7 mind-blowing cars found for under $1,000 in US junkyards
Published on Aug 10, 2025 at 4:26 AM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Aug 06, 2025 at 9:26 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Ever dreamed of stumbling upon something amazing in the most unassuming places? These US junkyards are the sweet spot.
In American junkyards, hunters have found extreme bargains — cars that once roared on highways now rest on scrap piles.
We’ve gathered seven unbelievable discoveries — each reportedly found for under $1,000.
Here’s what they unearthed, and why car lovers can’t stop talking about it.
DISCOVER OUR SUPERCAR AUCTION SITE – View live auctions on SBX Cars
1. US junkyards: America’s largest Volkswagen graveyard
Found in a Pennsylvania VW graveyard for as little as $500, this rare 1950s Volkswagen Beetle example is one of only around 15,000 made.
Discovered by the automotive content creators behind Backyard Barn Finds, it’s said to be ‘America’s largest Volkswagen graveyard’ – and the late collector nabbed some vehicles for just $50.
Also from the same yard, a U.S.-rare 1972–74 Volkswagen 412 Hatchback shows how low the price can go in salvage conditions.
They’re rare in the United States due to their limited production.
One more for good luck, Larry, who inherited the above US junkyard, also inherited a slew of buses collected in a junkyard due to their restoration and parts potential.
2. Classic car farm in Minnesota
Meanwhile, an auto enthusiast revealed the wonders of a huge junkyard full of vintage cars.
From Chevrolets to Oldsmobiles and from Fords to Lincolns, they are sorted by year and type, with some originally acquired for under $1,000 for parts or restorations.
MattsRadShow showed off cars like an old Chevrolet Impala, a Dynamic 88 Oldsmobile, a Ford wagon, a Ford Galaxy, a Plymouth, a Dodge Coronet, and even a Mercury Monterey.
3. US junkyards: GTO, Corvettes & Mustangs in Detroit yard
A graveyard full of muscle car icons was discovered rusting away, many originally priced for salvage under $1,000.
A rare 1970 Chevelle was found in the yard on the site in Detroit, Michigan, as well as a ‘basically untouched’ 1970 Camaro.
There was a four-door Pontiac Catalina and a Mustang SportsRoof from 1970 nestled in some weeds.
But the cherry on top of the cake was a 1969 Mach 1 Mustang, which Ryan said was one of his ‘all-time favourite cars’.
4. Ford Model T collection
Over 70 Model Ts were found in a classic car graveyard beside a road.
“This place is called the Model T graveyard,” URBEX and Broken Things said in their YouTube video.
Anyone can visit the piles of rare decaying vehicles, but the owner is a mystery.
Ford’s Model T was initially produced in 1908 and is widely considered the first American mass-produced vehicle.
5. US junkyards: Bangers used in drift builds
Robby Layton headed to ‘Country Auto Salvage’ in Aurora, Utah, searching for used parts like Bronco doors, truck bed, fender) and a sub-$1,000 drift car—specifically avoiding Fords and Chevys.
After rejecting multiple options, they finally come across a BMW 528i that starts up (barely) and meets the rear-wheel-drive, non-Ford/Chevy requirement, deeming it the best candidate.
They negotiate and buy the BMW for just $250, achieving their goal and heading home with a plan to transform it into a budget-friendly drift machine.
6. Private collections unearthed
PrizzaMike unexpectedly discovered a private junkyard while dropping off axles and is invited to explore and spot rare cars, including project cars bought for less than $1,000.
A rare 2000s Toyota Supra MK4 A80 JDM car was found, a handful of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII, IX, and several Lancer Evo 10’s.
He also found his first Nissan R35 GTR, Toyota Supra MK5, and Toyota MR2, a late spec 1996 Nissan 300zx Twin Turbo, and a Honda Civic Type R that ‘still smelled like a new car’.
7. Massive private ‘car farm’ collection
Not strictly speaking under $1,000, but worth a mention for boasting over 1,000 cars, Tennessee is home to entrepreneur Don Baskin and his impressive car collection.
Many people dream of having a huge collection of cars, but Baskin, from Memphis, has collected a huge array of cars over the years.
His fleet of cars looks more like a private museum than a car collection, and there are some amazing vehicles on show.
YouTuber 1320Garage managed to get into the collection to take a look and showed viewers exactly how big the Baskin collection really is.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
