This Year’s Best Holiday Gifts for Your Favorite Classic Car Enthusiast
What do you get the classic car enthusiast who has everything? Here’s the best part about buying gifts for classic and collector enthusiasts: you never have to ask that question, because in the wide world of automotive enthusiasm there’s no such thing as “collecting them all.” It’s a big hobby with endless possibilities. To get you started, however, we’ve collected 18 of the best gift ideas for your favorite classic car collector. Treat it like a shopping list or a jumping-off point to explore the possibilities – you can’t go wrong either way.
Choices For A Quiet Winter
If you know a classic car enthusiast who is looking forward to an off-season spent in the easy chair or catching up on some quiet tinkering, here are six great options to help them enjoy the months between now and the first cruise-in:
Ford GT: How Ford Silenced the Critics, Humbled Ferrari and Conquered Le Mans by Preston Lerner, $60
The recent Ford vs. Ferrari movie has rekindled interest in that famous Sixties rivalry between Ford and Ferrari at LeMans, and the best and more accurate book about that contest is a brand-new effort by veteran auto writer (and credentialed racer) Preston Lerner. In Ford GT: How Ford Silenced the Critics, Humbled Ferrari and Conquered Le Mans, Lerner offers a thoughtful, balanced, and fully researched look at these thrilling and deadly years. Most importantly, he’s done enough racing of his own to separate the hyperbole from the facts on the ground. A brilliant trip down memory lane, whether your favorite classic car enthusiast bleeds Ford Blue or Rosso Corsa.
Kyoto Tool Co: Artisan Gold neXT Toolset, $3,261
To some enthusiasts, the garage is just as important as the cars it houses – more important, even! As you’ll see below, there’s a whole world of gifts out there for people who want to have the very best in their garages, and tools are a big part of it. You can’t go wrong with Snap-On or other “tool truck” brands – they get that name from the truck that delivers tools to working service departments – but the true aristocrat of hand tools is the Nepros brand from Kyoto Tool Co in Japan. They are made with unearthly precision; the ratchet wrenches in particular are like nothing else in the world. Their flagship is the Artisan Gold line, represented here by a three-drawer set. Jewel-like but also tank-tough, these tools might just last forever. Want to spend a little less? There are sets from $325 and up.
Mint Models, $30 and up
Want to buy a 1957 Bel Air model? You have a lot of choices. What about a 1977 Lincoln Mark V or a 1988 Alpina B10? That’s a little tougher. Mint Models offer thousands of rare collector models – and, in an odd twist of fate, that often means models of “everyday” vehicles from the Sixties through today that didn’t get a lot of special attention when they were new. Whether it’s the 1981 Camaro Z/28 or an Oreca LMP2 car, Mint simply has more choices than anyone else, in a variety of sizes and prices.
LEGO Icons Camaro Z28, $169.99
The first LEGO car of note was the “Expert Builder 853” of fifty years ago, a generic auto chassis without a body that taught a lot of young people how engines and transmissions really worked. Times have changed since then, and the firm makes everything from Shelby GT500s and Lamborghinis to off-road buggies. In the middle we have the Icons collection Camaro Z28. It’s a joy to assemble and looks almost exactly like the real thing.
NOCO Genius 2×4, $199.95
Those of us who have multiple-car collections know what a hassle it is to keep them charged up during the winter. Skipping this step will lead to a very frustrating first day of spring, followed by a trip to the battery store. NOCO leads the pack with the Genius line that can maintain several car batteries with a single charger – and, more importantly, a single wall plug.
HydroSilex Car Coatings, $19.95 and up
Should you wax your car before it goes into storage? Most people would laugh at that idea – but serious classic car enthusiasts know that storage can be just plain heck on a car’s paint job. Dust and debris settle on it over time and can be ground into the paint like sandpaper when spring cleaning happens – or someone puts a cardboard box on your roof, “just for a minute”. HydroSilex is a great way to handle this. It’s highly protective and long-lasting. Unlike the hand waxes that enthusiasts love to rub onto their cars in multiple coats, HydroSilex is a quick and easy-to-understand process that is hard to mess up, while producing great results.
Choices For Year-Round Drivers
Some folks are lucky enough – or determined enough – to run their classic and collector cars year-round. If you know someone who will be at the cruise-ins or on the road between now and March, here are 6 ideas to help them enjoy the ride.
DAYTONA 3 Ton Jack with rapid pump, $189.99
This is one of those “secret handshake” items in the car community: a few years ago it was demonstrated that this affordable low-profile jack, sold at Harbor Freight, was made in the same factory as a $1500 professional shop jack. Why “low-profile”? Some cars, particularly “pro-touring” or modified classics, don’t have room under the rocker panels for a regular floor jack. The Daytona is strong, durable, and looks like a million bucks for a price that is just one-five-thousandth of that.
Lucky 13 socks, from Sock Guy, $11.95
Finished in the famous blue-and-orange color scheme associated with Gulf Porsches and Fords, the Sock Guy Lucky 13 is made in North Carolina and will brighten up any Saturday-morning cars-and-coffee gathering. Triskaidekaphobia is no worry here; we know a fellow who won a few prototype races in these when he left his Nomex socks at home by mistake.
Chemical Guys All Season Arsenal, $129.99
The Chemical Guys have come out strong in the past few years, displacing a lot of older, more conventional choices in car care. This kit has everything you need for any level of event short of Bloomington Gold. But if you’re planning on showing at that famous Corvette concours, no worries: the Chemical Guys have a few extra items to make that work, too.
EZ Car Lift, Starting at $1,800
If the Daytona 3 Ton Jack is a good meal served hot, the EZ Car Lift is haute cuisine. Made in America by one obsessive man who has made the improvement of his product a life’s work, the EZ Car lift lets you work underneath your classic car in perfect safety. It lifts and locks in any position, can be rolled around the shop or used to service motorcycles – really, there’s almost nothing this can’t do. Racers swear by them, and classic-car owners who do all their own work have never had a better option.
MOONSWATCH by Swatch x Omega, $260
The Omega Speedmaster chronograph is one of history’s most beloved racing-themed watches, and also the first watch on the moon. But it’s not cheap. The Swatch Bioceramic MOONSWATCH is cheap, it’s Swiss-made, and it has a cachet all its own. These aren’t easy to get, so sites like eBay and Chrono24 will be your friend here. Available in several different colors, these are hotter than hot and you can rest assured the recipient will want to show it off, even if they already own the Omega original.
Chilton’s Auto Repair Manual, 1940-1953, Collector’s Edition, $5 and up
Chilton or Haynes? Ask the question at a classic car meet, then stand back; Ford vs. Chevy has nothing on this deep-seated rivalry. If your favorite classic car enthusiast is on the Chilton side of the divide, this vintage book will be a true joy. Published at the dawn of the hobby, it’s a general look at tips and tricks used to keep WWII-era cars on the road, in an era where nobody knew they’d be worth keeping for a lifetime to come.
Choices For Competitors, Concours Entrants, And Perfectionists
For some of us, the holidays just mean a brief pause in the race or show schedule – sometimes very brief, as January has a variety of historic and classic events on tap. If you know a vintage racer, car show entrant, or just someone who expects their classic car to be “Penske perfect”, here are six great options to brighten their holidays.
Garmin Catalyst, $999 and up
The sight of a modern-as-tomorrow intelligent tablet on the dashboard of a ‘65 Mustang or MG is an incongruous but increasingly common sight, as vintage racers and auto-crossers fall in love with the Garmin Catalyst. Developed in partnership with famed racer-trainer Ross Bentley, the Catalyst can drastically improve your lap times or autocross results. And unlike similar systems installed in pro-level race cars, the Catalyst doesn’t have to stay on the car in-between events – meaning you can take the same Spridget or GTO to the track one weekend and the classic-car show on the next.
Porter Cable Random Orbital, $169
The art and science of concours preparation has advanced by leaps and bounds in the past few decades – but somewhere in the recipe you’ll usually find this unassuming product by Porter Cable. It’s a “random orbital”, meaning the buffer head moves side to side as it spins so you don’t grind a swirl into your Chevy’s finish. It’s still not a tool for the novice – but if you have a daily driver on which to practice, it’s not that hard to become an expert Porter Cable user. Many classic car owners tell themselves they’ll get “the real thing” one day; you can help make that day happen a lot sooner.
SONAX Full Effect, $16.99
Classic-car enthusiasts who really drive their cars are in a constant battle with dirty wheels – and that goes double if they drive hard. SONAX has cracked the code on how to get the worst brake dust off wheels without damaging the finish. It’s a brilliant product, but it’s not widely known, so if you have a friend or loved one who is still using a “wire wheel cleaner” while crossing their fingers about damage to their wheels’ finish, be a hero and introduce them to SONAX.
SmartStrings, $699 and up
Proper alignment goes a long way towards preserving tires and suspension components while dramatically increasing safety. It’s also crucial for even “weekend warrior” autocross or rally participants. The SmartStrings kit allows classic-car enthusiasts to align their cars at home without getting a shop involved. For owners who don’t like handing over the keys, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Impact Race Helmets, $399 and up
The American-made Impact race helmet is an industry standard and has been tested in the field by our staff at high speeds, including your humble writer who is still alive because of one. It’s common for classic and vintage competitors to put all their money and effort into the car, then skimp on the helmet. If you know someone you love will be on track this year, consider making this your holiday gift. It could make a big difference.
Meguiar’s Detailing Bag, $67.99
Alright, so your car is fully detailed and ready for the show – but you know you’re not going to arrive the event as clean as you were when you left the house. You’ll need a little bag of tricks – and that’s what we have here. It’s designed to store spray bottles in a vertical position, and you really want that to be the case. Six interior compartments and four exterior pockets give you enough room for the basics while still remaining compact enough to make the trip in an MGA or ‘32 Ford. This is another one of those items that classic car enthusiasts tend to put off buying, so you can really make someone’s day with this purchase.
