Images: Mecum Auctions

If you’re looking to pick up a hot rod, you can find one almost anywhere. Granted, they may be field dwellers, previously hacked up project cars or begging for insane amounts of work, but there are more out there than you may think. But if you’re looking to get your hands on an already completed hot rod that you can just get in and enjoy, the Monterey, California Mecum auction in August is a great place to look. Not only will you find superior quality builds, you’ll also find some of the rarest cars in the country and some with miles of history to tell. These are just a couple of our favorites heading to Mecum in August.

1940 Chevy Custom Pickup

Being an automotive publication, we can’t help but have an eye for the insanely custom, like this 1940 Chevy custom pickup aptly names “El Chueco,” or The Twisted.

Completed in 2010, this bright blue truck features a custom box and rear frame, shaved handles and mirrors, a coil spring and air shock rear suspension, inverted leaf spring front suspension, TH400 transmission and a boisterous 472ci big block out of a 1968 Cadillac.

It also features a custom blue and white two-toned interior, disc brakes on the front, a 1940 Ford dash and Ed Roth-inspired tall shifter. A true statement, the custom Bright Blue Metal Flake paint with hand-painted green flames adds to the truck’s demeanor and its “Look at Me” attitude.

First showed at the 51st Fresno Autorama and featured in a number of publications, this fine piece of creative hot rodding could be yours Thursday, August 15th when it crosses the auction block in Monterey at 5:20pm.

1950 Packard Custom 8 Victoria Convertible

If outrageously custom isn’t your thing, we also found this gorgeous 1950 Packard Custom 8 Victoria Convertible that will be vying for bids come mid August. One of just 77 made and one of just three known to exist today, this post-WWII car is truly a collector’s dream come true.

Fully restored over 30 years ago and kept preserved in a private collection since, this Custom 8 Victoria Convertible features its original 356/160hp Flathead inline-8 engine, Ultramatic transmission, factory radio and working factory electronics, including power windows, seats, brakes and convertible top.

Inside the convertible you’ll find a deep maroon leather interior complimented by Tan Bedford cloth upholstery inserts, chrome garnish moldings a driver spotlight and factory clock.

All this is tucked away behind a gorgeous coat of highly-polished black paint.

In 1950, you would have paid $4,520 for this beauty, but the folks at Mecum expect this unique ride to go for up to $100,000 on Friday August 16th when it crosses the stage at Mecum at 4:35p.m.

1932 Hupp Comet #4 Indy 500 Race Car

Last but certainly not least is this 1932 Hupp Comet, a true piece of racing history.

Raced in the 1932 Indianapolis 500, this unique race car was driven by Russell Snowberger, who took fifth place that year. Instead of a more traditional Studebaker engine, the car was equipped with a Hupmobile quad-carbureted inline-8 that Snowberger prepped himself for the 1932 race. This was a sponsorship of sorts by Hupmobile, but unfortunately money ran out and the Hupmobile engine was returned by Snowberger after it became the only Hupmobile engine to ever run in the Indy 500.

The engine was sold by Hupmobile in 1933 and ended up in the famed Bonneville Hupp, a speedster that hit 146mph on the salt flats. Years later, Snowberger’s son John tracked down the engine and resurrected his father’s 1932 Indy 500 race car around it. In 2009, the car returned to Indy, where John and his son drove it in the Brickyard Parade 77 years after its appearance at the race.

A true ode to races past, this one-of-a-kind Hupp Comet complete with the original 1932 Hupmobile engine that ran in the 1932 Indianapolis 500 is truly a gem for hot rod and racing enthusiasts alike. If you’re interested in bidding on this item, it will cross the auction block on Saturday August 17th at 2:55pm. The expected selling price for the racer is about $400,000.

There are plenty of gorgeous hot rods set to hit the stage at the Mecum Monterey Auction next month, and these are just a few. Be sure to check out what else could become part of your collection by looking at the Monterey consignment list here.