The more enlightened and evolved among us receive more pleasure from giving stuff than from getting it. We dig the giving thing, but the getting part, especially when the stuff we’re getting is car related, rules the school. Looking back over Christmases past, we remember getting car related video games, tickets to go see the monster trucks when they came to town, and gift certificates to places like Jeg’s and Summit.
Our best car related Christmas was the year when we received a camshaft and intake manifold for the “race car” project we were wrenching on in high school. We were literally out in the garage later on Christmas day with dad installing the parts. Before that there was the first set of Craftsmen tools that we still rely on to this day, various remote control stuff, etc. In retrospect, we became pretty easy to buy for once we were old enough to hold tools and purchase gasoline on a regular basis.
What has been your best car related Christmas gift? Was it parts? Tools? A whole car? You tell us!
(Editor’s note: The photo at the lead and below were taken by yours truly a couple years ago. They’re all over the place now, but it always makes me smile when I see it because I remember setting up my camera and tripod next to our Christmas tree and my wife yelled at me. Ahhhhhhh, memories!)
I have two, many, many years ago had a VW bug, got hit in left front fender a few weeks before Christmas, found a new fender with a bow on it under the tree from my sister. A couple of years ago her son (my nephew) gave me a Holley 750 HP DP for my MGB for Christmas. Happy Holidays All
My 1st model car kit, 63 split window. Had over 100 models before I ever drove a car. Never did another until after I turned 60
when I was first married my wife bought me a Sears Craftsman tool box(9 drawer top box) and 2 years later a 3 ton floor jack. After 46 years , I still have both of them———–and oh ya–the wife too
A mini bike. Within 2 years it made about triple the power and would carry the wheels….or….wheel if you had the nuts to stay in it. It’s been reduced to sitting in my garage at this point.
For my 15 birthday (Dec 24) and Christmas gift, I got a 205\” R.E.D. My parents wanted me off motorcycles and they had been drag racing my whole life.
To say I was excited is an understatement. Now, 32 years later I have a funnycar and haven\’t missed a season of racing.
Think it was the Christmas of 79 that my folks bought me a Hooker V8 Vega engine swap kit. Dad had never been in a speed shop in his life, but he must have gone to our local Karbelt Speed & Custom in Brampton, Ontario to make the purchase. Don’t think anyone ever gave Crusty a Gearhead gift that could top that one.
Years ago my girlfriend (now wife) got a hold of a list of parts I wrote down for a motorcycle restoration project, and bought almost everything on it. That’s my girl!
I was about 10 years old and when asked what I wanted for Christmas ,my answer was TOOLS. My parents got me a Montgomery Wards Tool kit. There wasn’t a bike or lawn mower safe for miles around. It was a small real canvass roll up tool kit ,Pliers ,screw drivers wrenches.Just this year I found the 5/16″ wrench from that very set.I drilled a small hole in it . It is now a key chain for my 1967 Dodge D-200 4 door pickup. Thanks mom and dad,Look at what you started