The car lover’s Christmas gift guide

The tree is up, Jingle Bells has been stuck in your head for weeks, prawns have been ordered and the backyard cricket set has been dusted off – it's nearly Christmas!


Everything may be ready to go, but maybe you haven't bought all your presents yet? If not, we're here to help. Here's a few suggestions to complete that pile of presents for the car lover in your life. Or maybe you just want to treat yourself.

Even if you've finished the Christmas shopping, there's always room for one more gift under the tree.


For him

Chronos makes classic car clocks and ships worldwide. The designs feature the speedometer or tachometer of iconic models, like the Ferrari 512TR.

How about a Bentley Speed Six Le Mans 24hr clock? It literally is a 24hr clock and something a little bit different for a man who loves classics.


This collection of miniature wooden cars, designed by Emanuel Rufo, would look awesome on any desk, in any mancave or on a shelf behind any bar. Yes, the kids would love them too, but so do the grown-up boys. Emanuel's father Manuel makes each one by hand in Portugal, using natural, organic and biodegradable materials.

This collection features the Ferrari 250 GTO, Ford GT40, Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing, Lamborghini Miura and Porsche 911 Turbo – you'll be jealous if you give them to the kids.


The SoundRacer X makes any car sound like a high-performance sports car. Sure, you could use an app on your phone, but this little device plugs into your car's stereo system and matches the revs of your car to blast out real recordings of either the Shelby Mustang V8, Lamborghini V10, Lexus LFA V10 or Ferrari V12.

And, if you're a motorbike lover, how about a Harley-Davidson V-Twin or Suzuki GSX. Available from a number of online outlets, this costs around $99.95.


For her

A classic shape sure to suit many women, these Porsche women's sunglasses are guaranteed to put a smile on her face when she finds them under the Christmas tree.

Featuring grey polycarbonate lenses with anti-reflective coating and 100 per cent UV protection, they're priced at $296.88.


No, this pink perfume is not 'new car smell' in a bottle. Best described as fresh, floral and powdery, Mercedes-Benz for Women eau de parfum is a classic feminine scent that doesn't overpower.

Rose, lily of the valley, peach, white musk, vanilla and more, all combine to create a delightful fragrance. It's not expensive either, $59 for a 90mL bottle.


For the woman who is more focused on fun than sophistication, this replica VW Kombi table lamp will make a statement.

Inspired by the 1960s split-window camper, it's made of polyresin and fibreglass and emits a relaxing glow. It's reasonably priced at $49.95.


For kids

Educational and awesome, the kids will love building this Salt Water Fuel Cell Engine Car, available through Australian Geographic or other online outlets.

They can build the robot car, then add a few drops of salt water and off it goes. It's a great way to introduce young ones to sustainable energy and environmental science.


The Anki Overdrive Starter Kit, priced at $119.99, has everything you need to get addicted to this modern car racing game.

The track pieces are magnetic and communicate wirelessly with the robot cars that are also equipped with weapons to do do battle as they race – and the cars are controlled via a mobile phone app. Seriously cool.


This segmented dinner plate with fork and spoon is perfect for the tiny tots. There are a few different styles available, including a fire engine and yellow dump truck.

Priced at $24.95, the dinner plate is made from BPA free melamine, with rubber grips on the cutlery and it's all dishwasher safe.


For pets

Your pet can travel in style in this specially designed booster seat. Dogs love to look out of the window, so this provides an extra bit of height to give them an unobstructed view without the need to try and move around the vehicle.

The safety tether has been crash-tested and works with the seat belt. The jumbo size takes one or more animals, up to 13.6kg and costs around $192. There are other styles for smaller dogs too.


Feline family members will enjoy playing in this Cadillac playhouse, priced at $49.95. It's made from cardboard and is easy to assemble, no glue or staples required.

If this pink Cadillac isn't your cat's style, then there's also a fire engine, tee pee, army tank and DJ deck.


What mutt, or cat for that matter, wouldn't want to curl up and sleep in their own soft and squishy sports car?

There are plenty of these around online, eBay is a good place to start and there are some cool big-brand knock-offs.


For, well, anyone!

Driving a late model car or didn't opt for the top specification level? You can still get all the driving data you need with the OBD II Car Head Up Display. Sure, there are apps available but that means your phone will end up floating around on the dash.

This system includes a non-slip mat and reflective film to help increase projection clarity. If your vehicle is OBD II or EUOBD compatible this could work for you. It displays speed, revs, fuel consumption and more, and includes an over speed alert and fatigue reminder.


The Stirling Engine was designed to replace steam engines during the industrial revolution and was patented in 1816. This engine uses an external heat source to compress and expand gas – and a cup of coffee will do the trick with this $99.99 miniature version.

The Stirling Engine was never widely used in the automotive industry, but in 1986 NASA popped one into a Chevrolet Celebrity and found fuel economy greatly improved and emissions were lowered.


If you can afford to ridiculously spoil your car enthusiast partner, family member or friend, this would be one of the coolest things they'd ever get to do.

The Jaguar Land Rover Ice Academy is hosting the Ice Drive Classic in Sweden offering participants the chance to drive the Jaguar XJ, Jaguar MKII, MKVII and XK150, Land Rover Series I, Series II and Series III as well as the Range Rover Classic on snow, ice tracks and frozen lakes.

These cars don't have modern brakes, power steering or traction control, so it's all up to you. It's the perfect 'one for you, one for me' gift.


The Chamberlain PowerLift MyQ is a garage door opener that can be controlled via an app. Relatives rocked up early and you're not home? Just whip out your phone and open the garage door for them!

It will also automatically reverse if it detects anything in the way, has built in LED lights that stay on for two minutes (no more fumbling for the door in the dark) and you can set a timer to automatically close the door if you forget. RRP $599.


No CarAdvice gift guide is complete without our latest favourite Lego kit. This is the Ford F-150 Raptor with trailer to transport the Ford Model A Hot Rod.

Also included are four minifigures, Hot Rod driver, racing driver, mechanic and race official, team garage and victory podium, engine crane, starting lights tower, welding machine and oil can. Better yet, it's only $79.99.

Note: the Christmas-themed Kombi photo at the top of this article is the work of Eyeballs By Day, Crafts By Night.

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