Gifts for the car guy who has everything
He has the floor jack, the detailing shelf, the diecast collection and three car covers. When he wants a part, he orders it that night. Buying him more of the same is a losing game.
So don't add to the garage. Give him something he can't order himself: his own history with cars, a day he would never book, or a look at his car from someone else's eyes. Nine ideas, the first one ours.
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§ 01
9 gifts he can't just buy himself
None of these is a gadget. Prices vary too much by city and car to quote, except for ours.
- 01$59–$449
A poster of every car he has owned
$59–$449
Start with the one in the garage, then go back: the first car, the one he sold to pay for the wedding, the one he still talks about. One print per car, each on its own road, hung as a row. Every extra print in an order is 20% off. One customer told us his new poster fits right in beside photos of his earlier cars. You see each design free before you pay.
→ Custom car poster - 02varies
A professional shoot of his car
varies
Hire a local automotive photographer for golden hour on a good road. He has a thousand phone photos and not one he would frame.
- 03varies
A day in the car he never bought
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A driving experience in the car he always mentions: a classic rental for a weekend, or a supercar session at a track.
- 04varies
Hot laps with a pro
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A ride-along with an instructor at a race school. He learns more about lines in three laps than in a year of videos.
- 05varies
Something from his car's birth month
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A car magazine or a newspaper from the month his car was built. Vintage issues are easy to find online, and they put the car in its time.
- 06varies
A museum he hasn't made it to
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The Petersen in Los Angeles, the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, or a regional collection. Book the trip around it.
- 07varies
Paint correction or paintless dent repair
varies
The chip, the swirl marks, the door ding he pretends not to see. Pay a specialist to make it go away.
- 08varies
Factory build records
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For many classic Fords and GM cars you can order the records of how the car left the factory. If he already has them, frame them.
- 09free
Your time in the garage
free
An afternoon handing him tools on the project he has been stuck on. Free, and for some car guys the best gift on this list.
§ 02
Why it works for the man who has everything
Collectors don't need more things. They need the right thing, and with cars the right thing is personal: a specific car, in a specific color, on a road with a story. A poster of his car is the one item in his garage that nobody else owns.
It also scales with the collection. A customer who spent eight years building a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO tribute ordered a print of it. Another hangs his Shelby GT350 poster next to his car show trophies. For the man with an unusual car, that is the point: diecast makers rarely cover a Corvair Lakewood wagon or a Vista Cruiser, but a poster can be made from one photo.
§ 03
How to pull it off without asking him
You need one photo per car. For the current car, take it in daylight from the side or front three-quarter. For older cars, look through family albums, old slides and the backgrounds of holiday photos. A friend from his car club may have better pictures than you think.
If a detail is unclear, like the exact trim or wheels, describe it in words. You can change each design five times before paying and approve a full-size proof after ordering.
From customers
“I spent 8 years custom building my 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO tribute. This poster is awesome, very nice quality. I love it.”
“It’s even better than i thought. Great looking hanging by my car show trophies. Very pleased.”
“It's GREAT! I REALLY like it and it fits right in with photos (see attached) of my previously owned rides: 1964 Ford Mustang; 1964 Porsche 356-SC.”
Questions
What do you buy a car guy who has everything?
Something he can't order himself: a poster of his car or of every car he has owned, a professional photo shoot of his car, or a driving experience in the car he always wanted.
Is a poster of his car a good gift if he already has car art?
Most car art is of famous cars. A poster of his own car, in its color and on a road he chose, is different. Many owners hang it next to their other pieces.
Can I order posters of several cars at once?
Yes. Each car is its own print, and every extra print in the same order is 20% off.
Free preview before you pay. Nothing prints until you approve it.