Top 10: Gifts for petrolheads

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Bespoke Carvolution print

This bespoke Carvolution artwork includes all the cars and bikes you've owned over the years. It's available in four sizes (Small, Medium, Large and X-Large) and can display a maximum of 20 vehicles.

Car models and colours can be detailed specifically and you can even add your own personalised messages to make it extra special.

Buy here

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How To Be A Motoring Journalist book

Richard Porter’s tale of fictional motoring journalist and bombastic curmudgeon Roy Lanchester is part autobiographically and serves partially as an educational toolkit. Porter was the script editor for Clarkson’s Top Gear and, among other things, runs the Sniff Petrol website – a satirical motoring website.

The particularities of motoring journalism itself are impressively realistic and well observed though, albeit they're fed into a Spinal Tap machine. It's clear that Porter is a veteran. And a very funny one at that. It's also less than £8, so you won't be out of pocket too much if you do hate it.

>> Read our full review

Buy it now

How To Be A Motoring Journalist

£7.99

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Batmobile experience day - Red Letter Days

There’s unlikely to be any illustrated punch-ups or vertical wall climbing, but what this experience does provide is a chance to drive an accurate replica of the original Batmobile, as featured in the original Batman TV series driven by Adam West. The experience is available at eight locations in England between Cornwall and Yorkshire, giving a reasonable spread across the country although anyone from Scotland or North Wales will have a fairly long trek to reach a venue.

You’re promised six miles of driving, which is on a par with the more exotic supercar driving experiences you can buy and is to be expected of a car which is more about the show than go. For anyone who had a poster of the Batmobile on their wall as a kid, this will be a huge thrill. 

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A range of legendary car films

From cult horror classics like Christine to 60's legends like Italian Job and Bullitt - there are dozens of car films that we could recommend. The one we've opted to showcase here is the original Gone in 60 Seconds. Forget about Nicholas Cage; the original film which was written, directed, produced and starred H.B. Halicki — he even did most of the stunt driving in the film too. The film is about insurance investigator Maindrian Pace, who has an illegal side business ‘ringing’ cars.

Filmed on a tiny budget — many of the cars appear in several scenes because Halicki could only afford so many vehicles — the production values are low but the authenticity is high. Many of the crashes and spills happened for real, and Halicki injured himself several times during filming. Fortunately for you, we've also compiled our favourites here: Top 10: Best car films.

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Scalextric Legends Rusty Rides

The Rusty Rides set has a Volkswagen Beetle and T1 Camper van, both finished in a distressed 'rat look', which come in a posh presentation box and are limited to a run of 1800 units. You even get a little card to tell you what number your set is. Priced at £85.99, the set works on any Scalextric track and both cars come with 'xenon effect' headlights along with rear lights, plus of course plenty of high detailing including rusty paintwork and proper door mirrors.

The working lights are a neat extra and the fact they even manage to sound like that characteristic Volkswagen flat-four engine is impressive. While there's no shortage of models for Scalextric buyers to choose from, both new and old, we think these stand out as something a bit special. Scalextric also sells other T1 camper and van models and is launching a rusty yellow Beetle this year.

Read our review here

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