Will Shier's DISCOVERIES

Our intrepid salvage yard explorer brings you junkyard jewels from across North America.

1. During its two-decade production run, the Monterey acted as Mercury’s entry-level, mid-range and flagship model. In 1958, when this once beautiful pink four-door sedan rolled off the line, it sat somewhere in the middle. It’s a resident of Hidden Valley Auto Parts in Maricopa, Arizona, where it is gradually being stripped of its parts.

2. You could secure this 1960 Cadillac Coupe DeVille two-door hardtop for $8500. It’s certainly a bit rough around the edges, and needs new glazing, but the body is relatively straight and rustfree. It’s one of 400 restoration projects at Idaho’s L&L Classic Auto. For more information call: 001 208 536 6607.

3. This lowly 1971 Ford Custom 500 Ranch Wagon harks back to a day before families took road trips in minivans and SUVs. To a time when kids looked out of windows on journeys, instead of at tablet screens.

4. Built between 1980 and 1987, the AMC Eagle was in my opinion a hugely underrated car. It was also unquestionably one of the first 4x4 crossovers. This 1980 station wagon was one of three body styles offered in its first year of production (the others being the coupe and sedan), and with 25,807 built, was easily the biggest seller. Sadly, this one is being offered for parts, and can’t be purchased as a whole car.

5. Discovered in New Mexico, this 1954 Plymouth Plaza is in pretty good shape. However, it isn’t a particularly desirable vehicle, so sadly its chances of long-term survival are slim.

6. On Desert Valley Auto Parts’ website there is a photograph of this 1968 Oldsmobile 98 two-door convertible the day it arrived at the yard, and it looks pretty good. There’s a note explaining that it’s new to stock, and a price to buy the whole car has not been decided yet. Since then, the proprietor has clearly decided that it is worth more dead than alive, and instead of offering it as a project car, has decided to part it out. I’m surprised, because fewer than 4000 of these were built.

7. It would certainly take a lot of time and money to coax this 1957 Oldsmobile back to life. I found it in an Arkansas yard, where it has resided for a few decades.

8. Here’s another one whose road-going days are definitely over. But the Colorado climate has been kind to the 1966 Ford F100, so it still has plenty of useful rot-free parts to offer.

10. Goldfield, Nevada has more than its fair share of derelict cars and houses, but they don’t get any better than this combination. I’d date the Ford Model T to 1926 or 1927.

9. It might not be the most desirable car in the world, but painted bright yellow this 1980 Chevrolet Malibu certainly stands out in this Arizona yard. The former taxi appears to be complete too, right down to its set of Ford hubcaps!