The Motorhappy Petrolhead Gift Guide

Christmas might feel a little different this year, but one thing remains the same: If you’re spending hard-earned money on presents, you really want to find the perfect gift that you know will be loved and appreciated. We understand you, which is why every year we put together The MotorHappy Petrolhead Gift Guide.

Check out our list of this year’s perfect car fanatic gifts, with something for every budget.

If Coronavirus has your car fanatic spending more time at home and less time on the road, a Lego Speed Champions kit should keep them busy for a while. This is a collection of Lego sportscar kits, with options like McLaren, Ferrari, Jaguar and so much more. Available in most good toy stores.

Were talking about sales reps, constant deliveries, endless inter-city travel. For these people, the car becomes their second home… so make the journey comfy! The Tool Box giftset from Typo R599 comes with three travel-ready bottles in various sizes and suitable for hot and cold drinks.

Gift the intellectual with a gorgeous car-themed personalised journal from Macaroon for R280. Macaroon has a wide selection of journal options, so spend some time browsing their site.

There are few things worse than desperately looking for your car keys when you know you’re already late. Let that be a thing of the past with whistle key-finder for just R99. When you whistle, the keychain will beep and flash in response. There are now also more advanced key finders on the market, which link to your cell phone using Bluetooth.

For some people, the next best thing to driving is playing a driving video game. There is a wide variety of games to choose from, depending on what console they use, or if they play on PC. Video games provide the ultimate escape when you just want to block out the chaos of life.

Ok, we should all be vigilant drivers, but if the car-lover in your life is ready to take it to the next level then they will surely appreciate an in-car camera. Sometimes called Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) or Dash Cams, these devices provide footage of what happens on the road or in the car. There are many of these cameras available, ranging in price from R500 to R2500 or more.

Parallel parking or reverse parking is often enough to make some people drive around the parking lot or block several times looking for another parking spot. The solution? A reverse back up camera that can be fitted to the car. Most new cars come with built-in cameras, but for people who drive older cars, this is the gift that keeps on giving! Depending on the model, prices range from R480 to over R1000.

For the driver who likes to venture off the beaten path, a portable car emergency jump starter, starting at around R1300, is the perfect gift. With a portable jump starter, they can jump start their own car, without needing another car’s battery. It would really come in handy if they run into battery problems while driving through the Karoo!

Supercar driving experiences are the gift of choice for people who have a need for speed! For many people, racing around a track at top speed in a supercar is a dream come true. Starting at R1829, this is a once-in-a-lifetime gift.

*All prices correct at time of publication.