Urban Gear Works

Apparently, the day after Halloween is the new beginning of the Christmas season. Given that, and the fact that I'm already getting requests for my list, I thought I would do a write-up on gift ideas. While I think most readers have a special part at the top of their wish list, friends and family inevitably request “something smaller”. Here are a few items to pass on the next time someone asks.

1.  Screw outs/stripped bolt extractors – Relatively inexpensive, these simple accessories are great to have in the toolbox. They provide a great solution to one of the most frustrating moments in automotive maintenance.

2.  Miniature versions of your car – With a little searching, it shouldn't be too hard to turn up a scale model of your ride. These are great for the desk, or just to add to your collection.

3.  Original advertisements/vintage racing posters – A few years ago I found an original, full-page magazine ad for my father's first car. All it took was a simple frame to make a unique gift. A far cry from the Lamborghini poster we all had in our bedroom when we were ten, many old advertisements have great period style that make them easy to display anywhere.

4.  Mechanix gloves – These gloves make a lot of jobs easier. They fit well while still affording some protection, so they don't complicate detail work. A lot of work gloves might as well be mittens when you're trying to pick up a dropped screw – these don't have that problem. They also have a great gripping surface, which makes holding on to oily and greasy parts easier than bare-handed. The next time you're watching a race on TV, I guarantee you'll see someone on the pit crew wearing these.

5.  Vintage keychains/tie clips/cuff links – Tie clips and cufflinks are back, so if you have to wear a shirt and tie every now and then, these vintage pieces are a stylish but subtle way to represent your favorite brand. A simple search of eBay should turn up plenty of options.

6.  Factory service manual – This is a more expensive item than the others, but it can be a life-saver for big jobs. These are the manuals used by the dealer mechanics, written by the people who designed the car, so they have more details, diagrams, and specifcations than the standard manuals you can find at the auto parts store.