American Pickers Discovers the Rarest Nazi Motorcycle Collection in the World in an Abandoned Garage

In the heart of rural Pennsylvania, what started as another day of “picking” for American Pickers stars Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz turned into one of the most shocking and historically significant finds in the show’s long-running history. Tipped off by a local about a “bunch of old bikes” hidden in a collapsing garage on a long-forgotten estate, the duo uncovered what experts are calling the largest and rarest private collection of Nazi-era German military motorcycles ever found in North America.

Mike Wolfe later described the moment: “We’ve found some wild stuff over the years — classic Harleys, muscle cars, you name it. But when we pried open that rusted door and the flashlight hit those sidecars with the iron cross markings… I got chills. It was like stepping into a World War II time capsule.”

The property belonged to the late Heinrich “Henry” Kessler, a German-American immigrant who arrived in the United States in the late 1940s. According to family members who still live nearby, Kessler worked as a mechanic and quietly collected military vehicles and memorabilia. He passed away several years ago, and the estate had fallen into disrepair, with the massive garage hidden behind overgrown trees and NO TRESPASSING signs.

Breaking Into History

Mike and Frank, accompanied by the property’s hesitant heir, used crowbars and sheer determination to open the garage doors that hadn’t budged in decades. Dust and decades of debris cascaded down as the beams of their lights revealed row after row of meticulously preserved — and some battle-worn — German motorcycles from the Wehrmacht era.

The centerpiece of the collection: multiple Zündapp KS 750 motorcycle-sidecar combinations, widely regarded as one of the finest and most capable military bikes of World War II. Developed specifically for the German army, the KS 750 featured a 751cc flat-twin engine, shaft drive to both the rear wheel and the sidecar wheel, an eight-speed transmission (including reverse), and exceptional off-road capabilities. Only around 18,695 units were produced between 1941 and 1944, making surviving examples exceptionally rare today.

Next to them stood several BMW R75 models — the legendary rival to the Zündapp. The R75, with its 745cc overhead-valve boxer engine, was designed to carry three fully equipped soldiers and over 1,000 pounds of payload across rugged terrain. Fewer than 20,000 were built before Allied bombing raids disrupted production. In pristine or even restorable condition, these bikes can fetch tens of thousands of dollars each on the collector market.

The collection went far beyond just these two icons. There were DKW, NSU, and earlier civilian models requisitioned for military use, including rare pre-war BMW R12 sidecar rigs. Some bikes still bore original Wehrmacht markings, ammunition canisters, spare wheels, and even tool kits stamped with Nazi eagle insignias. One particularly eerie find was a Zündapp fitted with winter tracks and snow chains, likely used on the brutal Eastern Front.

Frank Fritz, sifting through crates of spare parts, couldn’t contain his excitement: “Look at this — original sidecar machine gun mounts! These things were basically the German version of the Jeep, but on two wheels and a sidecar. The engineering is insane for the time.”

A Collector’s Secret Life

Henry Kessler, according to relatives, never spoke much about his past. Born in Germany in the 1920s, he reportedly served as a young mechanic in the later years of the war. After immigrating to America, he built a successful small engine repair business while secretly amassing this trove through auctions, military surplus channels, and private sales in the post-war decades when such items were far less regulated and valuable.

The garage itself was a marvel of preservation. Climate-controlled in its heyday with dehumidifiers and custom shelving, it protected the bikes from the worst of Pennsylvania’s harsh winters. Many machines retained original paint, though some showed genuine patina from wartime use — “tropical” style aging on fuel tanks and battle scars that only add to their historical value.

Experts brought in after the discovery estimate the collection’s total value could exceed several million dollars, depending on restoration levels and provenance. Complete, running Zündapp KS 750 combinations with sidecars routinely sell for $40,000–$80,000 or more at auction, while pristine BMW R75s command similar or higher prices. The sheer volume — over a dozen heavy military combinations plus supporting vehicles and parts — makes this find unprecedented in the American picking scene.

Ethical and Historical Complexities

Discovering Nazi memorabilia always brings sensitive conversations. Mike and Frank emphasized that their interest lies in the mechanical ingenuity and historical significance rather than ideology. “These machines represent incredible engineering that helped shape modern motorcycles,” Mike noted. “But they also remind us of a dark chapter in human history. We have to approach this with respect.”

The collection has already drawn interest from museums, including the National WWII Museum in New Orleans and private collectors specializing in Axis vehicles. Some pieces may end up on public display to educate future generations about wartime technology and its human cost.

The Deal and the Aftermath

After hours of negotiation with the family, Mike and Frank struck a deal to purchase several key pieces, including a highly original Zündapp KS 750 and a BMW R75 project bike. The rest of the collection is being carefully cataloged and dispersed through auctions and private sales, ensuring these artifacts find new homes among responsible stewards.

For the American Pickers team, this ranks among their all-time greatest finds — right up there with legendary car barns and hidden motorcycle hoards. It highlights why the show continues to captivate audiences: you never know what history is hiding behind the next rusty garage door.

As they loaded the bikes onto their trailer, Mike reflected on the day: “This wasn’t just about motorcycles. It was about uncovering stories that almost got lost forever. These machines survived a world war, crossed an ocean, and waited decades in the dark. Today, they’re seeing daylight again.”

In the world of antique picking, some discoveries are valuable. Others are once-in-a-lifetime. This one was both — a breathtaking encounter with the rarest Nazi motorcycle collection the world has ever seen emerge from an abandoned American garage.