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HIDDEN GEMS

Junkyard filled to brim with iconic vintage motors – with discontinued estate car, rare 30s Cadillac & ‘cherished’ Jag

This isn't even the biggest scrapyard in the world
Rusty cars in a junkyard; French Lake Auto Parts sign.

A SPRAWLING junkyard is home to thousands of abandoned cars, including a rare Cadillac.

French Lake Auto Parts - nicknamed Junktown USA - is nestled in Annandale, Minnesota, and attracts hordes of visitors keen to explore its collection.

This 1949 Ford was the first all-new postwar Ford
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This 1949 Ford was the first all-new postwar FordCredit: Auto Car
The Hudson Hornet - with its two-tone paintwork is epitome of 1955
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The Hudson Hornet - with its two-tone paintwork is epitome of 1955Credit: Auto Car
This rare 1938 Cadillac is a remarkable relic
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This rare 1938 Cadillac is a remarkable relic
French Lake Auto Parts has been in business since the 1950s
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French Lake Auto Parts has been in business since the 1950s

It boasts 68 years of experience in the auto recycling business.

Some of the motors date as far back as the 1920s, with the owners having painstakingly organised and labelled each showing the year of manufacture.

It's full of hidden gems and a must for any car lovers.

Among of the rows and rows of rusting motors is a rare 1967 AMC Marlin - originally called the Rambler Tarpon.

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It was designed as a striking alternative to the muscle cars so popular in the US during the Swinging Sixties.

Despite its sleek and graceful design, it wasn't a huge seller in its day, with Junktown's model one of just 2,545 sold in the months before production was halted.

One of the site's most cherished finds is a 1938 Cadillac.

Something of a rust bucket version, with the boot missing and spare tyre exposed, a pristine version could sell for over $200,000.

Other cars include Volkswagen Beetles from the 1970s, a 1950 Kaiser and a 1972 Comet totalled in a crash in 2008, resulting in its current resting place.

Among the misfit motors is a Jaguar XJ-S from 1983, the successor to the iconic E-Type that never quite captured the same amount of awe.

classic car junkyard_YouTube_MattsRadShow

While its older sibling is sought after by collectors around the world, this awkward creation instead resides in the likes of Junktown's collection.

It's not going anywhere fast either, as its tyres are flat.

Venturing further into the scrap site, visitors will come across a 1955 pink and white two tone Hudson Hornet Holiday Hardtop.

And a Ford Thunderbird from 1965, with its distinctive sequential turn signals.

There's also a Buick Special from 1957, with collector licence plates.

When it was first released, this Riviera hardtop sold to more than 50,000 buyers at a price tag of $2,780 - that's around $31,450 in today's money.

This 1970 MG MGB is a treasure trove of valuable parts
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This 1970 MG MGB is a treasure trove of valuable partsCredit: Auto Car
The Jaguar XJ-S was supposed to be the successor to the E-Type
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The Jaguar XJ-S was supposed to be the successor to the E-Type

The world's largest car graveyard

Junkyards filled to the brim with old cars are all over the US.

However, some are bigger than others. The largest in the world is in Georgia called Old Car City.

Sitting on 34 acres, the site is home to over 4,000 classic cars, vans, trucks, and buses from America and Europe.

The yard is more than just rusted cars, though. The main building has another time capsule for the early 20th century and beyond, with vintage toys and other automotive memorabilia collections.

The property has since become a museum where people can peruse the symbols of a treasured American era for $34. Weddings, parties, and corporate events can be held there, too.

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