10 of the Coolest Car-Lover’s Gifts for Dads

For many fathers, it’s father’s day any time they’ve got a wrench in their hands—or the latest F1 race on the flatscreen—and these car-lover’s gifts for dads have been carefully selected to satisfy exactly that kind of paternal hankering for horsepower.

Chosen with input from a real-world father with decades of experience, these great gifts, much like the vehicles in today’s auto industry, run the gamut from the economical to the ultra-lux. As a result, shoppers of all stripes should find something that fits for this Father’s Day—which is coming on June 20th, as an FYI.

Also, while dads should be delighted to get any of these presents on their special day, here’s a final fatherly word of advice: never underestimate the sentimental value of a heart-felt, hand-drawn automotive sketch from the family’s younger generation.

Sure, getting a tie for father’s day is a bit of a cliche, but why not upset conventions with a subtly subversive necktie from Team Blipshift? The go-to source for cooler-than-cool car t-shirts and other nifty apparel, Blipshift.com represents a community of graphically-oriented gearheads who generally produce limited-run exclusives. 

This “Shifter” tie is an example created by the site’s own artists and will let folks know your father proudly supports efforts to save the manuals from extinction. Each hand-made tie is created from 100 percent woven silk and features both a silk backing and a subtle pattern of six-speed shifter gates. Moreover, it’s an eminently affordable father’s day gift for car lovers, with pricing that begins at $36. Other specs include a maximum width of about three inches—”neither hipsterishly narrow nor grandpa’s-hand-me-downs wide”—and an overall length of 58 to 59 inches. 

June is usually the month for both dads and grads, and the next entry on our list of great father’s day presents for car lovers combines the two: classes at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. 

Of course, this isn’t necessarily cheap, as fathers have to find their way to the School’s own Bondurant-designed racetrack in Chandler, Ariz., to participate, but karting programs are available for as low as $249. At the other end of the spectrum, highlights include an immersive, multi-day program with race-prepped Corvette Stingrays and open-wheel Formula Mazda racers (starting at $4,399), as well as a full-day stock-car experience in 650-hp, NASCAR-style racecars ($9,000). 

If you rush, you also may be able to make reservations for the school’s special Father’s Day “Corvette Stingray Experience,” scheduled for June 20th.  

Although the company has had its challenges in recent years, Piloti is back in action, bringing its patented “Roll Control” spherical-heel design to the world of high-performance driving shoes ((with a little help from Canadian Tire). That track-friendly technology provides extra cushioning for the heels and was specifically developed for improved control during heel-and-toe downshifting. Shoes meant for actual motorsports competition are also lined with fire-resistant Nomex for an added measure of protection.

Nowadays, however, Piloti has expanded its range of footwear even further, to encompass both casual and luxury lines, with the latter shoes featuring fine Italian leathers and suedes, and all showcasing sole designs inspired by the tread patterns of vintage racing tires. Meanwhile, the casual collection starts at $150, yet still includes not just the Roll Control design, but also the same unforgettable styling.

Many famous actors dabble in auto racing, but perhaps none have been as serious about it as Paul Newman, who won his class at the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans—finishing in second-place overall—and enjoyed a long and successful career as a driver and team owner. Nor was this a case of a famous person merely purchasing his way to the pole position. Instead, Newman paid his dues on the SCCA circuit, winning four national championships well before claiming an Academy Award for his 1986 role in “The Color of Money.” 

Now the Newman racing story is the subject of a highly-rated documentary, directed by Adam Carolla and Nate Adams, that is likely to be one of this year’s most popular gifts for dads who love cars. Indeed, it’s available for purchase as a digital download for select “on demand” platforms, including Amazon, for under $15.

The next stop on our tour of top father’s day gifts for car lovers carries us to Finland, famous as the birthplace of drivers ranging from former F1 champ Keke Rosberg (father of Nico) to multiple-championship-winning rally pilots like Tommi Makinen and Marcus Granholm. More to the point here, Finland also happens to be home base for Sauso, a family-run company that has been hand-making world-class driving gloves—and other handwear—since 1929.

Sauso further stands out for its responsible approach to the craft, relying on free-range elk and peccary, among others, for its materials, and in no cases does it turn to farmed animals or those raised solely for their hides.

As for the driving gloves themselves, they’re available in a number of different full- and half-length styles, with prices that start at 40 Euros (about $45).

Unrelated to the Disney flick of the same name, this is a project from the Scandinavian jazz band Elektrojazz and its leader, Anders Larson. The swinging Swede is a trombonist influenced by some of Blue Note’s best—including hardbop heavyweights like J.J. Johnson and Curtis Fuller—but he and his group showcase a definite 1970s vibe for “Cars,” which is a musical ode to classic vehicles from that same decade.

But while that may read as slightly gimmicky, the playing is anything but, as Larson, along with Anders Rose (Fender Rhodes electric keyboard), Matthias Petri (electric bass) and Andreas Svendsen (drums), welcome a varied selection of musical guests on tunes like “Groove Challenger,” “Aab-Urbo” and “Alfabivalence.”

Certainly a sound choice as one of the best father’s day gifts for car lovers, the CD is available from the band itself or, digitally, through Amazon and the iTunes store. 

The all-new Ferrari 488 GTB will be the pinnacle of the Prancing Horse’s current product line when it debuts later this year, but with a nearly $300,000 MSRP, the 200-mph terror isn’t exactly a practical pick as one of the best gifts for dad’s who love cars.

There’s another fantastic find for Ferrari-loving fathers, though, in a recent coffee-table book called “Ferrari’s Hypercars,” by the award-winning auto journalist/photographer Winston Goodfellow. Priced at $75, the book is packed with full-color photos of the most powerful Ferraris ever built, along with inside details about their development from the likes of Piero Ferrari, Sergio Pininfarina, and others.

Covered are cars ranging from the 1953 Ferrari 375 MM right up to today’s laser-fast LaFerrari, with the story told through 240 pages and 300 pictures, including 236 in full color.

Fathers living in NASCAR nation will love the new “Lightning Strike” line of officially licensed t-shirts, made of 100 percent cotton and boasting bold color graphics on both sides: Up front is the number and facsimile signature of dad’s favorite driver, and the back is highlighted by a large, eye-popping image of that driver’s 2015 race cars.

Currently on the Lightning Strike roster are fan favorites like Carl Edwards, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick, each with their own exclusive color scheme, and each with a price tag of $24.95. But if dad isn’t down with any of those drivers, NASCAR’s online marketplace also has plenty of other potential presents for pops, and it’s the obvious place to start for father’s day gifts for dads who love NASCAR.

For dads who drive a desk on a daily basis, owning an office chair from Recaro—the world-renowned maker of automotive racing seats—could be just what they need to stay on track at work. In fact, Recaro offers two different series of desk seats, with multiple chair choices in both product lines, allowing fathers to enjoy features such as air lumbar support, adjustable headrests, thick and comfortable foam padding, leading-edge “LiquiCell” cushioning technology, and supportive bolsters for the shoulders, back and thighs. Recaro’s commitment to comfort includes specific chairs for bigger dads, too, with some offering a 350-lb. weight rating.

Recaro’s regal thrones require outlays starting at $2,500, yet since they also are guaranteed for years of stylish performance, they’re the kind of cool father’s day gifts for car lovers that definitely deliver their money’s worth. 

While an old-school muscle car in mint condition may qualify as an ideal father’s day gift for auto enthusiasts, finding one in the wild is no easy task. The next best thing: finding one from the Franklin Mint. For 2015, the well-known purveyor of premium collectibles has produced five fresh entries for its “Classic Muscle” collection, with designers debuting detailed, 1:24 scale examples that aren’t your run-of-the-mill mainstays.

Rather, Franklin Mint has furnished cars like a 1968 Shelby GT500 KR, in the exceedingly rare Tangerine Orange “WT” exterior finish, and a Radiant Green 1972 Olds 442 W30 coupe. Also in the model mix are a 1932 Ford 5-window Coupe Hot Rod wearing Deep Purple Metallic, a 1965 Chevrolet Malibu SS covered in Ermine White and a Dark Green 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle highlighted by dual white racing stripes, and all have MSRPs of $129.95.