Christmas car gifts 2022: the best presents for car lovers starting under £10 - LEGO, Gran Tourismo, Hot Wheels
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Choosing a Christmas present for a car-obsessed loved one might seem like a daunting task. After all, the world of cars and car enthusiasts is wide and varied, and one person’s cherised classic is another’s old banger.
The great news is that the world of car-related gifts is just as eclectic, so it’s not too hard to find the perfect present for the petrolhead in your life, whether they’re into reading about cars, driving them quickly or taking them apart and rebuilding them.
To help make thing even easier we’ve pulled together a collection of some of the best car-related gifts for this Christmas. From the practical to the outlandishly lavish there’s something here to suit every interest and budget, from £10 to £100,000.
Under £10
If the car lover in your life delights in every minute and obscure detail of the automotive world then this self-proclaimed book of tedious trivia should be right up their street. Written by Evo columnist and Top Gear and Grand Tour script editor Richard Porter, this third instalment in his boring series includes titbits on the Bond girl who helped to develop the Volvo XC90, the last place you could buy a tank of leaded petrol and why engineers snuck a top secret Range Rover prototype out of the back gate of their engineering centre in the dead of night?
Many a petrolhead’s passion for cars has been fuelled by this timeless stats-based game, making it the ideal gift for car fans young and old. Whether you’re into the latest sports cars, Formula 1 or the Fast and Furious movie franchise, there’s a Top Trumps set for you.
Many modern cars feature so-called keyless entry systems. These are great for unlocking the car without fumbling for a key fob but can leave your vehicle at risk of relay attacks where thieves intercept the signal from the fob to unlock and start a car. Thankfully, it’s easy to stop this with a simple and cheap shielded key pouch like these.
Hot Wheels is constantly expanding its range of more detailed Car Culture models, aimed at the more discerning car enthusiast. Among these is the recently launched limited edition set featuring cars from the garage of renowned car fan Jay Leno. These models include the TV star’s own Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, McLaren F1, ‘66 Chevrolet Corvair Yenko Stinger, Lamborghini Countach LP 5000 QV and his Tank Car. Each features metal chassis, more tampo print detail and Real Rider tyres.
Any car enthusiast will likely build up a decent collection of tools, so this sturdy little carrier is a great way to keep those most-used items close to hand, with space for up to 12 tools, a zip compartment and special slots for those pesky pencils that like to go walkabout.
Under £20
The Defender’s iconic silhouette has been turned into a neat little pocket tool by the creative folk at Land Rover. Available in black or limited edition red, the credit card-sized device features various spanner sizes, a screwdriver, tyre gauge, cutter and bottle opener plus a handy conversion table.
Whether your nearest and dearest is mad for American muscle cars, has been bitten by the VW bug or has a passion for classic Italian machinery, Petrolthreads has a T-Shirt to suit them, with a range of designs spanning everything from classic F1 posters to stylised images of Ford Escorts.
Giles Chapman’s latest book is an enthralling look back at the halcyon days of crazy car design. Car lovers can revel in the mix of obscure production models and wild concept cars - from the FSO Polonez to the Ghia Action - feeling smug about the “lost” cars they remember and learning a thing or two about some of the truly forgotten wonders of the decade that taste forgot.
This neat little night light brings a touch of 50s glamour to any bedside table. Using LED lights and clever laser cutting of the acrylic frame it creates a striking 3D-effect version of a classic Chevy, complete with a solid wooden base.
Perfect for younger car fans in the family, this cute wooden police car from Amazon Handmade can be engraved with a name of your choice to make it more personal. Suitable for 18 months-plus, the 13 x 7 x 10 cm toy is designed to be easy for small hands to hold and has quiet-rolling, rubber-finished wheels.
Under £50
While it’s fun to admire and read about cars, nothing beats getting hands-on with some DIY maintenance, which makes this kit from Autoglym ideal for the more practical car fan. The set includes all the pads and chemicals you need to bring clarity and brightness back to headlight lenses that have become cloudy, yellowed, scratched or dull with age.
It wouldn’t be Christmas without someone getting socks as a present so you might as well make them a bit special. This gift pack features a set of three jacquard knitted socks with embroidered designs featuring the Jaguar C, D and E-Type models and the iconic Jaguar Heritage lozenge logo.
The ESR HaloLock is a compact and clever mounting and charging solution for anyone who relies on their iPhone for entertainment or navigation while driving. Designed to lock onto a suitable air vent the mount’s built-in magnets firmly hold compatible iPhones (12/13/14) in place and allow for a full range of movement for perfect positioning. The wireless charging allows you to keep your device topped up on the move while ESR’s clever CryoBoost system uses air flow and heat dissipating materials to reduce the risk of overheating.
Perhaps not the most thrilling gift but this is another of those garage tools that any dedicated driver will welcome. This neat unit features a digital LCD readout with multiple unit options, a wind-up power cord and hose storage space to keep things tidy and can inflate a completely flat tyre in less than two minutes. It’s also got a handy storagebag and a bright LED for nighttime use.
Kids young and old love Lego and in recent years the Danish brand has fully embraced licensed tie-ups with major car and motorbike makers. Among the new kits out in time for this Christmas is the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 which is aimed at builders aged nine-plus. The 544-piece kit recreates the lines of the famous muscle car and features twin pull-back motors for hours of kitchen floor drag races.
Responsible motorists would never dream of driving after a few drinks but it’s surprisingly easy to still have alcohol in your system the next day. The AlcoSense Lite 2 is designed to take the guesswork out of knowing whether you’re fit to drive and can be set to the drink drive limit in England and Wales or the lower limit in Scotland, to ensure you stay the right side of the law.
Under £100
Whether you own a Jag or not, this neat little card fold is a tasteful alternative to a chunky wallet. Made from 100% real leather, the understated car holder and billfold features the classic Jaguar lozenge badge on the outside and a stylish Jaguar Mark II dynamic graphic inside.
Gran Tourismo on the original PlayStation was one of the games that spawned the now massive demand for realistic but accessible racing games. After a couple of missteps, the seventh instalment of this legendary game is back on top form, offering plenty of fun for the new or casual player but a dizzying level of fine tuning nerdiness for the seasoned gamer. As ever, this PlayStation exclusive is packed with licensed car models, from mundane hatchbacks to iconic supercars, and brings a handful of new features to add to the action.
The Cobra SC100 is a smart little dash cam that strikes the right balance between budget and performance. Despite costing less than £100 its Full HD image quality can put more expensive units to shame and while it lacks the features of more expensive units its simplicity is ideal for drivers who want a fit-and-forget recorder.