Christmas Gifts for Car Guys (Not Another Tool Set)
Share
The best Christmas gifts for car guys are the ones he wouldn't buy himself: a professional detail for the car he loves, a driving experience, a framed print of his own car, or a set of glasses with a real spark plug for the stem. A tool set is the classic miss, because a car guy picks his tools one at a time and already owns the ones he trusts.
Car enthusiasts are easy to spot and hard to buy for. The good news is that the best gifts are about the car and the hobby, not about getting a part number right.
Quick picks
- A professional detail. Paint correction or a ceramic coat for his favorite car.
- A driving experience. A track session or a performance driving school.
- A framed print of his car. From a photo, or commissioned from an artist.
- Car show or museum tickets. A day out you can share.
- A garage comfort upgrade. A creeper, good lighting, a garage heater.
- Glasses with a real spark plug for the stem. Our pick, below.
Car guy gifts that aren't tools
A professional detail
Most car guys wash their own cars, but few pay for a full paint correction or ceramic coating. A gift certificate to a good local detailer is a treat he will see every time he walks into the garage.
A driving experience
A track session or a day at a performance driving school lets him drive a car hard, safely, with an instructor. Many tracks sell gift cards for the coming season.
A print of his own car
A framed photo of his car, or a commissioned illustration, is personal and lasts. Artists who draw cars often work from a few phone photos.
Car show or museum tickets
A big car show, a regional museum or a vintage race weekend makes a good shared day. Check the dates and buy early. Popular events sell out.
A garage comfort upgrade
A good creeper, brighter lighting or a heater for winter work sessions makes the time he spends in the garage better. None of it depends on what he drives.
Our pick: glasses with a real spark plug for the stem
This is the one we make. MotoVitre crystal glasses use an authentic spark plug as the stem, under a hand-finished crystal bowl. A car guy knows the part instantly, and he almost certainly doesn't own it as a glass. They come as a set of 2, so there is one for him and one for whoever is in the garage with him.
Each set is $89, in wine glasses, martini glasses or champagne flutes. Shipping is free in the U.S., they arrive gift-ready, and they are hand wash only.
What to skip
- Tool sets. He already has the tools he trusts, and a mixed set rarely matches them.
- Parts for his car. They have to match the exact model, year and his plans for it.
- Air fresheners and novelty signs. He has been given plenty.
Timing
Order glasses by December 15 for delivery before Christmas. Detailers get busy in spring, so a gift certificate given at Christmas lets him book early.
Questions people ask
What is a good Christmas gift for a car enthusiast?
Something about the car he loves: a professional detail, a driving experience, a framed print of his car or a set of spark plug glasses.
Are these a good gift under $100?
Yes. A set of 2 MotoVitre glasses is $89 with free U.S. shipping.
Are the glasses dishwasher safe?
No. They are hand wash only, which protects the spark plug and the crystal.
For more ideas, see gifts for car guys who have everything and gifts for F1 fans.