2020 CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

Matt Allan checks out the best presents for the petrolhead in your life

2020 has been a weird year but some things never change and that includes the rapidly approaching festive gift-a-thon that is Christmas.

If the petrolhead in your life has not been able to indulge in their passion as much as usual thanks to lockdown, social distancing and the cancellation of pretty much everything, then now is the perfect time to indulge them with a little motoring-relating present or two.

UP TO £25

● Faraday pouch (£5, Halfords) Car thefts using relay attack methods which intercept a key signal are increasingly common. It’s a sophisticated crime but a Faraday pouch is a simple and cheap solution and makes a great gift for any owner of a modern car with key less entry. The pouches feature a metal lining that blocks the key signal, making it impossible to intercept and mimic.

● Citroen cookie cutter cube (€8, Citroen shop)

Perfect for car fans old and young, this fun kitchen utensil lets you shape your biscuits in the style of six of the French brand’s most iconic models. You can choose from the Type A, Type H, Traction Avant, 2CV AMI and CX.

● John Haynes: The Man Behind the Manuals (£20, Haynes)

Anyone with more than a passing interest in cars or bikes will recognise the Haynes name. The brand’ s workshop manuals have been an oil-stained staple of many home garages since the 1960s when John Haynes began writing and publishing them. Following his death in 2019, this new biography explores them an behind them a nua ls, his early life in Ceylon, time spent in the RAF and the overwhelming passion for all things automotive that helped create a global brand.

● Carfume (from £11.99)

Forget your scented pieces of tree-shaped cardboard, your favourite petrolhead deserves better. Carfume offers a selection of scents to freshen up any car, including exclusive blends and those inspired by popular perfumes and aftershaves. Prices start at £11.99 for small recyclable “orbs”, rising to £24.99 for refillable deluxe air vent units.

● Aston Martin: Made in Britain (£15, Amazon)

Think Aston Martin and you think James B ond, which is convenient because the author of this dive into the brand’s histor y is B ond stunt driver and former Stig, Ben Collins. He explores the famous marque from its foundation by Lionel Martin and Rober t Bamford in 1920, through the iconic David Brown years to on-track success under the guidance of Adrian Newey and its future as it enters its second century.

£25-£50

● Lego Speed Champions Jaguar Formula E and I-pace (£34.99, Lego)

This t win-pack of EV race cars is ideal for smaller motoring fans and big kids alike. Part of the new Speed Champions range of larger models, the set features the Formula E Panasonic Jaguar Racing Gen 2 single seater and the I-pace-e-trophy racer, plus a starting gantry with drop-down lights. With 565 pieces it should keep brick fans of any age enter - tained over the holidays.

● Limited Edition Frank Stephenson sketches (£35, Frank Stephenson)

Car designer Frank Stephenson is the man behind the famous Ford Escort RS Cosworth, the revived Mini, Ferrari F430 and Fiat 500 and has led the teams responsible for most of Mclaren’s recent output. He also hosts a regular Youtube show about how he created some of his most iconic designs and is now offering limited edition prints of sketches from the show. You can chose from A5 prints of the Ferrari F430, Ford Escort Cosworth, Maserati MC12,

Mclaren P1 and MINI, with all the proceeds going to charity.

● Driving experience (from £45, Drivingexperience.com)

Whatever your loved one’s passion, there is bound to be a driving experience out there for them. From supercars to American muscle, rally legends and even monster trucks, Driving Experiences offers the opportunit y to get in the passenger seat or behind the wheel of dozens of different vehicles at some of the UK’S most famous circuits. Prices range from £45 to £890.

● Bentley Birkin teddy bear (£42, Bentley store)

Inspired by Sir Henry“Tim” B irk in, perhaps the most famous of the “Bentley Boys”, this cute-as-button 40 cm cuddly toy soft sports the legendary racer’ s signature “Birkin spot” scarf and Bentley club jacket.

● Autoglym Bodywork and Wheels collection (£45, Autoglym)

If your carl over is truly passionate about their motor, they’ll want to keep it in top condition. This six-part set from specialist Autoglym includes everything they’ ll need, from bodywork shampoo and wheel cleaner to a super resin polish and instant tyre dressing.

£50-£100

● Amazon Auto Echo (£49.99, Halfords)

The Amazon Auto Echo brings the ubiquitous home assistant to the car. The slim line device can be easily mounted to an air vent and brings Amazon Alex a on board, allowing you to control your music and other media by voice, ask for navigation help, traffic updates or tips on nearby services. You can also set reminders, make phone calls and even control your smart home devices.

● Wacaco Pipamoka portable coffee maker (£49.99, Amazon)

Know someone who’s always running late but needs their hit of caffeine in the morning? This incar coffee maker could be the solution. Made from stainless steel and featuring a pressure brewer mechanism, it means you can brew proper coffee on the go in just two minutes.

● Go kart race experience for two (£90, Teamsport)

Nothing brings out a car fan’s inner racer better than a stint at the wheel of a go kart. This Christmas Teamsport is offering a voucher for two drivers to duke it out on track at one of 35 indoor circuits around the UK, including three in Scotland. The offer includes t wo 15-minute sessions on track and is valid for 24 months. An extra tenner will bag a gift box containing the voucher, racing balaclavas, gift wallet and lanyards with passes.

● Bentley ride-on car (£95, Bentley store)

Forthe smaller car fan in your household, this ride-on model is inspired by the Bentley Continental GT. It might not have that car’s immense W12 but it does feature a working horn and stereo with a selection of music plus a back rest and under-seat storage.

● Delorean watch (£99.99, DMC Watch)

The Deloran DMC12 is probably one of the most recognised cars in the world. While most car fans would love the real thing on their drive way, they aren’t cheap, so how about a Delore an on their wrist instead? Officially licenced by the Delorean Motor Company, this timepiece features a stainless steel 49mm case and black leather strap, and comes in a presentation box.

£100-£150

● Limited100 photographic prints (From £119, Limited100)

Limited 100 specialises in high- quality, limited edition photography for car lovers. The company works with award-winning photo graphers including Paul Ward, Rick Noël and João Meneses, to source exclusive images of everything from modern hypercars like the Bugatti Chiron to classic Ferrari racers. Each run of prints is limited to just 100 and they are available in sizes from A3 to A1 in a variety of frames and finishes.

● Ryobi ONE+ 18V Power Washer (£129.99, Amazon)

A cordless power washer ideal for anyone religious about keeping their car clear. The compact unit runs off an 18 V battery andf eatures a built in compressor so there’ s no power cable to restrict your movement or get tangled up. The hose features a three-in-one nozzle with turbo, 15-degree fan and rinse settings and can be hooking up to a standard garden hose or used in any fresh water source via an included syphon kit.

● Porsche Carrera model engine kit (£159.99, Amazon) The Porsche 547 engine has quite a reputation as the motor that helped prop el the 356 and 505 Spyder cars to racing victory. This 1:3 scale, 300-piece model allows engineering fans to explore the inner working soft he famous flat-four as they build the working, battery- powered replica. As well as building instructions, the manual includes a comprehensive history of Porsche’s early racing years.

● Nextbase 622GW (£249, Halfords)

Next base is among the biggest sellers of dash cams in the UK and the 622GW is its current flagship device. It features 4K recording, image stabilisation, GPS and a night vision mode and also packs in an extreme weather mode, Amazon Alexa voice control and, most interestingly, emergency SOS calling and the what3words location service. ● Lego Technic Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 (£349.99, Lego)

This is the latest flagship set from Lego and is based on the limited run hybrid hyp ecar from Sant’agata. Designed for older enthusiasts, the 1:8 scale model uses more than 3,600 parts and features a working replica of the Sian’s V12 engine, a sequential eight-speed gear box, retractable spoiler and and scissor doors. As well as the model, the kit includes “coffee table” collectors’ booklets and a series of 13 exclusive videocasts.