DRIVING • May 2020

Seven epic drive gifts for Father’s Day

Ahead of Father’s Day (21 June), motorsport journalist and expert gift-giver Rebecca Banks navigates a selection of automotive gifts that should be right up the street of any discerning car enthusiast. And the best news? You can collect Avios with many of the purchases below by shopping via the British Airways Avios eStore

For the child at heart

Give fans of Fast & Furious the ultimate thrill with this LEGO Technic Dom’s Dodge Charger (LEGO; 10 Avios/£1) building set for kids and adults (£89.99). Based on the iconic 1970s Dodge Charger R/T, it’s packed with authentic details, such as a model version of the iconic V8 engine beneath the hood. Other cool features include moving pistons, wishbone suspension, steering system and an air blower. There are even nitro bottles in the trunk to bring Dom’s daring high-speed chases to life.

For the petrol head

In his 17 years as a Formula 1 driver, Jenson Button has picked up a thing or two about how to do the job properly. How To Be An F1 Driver (Waterstones; 4 Avios/£1) lifts the lid on the people, the places, the weird rituals, the motorhomes, the media, the cars, the perks and the disasters (£20). Join Jenson as he reveals how not to race a stupid big truck, why driving at Le Mans is like having five shots of tequila before lunch, and what to do when you finally hang up your helmet.

For the smooth operator

Crafted from soft Nappa leather and lined in luxurious cashmere, these achingly smooth Mulberry biker gloves (John Lewis; 2 Avios/£1) are like a second skin at the steering wheel (£225). With a nod to the iconic motorcycle styles, they are finished with a subtle Mulberry snap fastening.

For the modern motorist

Tommy Hilfiger demonstrated his love of cars and motor racing by announcing a collaboration two years ago with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team. There’s even a slick pop-up collection of Mercedes-Benz badged apparel and accessories. To smell as fresh as you look, why not try Hilfiger’s new fragrance; Impact Eau de Toilette, (Tommy Hilfiger; 5 Avios/£1). This scent (£56) was born from Tommy’s other love of music, and awakens the senses and encourages you to go after your own story.

For the thrill seeker

The world lost an icon last November with the death of legendary photographer Terry O’Neill, but his work lives on with the release of this coffee table book. To love cars is to love 007, and Bond: Photographed by Terry O’Neill (£50), featuring portraits and photos from Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever, Live and Let Die, Golden Eye and Casino Royale, will make the perfect gift for wannabe secret agents. Want a preview? Icon Images is also offering a virtual gallery tour of some of O’Neill’s greatest James Bond images online.

For the open roader

Evoke the heady aromas of some of the planet’s most iconic drives with the world’s first luxury car fragrance accessory. Handcrafted in Britain by the famous perfume house Charabanc, this elegant freshener is classically engineered with a stencilled-steel pomander and scented ceramic, encased in artisan-moulded leather (£145).

For the designer dad

Be it an empty space above their desk or a lack of va-va-voom in the man cave, there’s no better way to fill an auto-addict’s home than with a framed poster from Rear View Prints (Not On The High Street; 8 Avios/£1). Whether you go for iconic cars from the silver screen or any of the chic matte black circuit maps, your lucky recipient will appreciate not only a design-savvy, high-quality print, but the gift of endless car nostalgia.

Avis is offering reduced car rental rates from £10 a day to help support the UK’s key workers. Valid until 30 June 2020, the offer is open to workers in health and social care, education and childcare, public safety and national security. To find out more and to redeem, click here

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This article has been tagged Technology, Driving