With those “plates” on one end my guess this is an alignment scissor lift, those “plates” allow you to “turn” steering wheels freely…
Correct, it's an old alignment rack, might have a 4 foot lift height, no posts, scissor style lift. That one having been abused and put away dripping wet and screaming for a rebuild.
If you have the knowledge to do the work yourself, you saved quite a bit of money, if not, then you are better turning it around at the scrap yard (you'll triple your investment) as it will cost you almost as much, if not more than a new four post lift to source missing parts and restore.
Bill S.