Father's Day Gift Guide for the Car-Obsessed Dad
For a dad who loves all things automobile, there are so many gift choices out there that are sure to make him smile. If you frequently find your dad underneath the hood of a car, tooling around the neighborhood flashing his wheels, or loving every second of an aimless road trip, this is the gift guide for you.
For the Road Trip Extraordinaire
First, let’s talk about gifts for the dad who likes to burn rubber and take a trip on the wide open road. Our favorite picks are listed below!
Navigation System
Gone are the days of staring at a paper map with a magnifying glass. Empower dad to get anywhere his heart desires at the drop of a hat by giving him the latest and greatest navigation system to use on all of his road trips. He’ll never have to stop to ask for directions again!
Emergency Road Kit
Even for cars in the best of shape, a flat tire, breakdown, or bump along the way can occur. To ensure that a dad on the go is ready for anything, gift him an emergency road kit to keep on hand. This should include items like batteries, a flashlight, a first aid kit, orange cones, a screwdriver, pliers, and duct tape.
For the Home Garage Mechanic
Dads who love to make improvements on their vehicles or are handy under the hood are probably craving a different kind of gift. Don’t worry—we have them covered here, too!
A Code Reader
Technology has done wonders in the world of auto mechanics! A code reader is a relatively inexpensive and handy tool that helps determine what problems a car may be having. It spits out a short diagnostic code, which your dad can research online to know what kind of issue he may be fiddling with.
A Floor or Exhaust Jack
For those working on cars in their own garage, a floor or exhaust jack is a must-have. These make it easy to see what’s going on under the car without straining the back, as well as make it easy to lift wheels and complete tire rotations. An exhaust jack is a more economical option, making this a viable option for even a small budget!
Little Details
You don’t need to go crazy to give your mechanical dad a great gift. Remember that the devil’s in the details, so little gifts can make a big impact. Items like a pocket screwdriver, a rechargeable flashlight, heavy duty work gloves, or a pair of grease and oil-resistant shoes can make their work much easier and more pleasant!
For the Car Admirer
If your dad is more hands-off in the garage but loves to admire cars, we have some ideas for him, too.
Something Vintage Inspired
Is there anything cooler than a classic vintage car? In your dad’s case, the answer to that question is probably no. Treat your dad to something vintage inspired, like a shirt with an old car model featured on it or even a small model of a classic car he likes.
Race or Car Show Tickets
If you have a larger budget, you could always give dad tickets to a race or nearby car show. This gives him a chance to find some new favorite models and it’s something you can even do together!
Car-Themed Movies
Your dad will probably love watching a movie centering around his favorite thing—cars. Even if you buy a few DVDs, this is still a budget-friendly gift idea. Look for movies with great race scenes, such as Gone in Sixty Seconds, Winning with Paul Newman, or Le Mans with Steve McQueen.
Sometimes it’s tough to think of the best Father’s Day gift ideas, but this guide makes it easy for any dad who loves all things cars. Give him something that helps indulge his need for speed and he’s sure to thank you!
-
![Sara LeDuc]()
Sara LeDuc is a freelance writer for DoItYourself.com. She also writes for a handful of other websites and platforms. She has been growing her skills and client base for the past two years, but has been passionate about writing for as long as she can remember. She has worked with Internet Brands for over three years and enjoys learning about — and completing — DIY projects and keeping up with the latest and greatest home improvement trends. Besides her work for DoItYourself.com, Sara also has worked with retail, human resources, fitness, commercial, and medical clients to help them increase client engagement, grow their following, and drive traction to their blogs and websites. Sara has furthered her skills and reach by working as an editor with a media company. This has helped her diversify her abilities as a writer and work with additional writers, editors, and a wider range of clients. Sara enjoys continuously learning and building her skills in the field by working on SEO campaigns and outreach programs to increase the visibility of her freelance clients. She loves being creative, pitching article and post ideas to clients, learning more about the freelance industry, and completing DIY projects.![H.R. Helm]()
H.R. Helm is an accomplished DIY craftsman. He has been DIY since childhood and is now a septuagenarian. He is experienced in wood and metal construction, having designed and built several houses and metal buildings. He built every permanent building on his current homestead and did all the plumbing and electrical work. He has several years experience as a professional cabinet builder, and he is an accomplished auto repairman, having operated an auto repair business for many years. He currently has a home shop where he sharpens and rebuilds saws, repairs lawn mowers, mobility scooters, hydraulic jacks, and anything else that comes along. He also builds custom tools for metal working. Invention prototypes are another of his many accomplishments. He owned and operated a manufacturing business building Compact Utility Vehicles for homeowner use. H.R. enjoys making jams and jellies during fruit season along with cooking meals. He is committed to outdoor cooking in a Bar-B-Q pit he welded together several years ago. He maintains fruit and nut trees along with helping his wife with a vegetable garden. He farmed commercial garden produce for several years. It helps to have over 50 years of farming and ranching experience. Employment/Education Highlights ASE Certified Master Auto Technician Certified Welder Cross country truck driver -- over dimensional freight Design Engineer/Project Manager for injection molded plastic company Bus Driver/Substitute Teacher Inventor with two patents (weight training – anti-rollback for manual wheelchair) BS in Industrial Technology
