Want to gear up and get your car-loving father the best Father’s Day gift? AutoGuide.com has compiled a top 10 list of this year’s best Father’s Day gifts for any automotive enthusiast.
Father’s Day only comes once a year, and sometimes it could be a real drag to figure out the best gift for your dad. But no matter the budget, we’ve got you covered with ideas that will surely have your dad grinning from ear to ear.
With over 20 automotive museums in the U.S. alone, there’s a good chance there’s one in a state near you. If you’re in California, you’ll want to take a look at the Petersen Automotive Museum, while those in Arizona should check out the Penske Racing Museum. Other museums that might strike your interest include America’s Car Museum (Tacoma, Washington), The National Corvette Museum (Bowling Green, Kentucky), The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum (Indianapolis, Indiana) and The Henry Ford Museum (Dearborn, Michigan).
If your dad is into collecting automotive toys, LEGO has a few treats available. Most recently the company announced its MINI Cooper collectible while there are plenty of custom kits to build anything ranging from a classic cop car to a Ferrari. Best of all, it’s a great way to spend some time with your dad while reliving both your childhood memories.
There’s plenty of driving schools and exotic driving experiences now available nationwide, from Bondurant to Skip Barber to the Exotic Driving Experience. You can also check with your local track to see if they have anything special going on as certain driving schools and experiences travel from track to track. Companies such as the Exotic Driving Experience are available at a number of tracks including Daytona, Charlotte, Kansas, Orlando, Houston and Texas.
If your dad loves working on his own cars, you’ll definitely want to take a closer look at what CarbonLite Tools has to offer. The company’s carbon fiber wrenches are made in the U.S. from 3/8-inch high strength carbon fiber and stainless steel teeth and are not only extremely durable but lightweight. Each wrench is designed to feature both standard and metric sizes on the same wrench and comes in a set of five (3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 10mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm and 15mm).
No automotive enthusiast is happy with a dirty car. Give your dad the gift that keeps on giving with a complete car kit from his favorite company. You’ll find numerous packages available online or from your local auto parts store, complete with a nice mitt, buffing pads, towels, car wash, polish and wax. There’s also paint and restoration kits available as well as specialty items such as a headlight restoration kit.
Every person that works on a car needs a good set of gloves. Mechanix Wear has been one of the most reputable brands in the industry for years now, and its glove lineup ranges from all purpose to heavy duty leather. There are even gloves with a build in 8-mm LED light and best of all, they’re affordable with the majority of Mechanix’s offerings under $50.00 for the pair. Available in a variety of sizes, there’s guaranteed to be a pair made for your dad.
If your dad spends a lot of time working at a desk rather than on his car, you might want to take a closer look at products from PitStop Furniture. The company has a wide lineup of office accessories or even home furniture that’s been inspired by everything automotive. From office chairs resembling bucket race seats to complete desks with spoilers acting as shelves and accented by shocks, PitStop Furniture has something for every budget.
Since it’s Father’s Day, why not rent your dad that exotic he’s been dreaming to drive – at least for a day? Hertz’s Dream Car Collection has a lineup ranging from the Audi R8 to a Ferrari F430 Spider. There’s plenty of other exotics to choose from as well including the Lamborghini Gallardo and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT. Or perhaps he’s a die-hard American muscle fan, in which case you should grab him a shiny SRT Viper. It doesn’t come cheap though, but it’s way better than actually having to buy a supercar.
Your dad loves golfing? Can’t put a price tag on his happiness? The Ford Shelby GT500 golf cart is definitely a one-of-a-kind treat, priced at $15,490. It does however come with all the bells and whistles imaginable including officially licensed Shelby GT500 badging, a custom-formed fiberglass body, PPG paint colors and matching stripes, UltraSuede and Vinyl upholstered seats and even 12-inch aluminum wheels. Its got plenty of performance too with a 19.5-mph top speed, independent front suspension and a limited slip differential.
Lastly, why not just grab your dad his favorite cold beer and spend some time with him working on his project car? Sometimes simpler is better and spending valuable time could mean the world to your dad. Either way, make sure this Father’s Day is the best yet by sharing your love of all things automotive with you dad.