
American Pickers: 10 Wildest Finds Ranked
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American Pickers soon rose to prominence as one of the network’s most popular programs.
The show followed collectors Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe as they journeyed around the United States in search of hidden gems in garages, barns, and even deserted homes.
Fritz’s health problems caused him to leave the show in season 20 and eventually pass away in 2024.
But Wolfe and the show have continued his legacy.
Wolfe and Fritz’s friendship has played a significant role in the show because of their mutual love of history throughout the years.
From antique automobiles and motorcycles to other priceless items, the two guys have found it all.
However, the show delves deeply into the significance of conserving history for future generations, going beyond simply upselling rare things to make a profit.
This find has to be my favorite of all the ones I’ve seen on American Pickers, both because it was a valuable item and because of its backstory.
It was a 1935 Auburn Phaeton 653, which Wolfe and Fritz bought in season 12.
The car was in poor shape when the two friends discovered it because it had been sitting unattended in a barn in South Dakota owned by a couple named Jan and Sandy.
Wolfe and Fritz purchased the car from them for about $26,000.
They also agreed to let Jan drive it after they had finished repairing it.
Unfortunately, Jan was already dead when the pickers succeeded in starting the car.
But in remembrance of her late husband, Mike made sure Jan’s wife rode in the Phaeton.
Technically speaking, given its laborious restoration procedure, the vintage vehicle has been one of the show’s best discoveries.
While the car was coated with layers of white paint and had a rusted exterior, according to SlashGear, Wolfe was able to completely transform it and sell it at auction for $35,200.
Constructed during the Great Depression and meticulously repaired, this vehicle is a historical artifact.
For many Star Wars enthusiasts, this was a huge discovery.
Wolfe and Fritz are known for unearthing some of the rarest relics ever discovered, and the Yoda prototypes they discovered were no exception.
The original Yoda puppet from The Empire Strikes Back (1980), which had deteriorated over time, was replicated in these handcrafted sculptures by sculptor Mario Kyota.
Only 10 of these meticulously hand-painted pieces were ever produced, making them incredibly valuable pieces of Star Wars memorabilia.
Fritz and Wolfe had arrived prepared to bargain, but Kyota had set his prices at $5,000 to $8,000 each for these unique sculptures.
For one of the artist’s proofs, they were able to lower the price to $6,250, which is a great bargain considering how uncommon they are.
Although that is the buy for another time, Kyota has also done a pretty good job at imitating the Jedi Master.
On the one hand, Fritz and Wolfe are able to obtain some quite valuable objects and turn a profit on them.
The show’s most unusual discoveries, such as the time the two friends ended themselves haggling over an elephant head, are in my opinion some of its most memorable moments.
When the pickers visited a taxidermy shop in Maine in season 4, episode 7, they were immediately drawn to the head of a mounted elephant.
The enormous sculpture created by a taxidermist named Al was priced at $12,000 and had prosthetic tusks and ears.
The pair surveyed a number of strange objects such as a hideous piglet, a 10-ft long alligator, and a musky.
However, they had no interest in anything but the desired elephant.
Thus, they used their charm to persuade the seller to accept $9,500 in cash.
But finding a buyer for this unusual find was the difficult part.
However, Danielle Colby was able to sell it to Jack White, the leader of The White Stripes, who paid $6,000 for the taxidermy elephant and included a few items for the pickers in the exchange.
In season 19, when visiting a collector named Zip in South Carolina, the pickers discovered a rare officer sword from the 1850s, the oldest object ever discovered on American Pickers.
Zip was a Vietnam military soldier who possessed an extensive collection of military relics.
Naturally, the pickers showed an instant interest in everything that he might provide them.
They were particularly drawn to an old sword in Zip’s collection that had a sharkskin handle and floral carvings.
Zip showed that there were several scratches all around the blade, indicating that it had been used in combat.
When Wolfe tried to haggle over the $800 price of the sword, the seller would not budge.
The picker, however, was eager to complete the transaction at the initial price because he didn’t want to lose out on this unique item.
Colby tells the pickers to step up their game, and they embark on a mission in season 2, episode 9.
The two then embarked on what they refer to as freestyling, which is simply going out on their own and searching the countryside for possible leads.
They eventually run into Kin, a collector who has an early bicycle, among other intriguing objects in his workshop.
The most intriguing piece in Kin’s collection, though, is a collection of hand-colored pornographic photos from the Victorian era.
The images show women posing provocatively for the camera while holding swords in their hands, sporting short skirts, and sporting red hearts on their chests.
Wolfe instantly agrees to Kin’s demand of $25 for the three pictures.
I think it’s an offer too excellent to pass up.
When Wolfe and Fritz had to locate unique Civil War artifacts for the Gettysburg Museum of History, American Pickers season 4 got off to a spectacular start.
They eventually reach Maryland on their quest where they encounter Keith, a collector with an amazing collection that includes rare Confederate cash, firearms, and other historic items.





