Inside Line's 2009 Holiday Gift Guide for the Car Guy

This is what the car-addicted masses want. Twenty-five insanely great gifts anyone with a dribble of petroleum in their hearts should, must and will crave and devour. This isn't the sort of trash you pick up at the last minute from Toys 'R Us on December 24 or the sort of generic feel-good tchotchkes you buy for your boss. And there are no gag gifts here — just hard-core motorhead stuff.

The temptation was to limit what we feature here to some lowball price point in deference to the ongoing crummy economy. Screw that. Here we're aiming high and reaching for the very best. Yeah, some of these could be stocking stuffers. But some of them, well, if you get them your life changes. Forever.

1. Daytona 500 Travel Package — $285-$625

Daytona International Speedway has a seating capacity of about 168,000. And that means that next Valentine's Day, February 14, race day for the 52nd annual Daytona 500, there will be about 50,000 cars jockeying to find a parking space. Trust us. The worst thing about attending any major race is always the parking. And if there's any way around that, go around it.

MyRaceTravel.com is offering an "official" travel package to the next Daytona 500 that includes two nights at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando and, best of all, a round-trip motor coach trip with preferred parking on race day. That's right, no 3-mile hike to your seats and no frustrating four-hour wait to get to the jammed interstate. The package also includes things like a souvenir bag and admission to the Daytona 500 Experience, but it's that bus ride alone that seals the deal. Prices vary depending on how many people share the hotel room, and don't include tickets to the race itself or transportation to Orlando.

Similar packages are available for the Indianapolis 500 and other NASCAR events around the country. The packages for next August's Sharpie 500 night race at Bristol look particularly delectable.

2. Zazzle Car Calendars — $20.95-$30

Yeah, you're right, there may be no gift more mundane than a calendar. And there are literally hundreds of different car calendars out there ranging from elegant to goofball. But the 182 mostly enthusiast-created car calendars listed on Zazzle include some of the best (and worst) and most arcane around. Want a calendar featuring nothing but Pontiac Fieros from Colorado? Zazzle has that. Don't like any of them? Then Zazzle lets you build your own.

It takes only a few minutes to create a calendar on Zazzle. Just choose one of their templates, upload the photos and the calendar is essentially done. All that's left is waiting for your calendar (or 1,000 calendars) to show up in the mail.

Want a calendar of nothing but Fiats doing burnouts? Then make it. Want one dedicated to rodents eating Honda Civic wiring harnesses? If you have the photos, you can make the calendar. Have photos of all the cars your dad has owned through the years? Then why haven't you built him a calendar yet?

3. GM Performance Parts E-Rod LS3 Crate Engine LS3 — $9,375

It used to be that building your first small-block Chevy V8 was a knuckle-scraping rite of car guy passage in America. It started with pulling the core out of some rust-bucket Biscayne and included such fun activities as getting the block machined and then re-machined, screwing up all the seals, obsessing over exactly which cam would work best, and letting the project sit for eight months because the piston rings were on back order. Today, however, it's a lot easier to just order up a crate motor and bolt it into your hot rod.

The latest in crate motor madness is GM Performance Parts' new E-Rod. It's essentially the same 6.2-liter version of GM's latest LS-series small-block V8 that's installed in the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS. Rated at 430 horsepower, the fuel-injected E-Rod LS3 comes complete from oil sump to air filter and includes exhaust manifolds, a wiring harness, a special engine control computer and all the sensors necessary to make sure it's emissions-legal, even in California. In fact the package even includes catalytic converters and a special accelerator pedal to operate the electronic throttle.

Yeah, that's right, your '64 Chevelle can now be equipped with throttle-by-wire technology. The only trick is getting the forklift into the living room so you can get the engine under the tree.

4. Throttle magazine — 1941: The Complete Collection — $39.95

Despite legends to the contrary, hot-rodding didn't appear fully formed until after World War II. And no, hot-rodding wasn't invented by Robert E. Petersen. Despite the Great Depression and an almost complete lack of aftermarket parts, hot-rodders were already wrenching away on their cars long before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. And one of the very first (and very few) magazines to cover the pre-war hot-rod scene was called Throttle.

Throttle was first published early in 1941 and wouldn't survive that year as America's war effort sucked in most of its potential readers. But those few raw-edged issues of Throttle have now been preserved and compiled into this hardcover book. As history, it's flat-out fascinating: a trip into the origins of a world that today's hot rodders now take for granted. As inspiration, it's invaluable: a reminder that the essence of rodding is in personal innovation and creative re-purposing. You know, the sort of stuff that's never on display at the SEMA show.

Besides every page of every issue of Throttle, this book also includes an essay tracing the lives of the men who put the magazine together.

5. Duracell Powerpack 600 Jump Starter — $133.98

In every car's life there comes a moment when its battery has been run down and there's not enough amperage to start the engine. Jumper cables are usually the way to get things going again...assuming there's another running car around whose owner is willing to help out. But relying on the kindness of others doesn't always work, and that's when the Duracell Powerpack 600 does.

The Powerpack 600 is basically a big, 28 amp-hour rechargeable battery. Use the included jumper cables and there's enough amperage here to start most eight-cylinder engines (a reverse polarity detector keeps you from accidentally clamping the negative cable to the positive terminal and vice versa). But the Powerpack does a lot more than that.

Three built-in AC outlets can be used to provide power to everything from laptop computers to margarita mixers and televisions. There's also a single DC outlet, an emergency light and built-in AM/FM radio aboard. So it's good for camping, wonderful during blackouts, great on remote job sites and plain fun at picnics or outdoor parties. And it can be charged from any regular wall outlet or through a car's cigarette lighter.

And as this is written it's on sale at Amazon.com for a reasonable $133.98.

6. A Lap in the Ring-Taxi — $291 plus hotel, airfare and rental car

Leaving aside the cost of airfare and a hotel and a rental car to get to the Nürburgring, taking a lap around the legendary Nordschleife circuit in a BMW M5 "Ring-Taxi" with an awesomely talented driver is just an amazing bargain at €195 (that's about $291 American). It's a white-knuckle thrill ride that will have your butt puckered for most of the 12.9 miles and absolutely thrilled by the end of the lap. It's one of the world's great automotive experiences.

And then, of course, you can buy a ticket to lap the Nürburgring yourself in the rental car. Just remember, the track is famous for swallowing and spitting out overconfident drivers. And they're usually encased in mangled sheet metal.

Incidentally, on Travelocity we found round-trip airfares from Los Angeles to Frankfurt, Germany as low as $623! It's almost too cheap.

7. Porsche Design Cufflinks — $119

You can't wear racing T-shirts every single day of your life — though we know guys who have tried. Sometimes it just pays to put on a suit. But that doesn't mean you have to abandon your automotive obsession altogether.

These Porsche Design cufflinks are made of polished stainless steel and elegant enough to wear to any formal event, from a wedding to an indictment on federal money-laundering charges. The Porsche name is gracefully embossed along each link's edge, so they're low-key and completely in keeping with Porsche's design philosophy. They're the perfect complement to a Hugo Boss suit. And nothing looks better next to a Hugo Boss suit than a 2010 911 GT3 RS.

In fact, we bet if you buy the $132,800 911 GT3 RS, your Porsche dealer is likely to throw in the cufflinks for free.

8. GoPro Hero Video Camera — $299.99

In the future, everyone will be a YouTube hero. But to get your allotted dose of fame, you're going to need a video camera built rugged enough to survive your automotive insanity and small enough to position for maximum dramatic effect. That's the Go Pro HD Motorsports Hero.

Built specifically for capturing onboard motorsports video, the Hero is a full-on 1,080p HD camera that isn't much bigger than the palm of your hand. So it can be mounted almost anywhere on a car, motorcycle or skateboard. It stores images on a 32-gigabyte SD card and can record up to 2.5 hours on one charge of its lithium-ion battery. Add on any USB power adapter and it can run right up until that SD card is bursting open under the strain of your ongoing video awesomeness.

9. EZCarLift — $1,695

In a perfect world there would never be any reason to crawl under your car. The oil would drain upward, the brakes would bleed through the holes in the fenders and the exhaust system would be routed through the headliner. But this isn't a perfect world, and the EZCarLift is one of the easiest ways to get your machine up without pulling the drain plug on your bank account.

Unlike other lifts that are designed for installation in professional mechanics' bays, the EZCarLift is designed specifically for use by home mechanics. It's essentially a lightweight scissors jack that lifts up to 4,400 pounds using the torque of a corded power drill. Supporting the car at four points, it lifts the vehicle straight up and leaves most of the chassis open for work. At full extension, the device will lift a car about 26 inches off the floor.

Sure, a two-post hoist may be better and faster, but they also cost a lot more than the EZCarLift's $1,695. And unlike the EZCarLift, they're not portable.

10. Ferrari 458 Italia Sunglasses — $180 (est.)

The new Ferrari 458 Italia has, like so many Ferraris before it, flat walloped the automotive world with its stunning looks, audacious engineering and mind-shattering price tag. But if you're about a quarter-million dollars short of having your local Ferrari dealer order you an Italia, you can still get the sunglasses inspired by the car.

The 458 Italia sunglasses are made by Marcolin for Ferrari and are styled specifically to evoke the car's dramatic lines. The frames are, in fact, black aluminum with red injection-molded side pieces, and the rubber nose piece is adjustable. They're light enough to wear every day, and unlike the car, the sunglasses don't burn fuel or need much maintenance.

A word of caution, however: You'll look like a total knob if you're seen getting out of a beat-up 1979 Datsun 280ZX while wearing these sunglasses.

11. Jim Hall Kart Racing School — Starting at $225

Heard of Michael Schumacher? He got his start racing go-karts. So did Ayrton Senna. And Lewis Hamilton. And Tony Stewart. And Jeff Gordon. In fact, just about every great active race driver started in karts. There's still simply no better way to learn car control than karts — no matter how realistic Gran Turismo looks on your PSP. And when it comes to learning karts, there's no better place to start than Jim Hall Racing in glamorous Oxnard, California.

The Hall facility is built around a specially built, reconfigurable road course that can run up to a half-mile in length with corners that generate up to 1.4g. It's just the sort of place where even a youngster can confidently push their personal performance envelope further and further. Half-day programs for beginners (including children as young as 10) start at $225, with more intense and longer training priced accordingly.

12. Attend a Top Gear Taping — Free!

The BBC's Top Gear is simply the best car show ever put on any television network anywhere. It's already a legend in its native Britain and it's quickly becoming one on this side of the Atlantic, where episodes air on BBC America and attract hits on YouTube like seagulls flocking to an open dumpster. And anyone over 18 who is obsessed with Top Gear can get free tickets to a taping simply by requesting them through the BBC's Web site.

Of course, the tapings all take place at Dunsfold Park, and that facility is inconveniently located in Great Britain. And as far as we know, the BBC isn't providing free airfare to Americans who want to be in the Top Gear audience screaming behind Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

Inside Line will pay up to $20 cash — yours to spend any way you want — if you come back with definitive proof of The Stig's true identity. See, the trip practically pays for itself!

13. Shell and Chevron/Texaco Gift Cards — Starting at $5

Eventually everyone needs fuel. Short of cash, some good old fossil fuel is the one gift you can give absolutely knowing that the recipient is going to use it. Well, except for hard-core pedestrians, bicyclists, bus riders and Tesla owners. But everyone else could use some gas.

Many of the major oil companies have established gift card programs so you can stuff someone's stocking full of refined petroleum. The Shell and Chevron/Texaco programs have cards starting in denominations as small as $5 and going up from there to $100. Many affiliated stations sell the gift cards and they all honor them. The cards are also available through the Shell and Chevron Web sites.

What could be better than getting fuel for Christmas?

14. Honda VFR1200F — $17,000 (est.)

Every good car guy needs a great motorcycle. A two-wheeler is the antidote to the safety cocoon of the modern, 10-airbag, radar cruise control and video-screen-equipped modern car. And it's just about the most direct connection between technology and its pilot imaginable. And motorcycles don't come more radical than Honda's brand-new VFR1200F.

A big sport bike (sweetened with some touring DNA) powered by a new narrow-angle, SOHC 16-valve fuel-injected 1,237cc V4 making 167 hp, the VFR1200F expands on some Honda engineering traditions and creates a few of its own. Elements like the single-sided rear swing arm will get their share of attention, but it's the available six-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission that is the star. As with similar transmissions like Porsche's PDK gearbox, the VFR1200F's gearbox can be left to shift by itself or it can make lightning-quick rider-triggered changes. The clutch was always a hassle on bikes anyhow.

The VFR1200F isn't a beginner's bike, but it's the leading edge of motorcycle technology. And on any bike, the leading edge is connected directly to your soul.

15. Rent a Lamborghini — $1,400 per day and up

Any car worth buying is even better if it's rented. You never have to deal with service, someone else washes it, you don't go nuts contemplating its depreciation, and it never hogs garage space. There's a case to be made that the best way to appreciate a Lamborghini or other exotic is to rent it.

Right now about the cheapest Lamborghini rental Inside Line has seen is the $1,400-a-day rate for a Gallardo from Beverly Hills Rent-a-Car in Southern California. That rate includes the first 50 miles but every mile beyond that is an additional two bucks. Not exactly cheap, but you do get a real live Gallardo with Lambo's magical V10 behind your right shoulder, all-wheel drive and the visual impact of a sledgehammer hitting your eyeball.

The one drawback with that deal, however, is that you only drive one car. For those with a buffet personality, there's World Class Driving that for about $1,500 offers a day of driving behind the wheels of a range of exotics including at least one Ferrari and a Lambo. It's a great way to accumulate seat time across a range of fantastic cars, but it's tough to be a lone wolf when you're dancing in a conga line.

16. TLC Icon — $125,000 (est.)

Of course there was going to be at least one four-wheeled vehicle on this list. And the obvious choice here would have been a Ferrari or other exotic. But the best Christmas gifts need some surprise built into them to be truly special. And there aren't many vehicles more surprising than the Icon.

Not simply a rebuilt or remanufactured Toyota Land Cruiser, the Icon is that legendary vehicle re-crafted into a hand-built, off-road beast. Each one is custom built to its buyer's unique specification and fortified with the latest technology including a GM-made 350-hp 5.3-liter, LS-series V8. It's all the best aftermarket stuff that's been developed for the Toyota FJ-series Land Cruiser over the last 50 years, combined with some daring engineering and brilliant craftsmanship. The only limit on what an Icon can be is the size of the check you write.

17. 2001-'06 BMW M3 — $15,000-$31,000 (est.)

There are no rules that say a great Christmas gift can't be slightly used. And there's no better slightly used car than the 2001-'06 E46 BMW M3 coupe or convertible.

Of course the current V8-powered M3 is a quicker machine, but the E46 M3 simply has one of the most compelling personalities ever built into a mechanical device. Powered by a 333-hp 3.2-liter straight-6, the E46 M3 had a light, precise and eager feel that the V8-powered M3 doesn't even try to duplicate. The E46 chassis remains spectacularly well composed even after nearly 100,000 miles of seasoning and, despite its high-revving nature, the engine is relatively bulletproof if it's well maintained. As a used car with prices that have dropped in some cases below $20,000, the E46 M3 may be even more attractive than it was when it was new and carrying a $50,000-plus window sticker.

In early 2008 Inside Line bought a used 2002 E46 M3 and drove it for almost 19 months as part of our regular long-term fleet. Of the dozens of cars that have passed through here over the years, none was more beloved than that one. And none are even close to being missed more.

18. CXC Simulations Motion Pro II — $51,100 (Elite Package)

There's nothing better than getting track time in a high-performance car. Nothing, after all, beats the real thing. But the CXC Simulations Motion Pro II comes close.

The Motion Pro II is a full-immersion driving simulator. This isn't just a racing seat, steering wheel and pedals you set up in front of your TV, but a true motion simulator with computer-controlled electro-mechanical elements that create the motions and sensations of a high-speed driving environment. From its three-element high-definition video screens through its integrated audio system and force-feedback steering system, this is the deep end of the gaming spectrum. Hit a curb with the Motion Pro II and you'll feel it in the steering and in the base of your spine. And it's all controlled by a built-in PC in the system's base.

Of course the Motion Pro II isn't anywhere near cheap — not even on the same continent as cheap. But neither is renting a racetrack.

19. Jim Russell Drivers School: Lancer Evolution Experience — $995

We all know someone who has bought a car that they simply don't have the skills to handle. The nearsighted dentist who gets a Porsche GT2 or the plumbing contractor who sells his business, retires and trades in his old F-250 for a Corvette ZR1. The moment they sign the sales contract you know they're doomed. Institutions of higher-performance learning like the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, are here to help those blessed with powerful cars and cursed with mediocre driving ability.

The latest twist at Jim Russell is the Mitsubishi Driving School subdivision. Using the latest Mitsubishi Lancers and Outlanders, there's the $549 Highway Survival course that sharpens the driving mind to handle the challenges of road driving. But more thrilling is the $995 Lancer Evolution Experience that trains drivers to extract the most from Mitsubishi's spectacular Lancer Evolution X turbocharged, all-wheel-drive performance machine.

With plenty of seat time driving alongside expert instructors, students learn to handle the ludicrously capable Evo X right at the limit of its abilities. There are driving exercises to hone the driving instinct and one-on-one instruction to work out each driver's particular kinks. And best of all, there's plenty of opportunity to get out on Infineon Raceway's glorious and undulating 2.52-mile, 12-turn road course and haul ass.

20. BMW Cruise Bicycle — $990

Cars are wonderful transportation and lousy exercise machines. In fact, you can drive thousands and thousands of miles and still get really fat. On the other hand, bicycles may be slower than cars, but every mile riding one burns calories and increases your fitness. The BMW Cruise bicycle may be the slowest vehicle BMW makes, but it's the only one that might help you shed some tonnage.

Built around a truly gorgeous aluminum frame and equipped with Shimano Alivio derailleur and drive components, a Suntour NCX-D front suspension fork and Rodi Airline 26-inch rims, the Cruise is built for comfortable, everyday riding more than ultimate speed. And yes, it has a genuine BMW logo built right into it so everyone at the bike rack will be impressed.

21. Dremel 4000 Rotary Tool — $149.99

For precise cutting and finishing, it's tough to beat the Dremel 4000 rotary tool. It may not be big enough to fell redwoods — at least not quickly — but it's just the sort of precision instrument you need when it comes time to handle the details that make or break an automotive project.

The variable-speed Dremel 4000 is the latest Dremel rotary tool and features a motor that spins between 5,000 and 35,000 rpm. The body is ergonomically designed to fit any hand and allow delicate control while making cuts or finishing surfaces. It works with all previous Dremel tool accessories and comes in a kit that includes 50 accessories and six attachments in its own carrying case. That's a lot for just $149.99 through Amazon.com.

22. Days of Thunder iPhone Application — $0.99

Ever wanted to be Cole Trickle? You know, the hotheaded young driver with father issues played by Tom Cruise in 1990's Days of Thunder? You know, the sort of guy who wherever he goes is followed by dramatic lighting, a hard-driving soundtrack and a compliant, nubile neurosurgeon who looks like Nicole Kidman? Of course you have. And if you own an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can be for less than a dollar.

That's right, for the ridiculously low price of just 99 cents through Apple's iTunes App Store, Freeverse software offers a Days of Thunder driving game that will waste hours and hours of your brief time on earth. It's a simple game that plays off the film with brief vignettes of conversations between Cole and his crew chief, the crusty legend himself, Harry Hogge. And yes, there's a really obnoxious soundtrack that, thankfully, can be turned off.

Of course there are dozens of automotive iPhone applications, but this one is the bargain of the bunch. And the crashing is wicked fun.

23. Viper Smart Start — $499.99

Have you ever been hiking along the Appalachian Trail and thought to yourself, "You know, now would be a great time to start my car...even though it's parked back at Dulles Airport." Of course you have. And now the Viper Smart Start system makes it possible as long as you're carrying an iPhone.

The Smart Start system uses the iPhone to trigger various functions on your car, including locking and unlocking, trunk release, arming the Viper security system and, yes, starting the car remotely. It can essentially replace the factory remote your car may have come with. In short, it does a lot of things that will really impress your kids even if the practical benefits are elusive.

Consider this a sneak peek at the future. Soon you won't carry keys at all. Your cell phone will replace them.

24. Gran Turismo for the PSP — $39.99

There are driving games and then there's Gran Turismo, which is almost a virtual driving world. With its beautifully rendered vehicles, wide selection of tracks and excellent vehicle dynamics it's simply the gold standard among computer driving simulators. It's no wonder that the Gran Turismo series is the best-selling game for the Sony PlayStation. But we're still waiting for the next Gran Turismo — Gran Turismo 5 — which is supposed to bring with it even more cars and more realistic depictions of damage. To tide us over, however, there is Gran Turismo for the PlayStation Portable (PSP).

Gran Turismo for the PSP is the sort of game that grabs you and doesn't let go. It's also shockingly realistic, as this video can't really prove. But at least it's fun to watch.

Gran Turismo 5 is, rumors have it, likely to be released during February 2010. But Gran Turismo for the PSP is for sale now. And Best Buy has it for $39.99.

25. Motorbooks Library — $29.95-$45

Every motorhead needs a library of car books to keep that head working. And when it comes to building a car book library, the search has to start with Motorbooks International. Here are six new releases from the publisher that are likely to keep any enthusiast's blood boiling until Christmas 2010.

André Lefèbvre and the Cars He Created at Voisin and Citroën, by Gijsbert-Paul Berk, $39.95
Finally a book dedicated to the man behind the great French Citroëns including the groundbreaking Traction Avant, brilliant 2CV and the iconic and almost ridiculously innovative DS.

Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five Series Limousines 1937-1987 Photo Archive, by Thomas A. McPherson and Walter M.P. McCall, $32.95
Once upon a time, the world was ruled by men who were chauffeured around in big, black Cadillac limousines. Back then a limo was a limo, and not something rented by high school kids to go to the prom.

The Complete Book of Shelby Automobiles, by Colin Cramer, $45
The perfect volume for tracing the lineage of every Shelby-built machine from the first Cobra in 1962 to today's GT500KR.

Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix W196: Spectacular Silver Arrows 1954-1955, by Karl Ludvigsen, $29.95
One of the world's most renowned automotive journalists delves deeply into the background of what may be the greatest Grand Prix car of all time.

Motion Performance: Tales of a Muscle Car Builder, by Martyn L. Schorr, $35
For anyone growing up in the New York City area, high-performance muscle always meant Joel Rosen and the legendary Motion Performance. This fantastic book traces the history of Motion, from its heyday of the 1960s and 1970s when Rosen's big-block machines ruled the streets and drag strips around America to today, when the cars are six-figure collector's items.

Toyota Celica GT-Four, by Graham Robson, $29.95
The turbocharged, all-wheel-drive Celica GT-Four is too often overlooked for being the pioneering, astonishing machine that it was. And it was one of the all-time great rally cars. All three generations of the GT-Four are covered here, from the first in 1988 to the last in 1996.