Category: Gifts for the Car Enthusiast

Hi All, sorry I didn’t post Tuesday.  It’s vacation time…  And if you want to know where I am, I am in good ol’ Los Angeles.  If you don’t believe me, watch Randy Newman sing “I Love LA”!

“Nutty” granny, or ‘odd’ uncle (I know NOTHING about that…) wanting to know what’s on the wish-list of the car enthusiast for Chanukkah?  Here’s some great ideas for them.

Hemming’s Motor News is “the Bible of the Industry Since 1954.”  It offers good deals for tools, lifts, shop manuals, cars, and even planes!  Hemming’s is mainly a magazine that specializes in the classic car industry and market. Their magazines contains lots of ads, auction coverage and articles reviewing classic cars.  They also host monthly cruise nights in Bennington, Vermont, live coverage (on their website) from auctions such as: Barrett-Jackson, Russo & Steele, Bonhams, and swap meets.  There are well-used cars, trucks and SUVS, fussy collector cars with under 1,000 miles, and so on…  Here’s an example of how Hemming’s works: Let’s say you’ve got a 16 year old son.  He wants a 1953 Packard Carribean.  You decide to get him one for Christmas, so you look in Hemming’s and there’s a practically brand-new Packard Carribean with everything your son wants: big V8, four-on-the-floor, air conditioning and so on – for only $13,000!  That’s what Hemming’s has to offer us!  If you get the enthusiast of the family a subscription before January 1, 2012, then the family enthusiast will have Hemming’s for only $31.95 a year!  So, overall, Hemming’s Motor News is probably the only good classic car magazine around (since 1954…).  I highly recommend going to a local bookstore and picking up a copy!  You’ll stand there until closing time (and then some!)!

Car & Driver is another GREAT gift for the family enthusiast for Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, Festivus (sorry, just couldn’t help myself…), or whatever else you might celebrate.  A subscription of around $18.00 will get the enthusiast twelve issues of great comparisons, a 10Best issue, a New Car/SUV/Truck Buyer’s Guide and SOOOOOO much more!  Hint: I would be fine with Hemming’s, and/or Car & Driver!…  My personal favorite of the Editor’s Columns for Car & Driver is John Philips.  He is funny, tells a lot about what’s going on in the auto world with a sense of humor, and funny stories about the auto industry.   But, the one reason that I LOVE Car & Driver is because they have great comparisons, good(ish) choices for 10Best cars, cool road test data, among other things.  Overall, Car & Driver is one of the authorities if the new-car industry.  If you don’t want a subscription, then your local library will most likely have all the issues of Car & Driver from the past two years (at least!).  By the way, I’ve got a 1952 copy of Car & Driver.  

So, you know how everybody has the nutty friend, spouse, grandma/grandpa or uncle? Well, a recent study has shown that they aren’t nutty, they’re just car enthusiasts!  So, as the holidays come closer, I thought I would help you out (and bust your brains).  Lucky you, I will be doing a series of  posts until the week before Hanukkah and Christmas (when you’ll all be on vacation…).  I will.  Over the next weeks, look for magazine reviews,  great books to purchase, and a couple of movies to buy on dvd. I hope to get to great tools and a few surprises!  Tell me if you want anything else!  I will review it (whatever it is, but only if you pay for it!), and post it on my blog.  The posts won’t be every Tuesday and/or Friday, but they will be close together.

To get your “nutty” relative a few well loved presents, how about a Hemmings Motor News Car Specs 2012 Calendar?   Instead of photos, it’s got these great illustrations of cars.  It’s loaded with facts on cars.  Plus, it’s got easy-to-read format.  So, if they loves to pore over old blueprints and manuals, get them this for a change.  It costs $13.95, and you can order it from Hemmings Motor News at: 1-800-227-4373, extension 79550, or you can get it online from: hemmings.com/store

Does your “nutty” old grandma like to prowl the junkyards, and auto-wrecking yards, well, here’s the perfect gift!  There’s a “Hemmings, the Moon & Stars Tote Bag.”  The Hemmings Motor News 1934 Dodge Panel Truck is a beacon in the night for this artistic 16″x5 1/4″x 12″ tote bag makes a great Corvette-part-carrying bag, or an awesome reusable grocery bag.  It is $3.95.  Again, you can order online, or from the phone.  The phone number is: 1-800-227-4373, extension 79550.  The web address is hemmings.com/store

Like cars, but aren’t allowed to wear anything below Khaki’s and a Polo shirt?  Well, there’s a nice Hemmings Classic Car Polo Shirt will be your favorite shirt, and your boss’s!  It has sizes ranging from Small to Extra-Extra-Large.  It is Maroon, and $27.95.  You can order by phone, or online at 1-800-227-4373, extension 79550 or hemmings.com/store

Are you an avid hiker who likes classic cars?  There’s a Hemmings Motor News Blue Fleece Vest that’s just perfect for a cold hike or jog.  It is top-quality WASHABLE fleece with two zip pockets.  It goes great with just about any shirt, too!  It comes in sizes Small through Extra-Extra-Large, is navy blue, and $39.95.  Again, you can order it online at hemmings.com/store, or by phone at 1-800-227-4373, extension 79550.

You part of a local Muscle-Car group? Well, there’s an “I’m a Man (or Woman)” Hemmings Muscle Machines Pit Crew Shirt.   It’s like those button-up shirts that make you look sharp, but you’ll be simply dazzling with this shirt on!  It’s got timeless styling, and a Hemmings Muscle Machines logo declares YOUR interests!  It comes in sizes Medium through  Extra-Extra-Large, is $24.95.  You can order it off the online Hemmings store at hemmings.com/store, or off the phone at 1-800-227-4373, extension 79550.

That not enough for you?  How about the Hemmings All-Pursose Cotton Canvas Tote Bag (The Tote Bag of Tote Bags) is a long-standing favorite of Hemmings Motor News subscribers and staff!  It has extra-long handles for throwing your UPS truck full bag of groceries onto your shoulder.  It might not be a bad idea to buy a few more, as the burglars, family, and friends will be strip-searching you for it!  It is a true bargain at $15.00 for one bag!  Yet again, you can order it online at hemmings.com/store, and off the phone at 1-800-227-4373, extension 79550.

Is THAT not enough for you?  Well, how about the Hemmings Porcelain Sign.  It all started back in the day of 1954, and if you’re a Hemmings fan, grab one of these signs to hang in your garage or den!  It is $21.95, and order able online at hemmings.com/store, or by phone at 1-800-227-4373, extension 79550.

Not bored yet, still got some more space (and money!) how about the Coconut Cafe (Cheeseburger Lovers’) Hawaiian Shirt has a picture of a nostalgic drive-in food joint car-focused theme is dramatically shown on BOTH the front and back!  Great for Hawaiian shirt and car lover!  It comes in sizes Medium through Extra-Extra-Large, is $24.95, and is available by phone at 1-800-227-4373, extension 79550, and online at hemmings.com/store (other styles available online)

Have a classic truck?  Subscribe to Hemmings?  Get the Hemmings Trailer Hitch Cover to make you instantly cool, and is highly resistible to breaking (and braking).  It costs a mere $5.95, and is order able online at hemmings.com/store, or by phone at 1-800-227-4373, extension 79550.

So you know a lot about classic cars?  Let’s see!  Challenge your friends and family with this Car Quiz for the Classic Car Aficionado!  Try not to play it too often, or they might not let you play it again (Know-It-All)!  $16.95, available online at hemmings.com/store, or by phone at 1-800-227-4373, extension 79550.

Like this post so much, you had to get something (else) for me? How about the 1935 Chevrolet 1 1/2 canopy van diecast model?  It’s 1/24th scale, $39.95, has a: working suspension, steering wheel that turns the front wheels, side doors that open and close (to make ingress/egress easier for the toy soldiers…), an opening rear tailgate, a detailed cab interior, engine, and underside, and a tilting windshield.  Oh!  I almost forgot the Hemmings branding with Hemmings logo on the doors and tailgate, and the hemmings.com website on both side panels and the front edge of the roof.  It would be a wise choice to order one now, as other Hemmings-branded trucks have sold fast in the past!  Again, order at 1-800-227-4373, extension 79550, or hemmings.com/store

Still waiting to get the “bargain”?  Well, here you go.  The Hemmings Motor News Illustrated Collector-Car Encyclopedia is the bargain of 2011!  It has over 300 pages, with over 30 categories that include: Body Styles, Body Construction, Designers & Stylists, Coachbuilders, Automobile Companies, Pioneers, Engines, Transmissions, Differentials, Suspension, Brake Systems, Fuel Systems, Ignition Systems, Tools & Machinery, Primers & Paints, Interiors, Wheels, Tires, Lighting, Accessories, Racing, Hot Rodding, High Performance, Restoration, Concours, Shows & Events, Museums, Auctions, Clubs, Toys & Models.  Yet again, order by phone at 1-800-227-4373, extension 79550, or hemmings.com/store

Oh, and by the way, all items ship within 48 hours!

Goodness!  I almost forgot to tell you about one of the best presents for “nutty” grandma and uncle!  You can get a Digital Edition subscription for: Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Muscle Machines, Hemmings Classic Car, and Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car.  The print edition (12 issues) for Hemmings Motor News is $31.95, and is the same amount for the digital edition.  The others are $18.95 for the the print edition, and $7.00 for the digital edition.  Or, you can subscribe to all four online for only $25.00, instead if $33.00.  So, be quick for those “nutty” grandma’s and uncles!

Happy H0lidays (to you & me!)  Tune in for more!  By the way, I would be elated to receive ANY of the above-mentioned items…..ahem.