The SHARP List: Our 2023 Gift Guide for Gearheads
We’ve updated our gearhead gift guide for December 2023, with a bunch of cool new pieces that’ll surely be a hit with the automobile-obsessed person in your life. Whether it’s a flashy racing jacket or a hyper-detailed McLaren model, our list is jam-packed with pieces to please automotive enthusiasts from all walks of life.
Amalgam 1:18 McLaren MP4/4
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Amalgam makes the best scale-model cars in the world. Seriously, the detail on things is mind-blowing up close. The British brand’s huge 1:8 scale models typically cost well over $10,000 and belong in museums, but there’s a newer line of smaller 1:18 models. The collection includes vintage Ferrari road cars, Porsche racing cars, and modern F1 machines. We’re partial to this lovely 1988 McLaren F1 MP4/4, which won 15 out of 16 races that season, driven by both Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. Amalgam worked with McLaren Racing to get the details and colours just right. The ultimate desk ornament? We think so. ($1,125 USD)
The Atlas of Car Design
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If there’s one book every car collector and industrial-design geek will be coveting this year, it’s this: The Atlas of Car Design: The World’s Most Iconic Cars. Phaidon’s first book on cars does not disappoint. The prestigious publishing house issued this gorgeous coffee-table tome just in time for the holidays. Written by a trio of veteran car critics — Jason Barlow, Guy Bird and Brett Berk — the book features more than 650 of the world’s greatest designs, from 190 manufacturers and 30 countries, which is more than enough to keep any gearhead engrossed throughout the holidays. It’s an indispensable reference. ($200)
Tag Heuer Carrera Team Ikuzawa
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No, it’s not just you. Team Ikuzawa is everywhere right now, blowing up on Instagram and IRL. Part of the reason might be that every collab this new influencer/lifestyle brand does seems to hit just right. Case in point: this classy new chronograph. Tag partnered with Team Ikuzawa and Bamford for this clean, limited-edition Carrera chrono. The white opaline dial, red details and Rhodium-plated, polished indexes and hands would pair well with a vintage Porsche 911 or ex-Le Mans Ferrari. ($6,300 USD)
Ultra-Portable Tool Kit, by Wera
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Every classic-car owner should stash one of these little Wera tool kits somewhere in their vehicles. The brand’s Tool-Check Plus Bit Ratchet Set is small enough to fit in the glovebox, but packs in more than 30 tools, including common sockets, hex bits, screwdrivers, and a ratchet handle. In case you haven’t heard of Wera, the brand is based in Germany, and makes some of the finest hand-tools money can buy. (If you’ve never turned a screw with one of their drivers, you’re in for a treat.) This Tool-Check kit can help fix most minor automotive issues, and potentially even save you from being stranded by the side of the road. ($110)
Team Ikuzawa Wool Jacket
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That’s right, we’re recommending not one but two Ikuzawa drops this year. The brand pays homage to Tetsu Ikuzawa, a Japanese racing driver from Tokyo whose illustrious career left a mark on motorsport history. His daughter, Mai Ikuzawa, is now carrying on that legacy through the Team Ikuzawa lifestyle brand. This pit-crew stadium jacket is made in Japan from premium wool, and has the kind of heft that makes us feel this is a buy-it-for-life jacket. These are limited-edition, so don’t delay. ($872 USD)
Porsche x Boss Jacket
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This understated goat-leather jacket from the Boss x Porsche capsule collection is tailor made for going places. The high-cut hem and articulated shoulders mean drivers will have no problem sliding into a deeply bolstered bucket seat of a 911 GT3. But, the fact the Porsche branding has been kept to a minimum with just the subtle shoulder patch means you could also wear this jacket even when you’re not driving through the Alps. ($1,995)
KAR L’Art Diablo Rug
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Sadly, the AMG Hammer rug we recommended last year from KAR / L’Art de L’Automobile is unsurprisingly sold out. (Most of the limited-edition drops from Arthur Kar’s Paris-based apparel/accessory brand sells out in a hot minute.) The good news though is that equally-cool Lamborghini Diablo rug is currently available. As the brand notes, a real Diablo is expensive to maintain, but the rug doesn’t need any maintenance at all! Hang it on the wall and enjoy looking at some Italian exotica without the all headache. (€190)
For further inspiration, here’s a look at last year’s selections…
KAR L’Art Hammer Rug
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It’ll look just as good on the wall in the garage as it will in your living room, but whatever you do “don’t step on it, it’s an art piece” as the website explains. These rugs are products of KAR / L’Art de L’Automobile, which is the apparel and accessory offshoot of Arthur Kar’s Paris-based vintage car sales business. SSENSE called him fashion’s favorite dealer of rare, vintage automobiles, and it’s true. The man’s taste is impeccable. If the bangin’ little Aston Cignet and the angry Benz 190 Evo-II he’s got for sale right now are a little too rich for a holiday present, one of these wool tapestries should do the trick. The Hammer rug is EUR$320, which is a few hundred grand less than you’d pay for an original AMG Hammer. (320 Euro)
TAG Heuer Carrera x Porsche RS 2.7
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The fourth collaboration between these two brands is our favourite one to date (and one we covered earlier this year. The TAG Heuer Carrera x Porsche RS 2.7 chronograph is inspired by an all-time classic that ranks among the very best 911s ever made. The 1973 Porsche 911 RS 2.7 makes Porsche collectors break out into a cold sweat. It was built to homologate racing and rally cars, and is immediately recognizable by its neat little ducktail spoiler, aggressive front splitter, and the “Carrera” graphic scrawled across the side in bright colours. The 42mm TAG Heuer is a fitting tribute, refreshingly paired back to the essentials, just as these lightweight cars were. (From $9,600)
McLaren Sunglasses
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That’s right, the fine folks behind the Artura, the 720S, and the 675LT we adored so much also have a line of performance eyewear. We took a look at the entire collection while in Vegas for the Americas launch of the Artura, and we’ll safely say they’re worth the spend regardless of whether or not you’ll ever own one of their stupendous tire slayers. They can be hard to track down, but they have at least one retailer in Canada that we’re aware of at time of publishing.
Flat Track School
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It’s drifting, but on a motorcycle. Don’t worry, it’s not as difficult or dangerous as it sounds. In fact, it’s ridiculous fun. The Go Flat Track School is based in Ontario, and run by husband and wife duo Aaron and Katalin Hesmer. Together they’ve trained hundreds first-time flat trackers on how to go fast and turn left. (You don’t even need to know how to ride a motorcycle, but it will make your day on the dirt more fun.) Half-day classes are $220 and come with everything you need, including a motorcycle and riding gear. We did it and lived to tell the tale. Now we’re jonesing to go again.
Discommon Legends Car Art Prints
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There’s so much automotive artwork out there, so we thought we’d help you distill the selection down. This triptych of prints from Discommon — the much-loved product design firm led by one of the nicest automotive enthusiasts you’ll ever meet — is based on the original design plans for the bespoke table (also seen in the photo). While the prints are a lovely, easy, and affordable gifting option, the firm has also decided to produce a limited run of the tables as an on-demand offering. Only 10 will be made, and each will feature a different raised 3D silhouette of the chosen vehicle. (Prints from $110 USD, table from $20,000 USD)
Glamour Road
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This book is a treasure trove of mid-century advertising. In the postwar years, the auto industry took some lessons from fashion, bringing in the concept of yearly collections and planned obsolescence. Glamour Road : Color, Fashion, Style, and the Midcentury Automobile tells that story in a highly visual way, full of original ads and rare insights. From the publisher: “With the expansion of the American suburbs after WWII, women suddenly needed cars of their own. By adopting the fashion industry’s yearly model changes, as well as hiring many designers and stylists from the fashion industry, the automobile industry made a direct appeal to the rising sophistication and influence of women.” ($65 USD)
Period Correct Valet Tray
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Period Correct is among our very favourite purveyors of non-lame car-themed items. Most of their collections sell out quickly, so you’ve got to be quick. (We sadly missed out on these tapestries.) At least their natural leather valet tray is still available, and for the very reasonable sum of US$60. Everyone’s keys could use a better resting spot. These luxurious trays are made-in-the-USA from natural leather, so they’ll probably last longer than your current car.
Morgan Super 3
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Questions of practicality and legality be damned, the Morgan Super 3 is the coolest car unveiled in all of 2022. It’s refreshingly frivolous in a car market that’s often far too serious. The British company has actually been making these three-wheeled things on and off for 113 years now, so they know what they’re doing. The Super 3 may not look it, but it’s a very modern machine, featuring an all-new three-part aluminium platform and a 1.5-litre inline-three Ford engine. That may not sound especially exciting, but in a windowless machine that weighs roughly 650 kilograms, 118 horsepower is more than enough to make your passenger’s eyes go wide. (from £41,995)
McLaren’s E-Scooter
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Of course, McLaren is working on an e-scooter, and of course it looks amazing. The Lavoie brand is a new subsidiary of McLaren Applied, the technology arm of the Formula 1 team and British supercar brand. Their first scooter, the Series 1, is slated to launch in 2023. It’s made of magnesium, so it weighs a modest 16.5 kilograms while still having a claimed range of 50 kilometres. A one-touch folding mechanism, reportedly inspired by F1 cars’ suspension should make picking it up and carrying it inside slightly less awkward. It’s got front and rear lights, and even turn-signals too, because safety first. ($TBD)
RCLUB Toronto Membership
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RCLUB in Toronto is a garage/social club for petrolheads that also happens to have an extensive collection of carefully curated cars for members to drive. You get a car collection without the hassle of actually owning old cars, and you might even make some new friends too. (Price upon request.)
Private Photo Shoot
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Chances are the car person in your life already has hundreds of photos of his or her car, all snapped hastily on an iPhone. But, how many of those photos are good enough to frame? Probably none. Nothing says I-support-your-car-habit like hiring a professional photographer – such as Toronto’s preeminent automotive snapper Lucas Scarfone – to do a photoshoot with a loved one’s beloved car. (Prices upon request.)
Photo courtesy of Lucas Scarfone
TAG Heuer Carrera Porsche Chronograph Special Edition
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While many luxury watches have some level of connection to the automotive world, few brands have maintained said connection as diligently as TAG Heuer. Their partnerships have been scattered across various brands, race teams, and even racing organizations, but this year it’s been the partnership with Porsche that’s caught our eye of late. It’s a sharp 44mm mechanical chronograph with a textured dial, powered by Heuer Calibre 02 self-winding movement. TAG has already sold out of the version offered on a leather strap, but the stainless steel bracelet version is still on offer for now. ($7,500)
Dice Magazine
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The next best thing to riding a motorcycle, is reading great stories about motorcycles and the people who love them. Dice magazine describes itself as a publication for people who, “want to see motorcycles being put together in the basements, garages, and woodsheds around the world.” The magazine offers a little peak into the raddest parts of the motorcycle universe. ($12.95 USD)
KTM SX-E 5
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This past summer, the sport of motocross boomed as a wave of new young riders – some still in kindergarten – tried riding a dirt bike for the first time. If there’s a budding little ripper in your life, this is what they want to unwrap this year. Thanks to its variable power levels, the all-electric KTM SX-E 5 is friendly to learn on, but fast enough to race. It’s a KTM, just like the pros ride, but its silent electric motor won’t annoy the neighbours. ($6,099)
L’Art De L’Automobile Gear
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We’re here for the ongoing mashup of car-culture and streetwear, because it’s producing gems like this long-sleeve tee from Kar / L’ART DE L’AUTOMOBILE. (EUR$150)
Ferrari Stock
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Since gifting a Ferrari for Christmas isn’t always practical, try one share of Ferrari stock. A framed, personalized replica of the stock certificate will look great in any garage. Who knows, if Ferrari stock goes on a good run, maybe a blood-red supercar is in the cards after all. ($498 USD)
Vintage Automotive Gear
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The Detached Garments Instagram account is overflowing with sweet car-themed swag from the ‘90s and ‘00s. A vintage Porsche cap, an original BMW Motorsports tee – there’s no cooler way to let your gearhead flag fly. You can’t go wrong with any of the unique, carefully-curated pieces this shop digs up. (Various prices.)
Photo courtesy of Detached Garments
Bowlus Terra Firma Trailer
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After helping to build the famed Spirit of St. Louis aircraft, designer and engineer Hawley Bowlus turned his attention to overland travel. In 1934, Bowlus was the first to complete a riveted aluminum travel trailer. Today, the company that bears his name still makes trailers the same way, only now they’re outfitted with every modern luxury and interiors worthy of Architectural Digest. It is undeniably extravagant, but unlike most campers, these are built to last generations. (From $215,000 USD)
Ferrari Collector’s Book
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For car lovers — and collectors — this is a must. This limited edition, leather-bound collector’s book tells the history of Scuderia Ferrari with hundreds of exclusive, never-before-seen photos and documents, making for an unbelievable coffee table book or gift. ($7,630)