American Pickers

10 Best Episodes of American Pickers - Season 1

Pickers like Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz are on a mission to recycle America, even if it means diving into countless piles of grimy junk or getting chased off a gun-wielding homeowner’s land. Hitting back roads from coast to coast, the two men earn a living by restoring forgotten relics to their former glory, transforming one person’s trash into another’s treasure.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 10, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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American Pickers - S1E11

#12 - Fill'er Up (Season 1 - Episode 11)

After a couple of days without a decent pick, Mike and Frank look up a Georgia collector they've heard about. He's got a storage shed that's jam-packed with curios and movie memorabilia from his family's drive-in theater. Also, during a record cold snap in rural Florida, the guys tour Wayne's awesome collection of vehicles. But is anything for sale? And, on a property full of tractors and signs, the guys scour a treasure-filled outbuilding that seems too good to be true, then hatch a plan to get the owner to sell.

The episode was rated 6.91 from 65 votes.

American Pickers - S1E12

#11 - Leland's Cafe (Season 1 - Episode 12)

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Mike finds two rare bicycles after Danielle gets a sketchy lead about a collection owned by a reluctant seller; Mike and Frank come bearing a gift when they pay another visit to Leland.

The episode was rated 7.00 from 37 votes.

American Pickers - S1E7

#10 - Frank's Gamble (Season 1 - Episode 7)

After the guys discover a basement full of vintage cars, Frank makes a big offer for a 1939 Plymouth; the guys find a mother lode of rare bikes and motorbikes in New Hampshire.

The episode was rated 7.07 from 71 votes.

American Pickers - S1E9

#9 - Bigfoot in Alabama (Season 1 - Episode 9)

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While picking their way through the South, the guys meet up with John, a Mississippi motorcycle collector who has plenty of cool stuff, but his prices are through the roof. Then Mike spots a rare 1969 Kawasaki muscle bike, but can he wrestle it out of the mud? While in Alabama, Mike and Frank visit a prolific car hobbyist whose yard looks like a vintage parking lot. After driving down Poorhouse Road, they scour the bizarre collection at the Alabama Museum of Wonder where everything--including a gigantic head from a Piggly Wiggly mascot--is for sale. And finally, the guys catch a lucky break at a Birmingham vintage scooter shop.

The episode was rated 7.14 from 51 votes.

American Pickers - S1E10

#8 - Know When to Fold (Season 1 - Episode 10)

The guys are in the South and running low on cash. They're desperate for a good pick when they happen upon a massive old junkyard and closed-down family flea market. The location is promising but its nostalgic owner is reluctant to part with his treasures. Then, Mike and Frank tour an amazing collection of rare, retro automobiles. Mike is thrilled about discovering a famous cartoonist's sketchbook that could be the jackpot they've been waiting for. But before they start laying out the cash, they have to make sure it's the real deal. And, after taking a big gamble on buying a huge pottery collection in Atlanta, the guys find out what their new thousand-dollar pottery collection is really worth.

The episode was rated 7.16 from 67 votes.

American Pickers - S1E6

#7 - Mole Man (Season 1 - Episode 6)

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Mike and Frank bet on who's the best picker while on the road in Pennsylvania, with the loser having to clean their smelly and filthy van; the guys meet "Mole Man" Ron, a picker with a mostly hand-built, 26-room underground lair.

The episode was rated 7.24 from 67 votes.

American Pickers - S1E8

#6 - 5 Acres of Junk (Season 1 - Episode 8)

Mike and Frank travel to New Orleans and encounter a quirky antiques dealer with a sprawling collection; a relic hunter's collection includes fossils; rare visible-gas pumps; automotive graveyard with more than 2,000 motorbikes.

The episode was rated 7.27 from 70 votes.

American Pickers - S1E3

#5 - White Castle on the Farm (Season 1 - Episode 3)

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Mike and Frank find a White Castle hamburger building on a farm; the duo discovers a veritable museum full of antiques and collectibles; negotiating for an old soda fountain and a cigarette machine.

The episode was rated 7.31 from 87 votes.

American Pickers - S1E1

#4 - Big Bear (Season 1 - Episode 1)

Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz--business partners in Iowa-based Antique Archaeology and friends since the 8th grade--are part sleuths, part antiques experts, and part cultural historians. They call themselves "pickers" because their job is to pick through backyard junk piles, abandoned barns and neglected garages scattered across the back roads of America looking for hidden collectibles they can make a buck on. While hunting for collectibles in Central Iowa, Mike and Frank meet 88-year-old WWII veteran Leland and buy the Japanese sword he brought back from the war. Mike takes a chance on an old saddle and ends up with a big surprise. The guys head over to Danny Beans' -- a man whose dozen barns are packed with junk but is reluctant to sell them anything. Office manager Danielle tracks down a retired carnie named "Bear" who's sitting on an awesome collection of vintage rides.

The episode was rated 7.33 from 151 votes.

American Pickers - S1E5

#3 - Back Breaker (Season 1 - Episode 5)

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Mike has injured his back but can't afford to take time off to recuperate; the guys make a big mistake while exploring a 92-year-old Iowa farmer's collection; the guys counsel a prolific collector from Ohio who is reluctant to part with a jukebox.

The episode was rated 7.35 from 77 votes.

American Pickers - S1E4

#2 - Invisible Pump (Season 1 - Episode 4)

Circa 1920s "visible" gas pump designed to allow drivers to see the grade of fuel being pumped into their cars; Mike and Frank visit an opera house built in 1879 that has become home to vintage movie posters.

The episode was rated 7.36 from 70 votes.

American Pickers - S1E2

#1 - Super Scooter (Season 1 - Episode 2)

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Mike and Frank use a motorcycle sidecar part found earlier to help close the deal on a rare Vespa Ape scooter; Mike meets the "Goat Man," whose collection of buses is buried under weeds; a collector with 32 tractors and farming memorabilia.

The episode was rated 7.42 from 102 votes.

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