Mercedes, Austin A30. Formula racers, Chryslers, Mercedes, Austin A30.Amazing! Total value of all vehicles over $35 Million! (might be optimistic!)

The man and his wife had full title to the complete lot of vehicles.