Last minute gift ideas for the car guy (or girl) on your list.

There’s less than a week of shopping left before Christmas 2011. If you’re reading this post at this point in the game you’re probably feeling the pressure of time running out, but you’ve also realized that one or more people on your list likes big, shiny things that go “vroom, vroom”. Congratulations because you’ve at least taken the time to identify an interest that your gift recipient has and that will increase the chance that they’re gonna like what you give them. Now that you know you’re buying for a car lover, here’s some gift suggestions that should be well-received:

Tools and Tool Storage
Car people love tools. Even if they don’t end up really using them, they still enjoy a trip through the tool section at Sears or Wal-mart. Unless your car lover is a professional mechanic (and even if he is), you’re probably going to be safe hitting the Craftsman tool department at Sears. Craftsman is always coming out with a new tool that will make work easier and Sears advertises these on a regular basis on television. With a visit to their website or to your local Sears to see what the latest featured tools are you’ll probably find something your car lover will be happy to unwrap without breaking your budget. And if your guy has all the tools he needs, how about a shiny new toolbox?

Die-cast Collectibles
For the uninitiated, these are toy cars that aren’t really meant to be toys.  A common size is the 1:18th scale (usually around ten to eighteen inches in length) and they come with much more detail than your average matchbox car, like doors that open, functional steering, and maybe even working suspension.  These are especially great for the car guy that already has a real car he loves, like an old muscle car.  If you can match paint and interior color to his ride, so much the better. Although die-cast cars can get pricey, something in the $20 to $50 range should be of good enough quality and detail to avoid looking cheap.  If it doesn’t come with a display case, springing the few extra bucks to buy a display case will save your car guy or girl the hassle of trying to dust a tiny interior.

Car Movies/Videos
Car lovers love car movies, but not every movie that sounds like a car movie qualifies and some movies don’t appear to be car movies at first, but really deliver a lot of automotive candy. Sure winners are “Smokey and the Bandit”, “Gone in Sixty Seconds”, and “Dazed and Confused”. Car documentaries can make for nice stocking stuffers, as well. Some television channels, like the History Channel, have auto brand and make specific documentaries available on DVD and blu-ray.  Just like the die-cast collectibles, if you get a documentary on the make and model he already owns, he’s gonna like it.  I know it sounds boring, but trust me on this one.

What ever you decide on, as long as you keep that car theme in there they are bound to love it. Now get going, the clock’s ticking!