The holiday season is here, and that means it’s time again to shop for something for that car person on your list. Or, if we’re being honest, it’s time for the non car people in your life to start shopping for you.
What do you want this year? If you don’t clear it up now, prepare for more socks. Here are a couple of better ideas you can sprinkle on your loved ones — or use for your fellow car friends.
1. The Right Look
Good car shots can be really tricky to get — and a clean car is really only the beginning. For a great car shot an owner can be proud of, the light needs to be just right and in the right place, the background needs to be clean, and any number of small details you haven’t thought of will need to be corrected or else they’ll be memorialized and stick out whenever you see the photo. If you’ve tried to do this yourself and failed, you know what I mean. Why not bring in an experienced car shooter to handle the job? They know what they’re doing, and the results will show.
2. Three Friends
American muscle car owners take note: When you’re underhood, your three best friends are a 1/2-inch wrench, a 9/16-inch wrench, and a 5/8-inch wrench. Some wrenches are just wrenches, but NICE wrenches are a whole different ballgame. If you don’t already have some Snap-On, Matco or Mac wrenches to use, those three sizes would be a great place to start — and while whole sets can run hundreds of dollars, just the basics will be cheaper. Or, you can look to GearWrench for a great ratcheting setup — if you don’t already have some of these, you’re missing out.
3. Clean it Up
An often overlooked garage basic: Soft microfiber towels — the kind you can use for everything. These are cheap and easy to source, but if you’re anything like me, they’re the last thing you think of buying until you’re knee-deep in some project and have none left. Amazon has these in bulk packages, or you can go to Griot’s Garage to source some nicer ones. Either way, like the Jelly of the Month Club, this is the gift that keeps on giving all year long.