We may have put the holidays behind us, but gift-giving is appreciated all year long. Whether you’re a little late, or a lot early, a present is always on time. Even more so if it’s thoughtfully chosen.
Of course, getting a themed gift can be hard, especially if the recipient loves classic automobiles. You might be struggling to come up with a gift that doesn’t include an actual car.
With that in mind, here are a few pointers, as well as 20 solid gift ideas for classic car lovers.
Things to Ask
The phrase ‘classic car’ is so broad that if you search just those two words on Google, you’ll end up with millions upon millions of sites to choose from. Finding the perfect gift is like searching for a needle in the world’s largest haystack.
You can narrow down your search a little by asking a few simple questions and encouraging your recipient to talk about their love of classic cars. Most automotive enthusiasts are more than happy to do so, making it easier to gather information about the types of gifts that they’d really enjoy.
Try to slip some of these questions or something similar into your conversations.
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Which classic car is your favorite?
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What do you wish you had in your collection that you haven’t obtained yet?
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Do you like to drive classic cars or just admire them?
You’ll also want to keep a close eye on the kind of memorabilia they collect, as well as the kind of tools or accessories they like to use when they’re working on or driving classic cars. These can all give you ideas for perfect gift ideas for the future.
Things to Avoid
Buying a gift for someone, especially a themed gift, isn’t always easy. When it comes to classic car-related gifts, there are a few things that you should definitely avoid.
First, don’t buy them a car. We don’t care how much money you have or whether it’s their dream car or whatever the case may be. You just don’t buy a car for someone without discussing it with them first. It might seem like a nice gesture at the time, but you have to take into account things like fuel costs, maintenance, insurance, and registration, in addition to the initial cost of the vehicle. Just don’t do it.
We also suggest avoiding paraphernalia and accessories from brands they don’t like. This might not apply to everyone, but there are definitely some die-hard fans out there that might be downright offended if you get them something from a brand they dislike.
Now, without further procrastination and ado, here are some of our picks for the best gifts for classic car lovers.
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Gas/Clutch Socks
This gift is a bit tongue-in-cheek but if you’ve got someone in your life who loves classic cars, that tends to come with needing to at least understand how to drive something with a manual transmission.
With these socks, you’ll never get your gas and clutch feet mixed up again. Unless, of course, you put them on the wrong feet, in which case, you’re on your own. These affordable gift ideas come in gray or black and make great stocking stuffers.
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Craftsman 450 Piece Mechanic’s Tool Kit
When it comes to someone who loves cars — especially if they enjoy working on them, — you can never have too many tools. Especially things like 10mm sockets which inevitably run away as soon as you look away for a few minutes.
This gorgeous 450 piece tool kit has everything an automotive enthusiast might need to work on, from ratchets and wrenches and sockets to bits and allen keys, and everything in between. It’s all organized in a multi-layer toolbox, and each tool has its place so he’ll never have to worry about rummaging around dusty drawers looking for the right size socket ever again.
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Lego Creator Expert Ford Mustang
You’re never too old for Lego. Our favorite childhood blocks come in an adult-friendly friety as well. Their Expert line is designed for people with a bit more skill and a little more eye for detail than your average 10-year-old.
The Mustang kit is just one example of the options you can choose from when hunting for the perfect gift. The finished model fits on your tabletop but contains more than 1,400 individual pieces.
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Tile Pro
No matter where you are and what you’re driving, losing your keys sucks. If your car-lover is the kind that is perpetually misplacing his keys, Tile Pro Bluetooth trackers are the perfect gift.
You simply attach one of these little tags to your keychain and you can track your lost keys as long as you’re within 400 feet. They’re a little expensive, but if you’re prone to losing you’re keys, they’re a lot less costly than getting all your keys replaced.
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Legendary Wheels
A legendary classic car deserves a legendary set of wheels, but you don’t want to slap on a set of modern rims. They’ll look out of place and can damage the whole aesthetic of the classic car.
If your car lover already owns a classic car, a gift of wheels or rims can be a great, if costly, option. Opt for something a little simpler and more old-school instead of something flashy and new. No one — we repeat, no one — wants to see spinners on a classic car.
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Fordite Jewelry
Fordite sounds like a fancy stone, but it’s actually the remnants of years of automotive paint that builds up in car factories. Layer after layer of color gets laid down.
Then, when the old paint gets cut into slabs, it reveals incredible patterns. Custom fordite jewelry is a unique way to showcase your car enthusiasts love for automotive history. No two pieces of fordite jewelry will ever look the same.
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Man Crates Auto Care Crate
Taking care of a classic car and ensuring that it looks its best isoftena full time job.It’s often challenging to find the best products to keep the exterior clean, and that’s where Man Crates comes in.
The brand’s Auto Care Crate has everything you might need to keep your car clean, from washes and waxes to microfiber towels and even a collapsible bucket and nozzle for your hose.
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MoMo Design Evo Meccanico Automatic Watch
Classic cars have an aesthetic all their own and sometimes, something like a watch manages to capture that aesthetic. The Momo Design Evo Meccanico watch has everything that you’d expect to see in a high-end race car, from its stainless steel case to it’s gorgeous interior that lets you see the inner workings of this stunning piece of time-keeping engineering.
It’s beautiful and looks like you’re wearing a piece of a classic car’s dashboard on your wrist. What could be better?
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Classic Cars Coloring Book
There’s nothing wrong with having a bit of fun and the Classic Cars Coloring Book is the perfect way to do that while you’re kicking back and relaxing. There are more than 100 cars featured in this coloring book. Make it the perfect gift by including a pack of colored pencils or markers so your car lover doesn’t have to go hunting for their own.
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Amazon Echo Auto
Classic cars might not have all the bells and whistles of newer models but that doesn’t mean that you have to stay disconnected. The Amazon Auto Echo give you access to Alexa in any car you like.
It does require Bluetooth connectivity to work, so keep that in mind when you’re shopping. Bluetooth compatibility does include phones, so as long as your car lover has a smartphone, the Amazon Echo Auto is a great gift choice.
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ION Audio Cassette Bluetooth Adapter
Speaking of Bluetooth, trying to listen to your favorite music can be a challenge in a classic car — until now. This cassette adapter brings your car’s sound system into the 21st century with Bluetooth connectivity. Just pop it into the cassette deck, pair it with your phone, and enjoy your favorite tracks through the car’s speakers.
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ThisWorx for TWC-01 Car Vacuum
Getting into all the nooks and crannies of your favorite classic car to keep it clean can be a challenge, to stay the least. Household vacuum cleaners are too big and just get in the way.
If your car lover prefers to keep their car impeccably clean, the ThisWorx TWC-01 Car Vacuum makes the perfect gift. It plugs into your cigarette lighter, but has a 16 food cord so it’s easier to reach all the nooks and crannies. Pair that with the sheer number of cleaning accessories that this device comes with and you’ll have a pristine interior in no time.
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Riparo Motorsports Driving Gloves
There’s something unique about climbing behind the wheel of your favorite classic car, slipping on your driving gloves and just going.
The idea of driving gloves might seem a little outdated since with modern climate control, you don’t really need something to keep your hands warm in the winter, they can still be a unique gift for the classic car lover. Our favorites are the Riparo Motorsports Driving Gloves which are made of soft leather and come in a variety of different colors and sizes.
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Porsche 911: 50 Years
If your car lover is a Porsche fanatic, pick them up a copy of Porsche 911: 50 Years. This gorgeous hardcover book covers the history of the Porsche 911 from its inception all the way through to modern times. If they love the 911, this book is a must-have.
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Chemical Guys Complete Wheel, Rim and Tire Kit
Wheel gets dirty quickly, especially if you’re driving a lot. Between brake dust and road debris, it doesn’t take much to turn your chrome wheels into a matte black. The ChemicalGuys Complete Wheel, Rim and Tire Kit has everything you need to wash, dry and polish your rims so they look their best no matter where you’re driving.
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Wolf & Shepherd Gunner Driver Loafers
Driving loafers tend to fall into the same category as driving gloves — things that are often considered outdated but are still neat to have nonetheless. Still, a good pair of driving shoes helps your feet grip the pedals while remaining comfortable and keeping you connected to your vehicle. Plus, they look pretty darn stylish too.
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Choetech Fast Wireless Car Charger
Most modern phones come equipped with the capability for wireless charging. Instead of fumbling around with charging cables, attach this combination wireless charger/phone stand to your dashboard and let it do the work for you. These affordable little wireless chargers make great stocking stuffers because they’re compatible with pretty much any car, regardless of age.
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NOCO Genius Boost Plus
Don’t get stranded by a dead battery. Having a pair of jumper cables is great, but having a portable power pack is even better. The NOCO Genius Boost Plus has a power rating of up to 18,000 mAh, which is more than enough to start most cars without worrying about jumper cables or waiting for the aid of a friendly stranger.
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Gear to Match His Favorite Brand
Remember those questions we mentioned earlier? If you know what your car lover’s favorite brand is, now is the perfect time to start collecting branded gear like hats, shirts and other swag that they would love to unwrap on Christmas morning or for a birthday.
There are all sorts of options out there — so many that we don’t have one specific link for you — but a quick search will probably turn up more possibilities than you know what to do with.
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A Trip to a Classic Car Show
Finally, consider picking them up some tickets to a local (or not so local, depending on your budget) classic car show. There are usually shows both large and small all across the country throughout the year, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find something that will appear to the car lover in your life.
