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We all need a hobby to help us relax and unwind from life’s stress. They’re also a great way to immerse yourself in science, while still having fun. Cars are one of the best hobbies for learning multiple different sciences, math, reasoning, and usually patience. The last one has been true for me, maybe as much as any of the other things.
I’ve assembled several great gift ideas that will work for car fans of all ages. I implore you, not to think of these as boys’ toys. Cars are for everyone. Science is for everyone. I buy science and car toys for my nieces every chance I get, and they love them. Anyway, do some shopping for the scientists and car enthusiasts on your list and get them something they will love for years to come—instead of a sweater. Happy Holidays.
Best Car Toys and Hobby Gifts in 2024
Best RC Builder: Team Associated RC10 Jay Halsey Edition 1/10 Electric 2WD Buggy Kit
I’m pretty sure I could still build this car from memory. Getting an RC10 when I was 13 years old is one of the reasons I’ve spent most of my adult life working in the car industry. I would also bet that any car enthusiast who was alive in the 1980s and early 1990s either owned or at least knew someone who owned one of these. This is the ultimate nostalgia gift for adult car enthusiasts. It’s also a great way to get younger car enthusiasts into the technical side of cars.
This kit is just the car. It still requires a motor, battery, full electronics, and the best part—unlike most modern cars, you get to build it yourself. Driving and working on this will be entertaining, educational, and in the case of so many people I know who work in this industry, life changing. Get a Team Associated RC10 for a kid and start them on the road to a fulfilling life in the STEAM fields. Santa, if you’re reading this, I’ve been good this year, and I would like one of these.
A Porsche RC for the Ages: Tamiya Porsche 956 1/10 2WD On-Road Kit
My first RC car was a Tamiya Fast Attack Vehicle. Tamiya is legendary for building high-quality, realistic-looking, and reliable vehicles, and this Porsche 956 is no exception. The original Porsche 956 from Tamiya was a 1/12th scale pan car. It couldn’t be driven on any surface rougher than a bowling alley. This larger 1/10th scale version is based on a tub design with more ground clearance and suspension travel. This one is also 19 inches long, so it’s big.
Although it’s more modern, it still comes in kit form, so you will need to assemble it and paint the body. You’ll also need to supply the electronics and battery, but it does include a 540 motor. Seeing as how the Porsche 956 this is modeled after is from 1982, this is still a bit of a nostalgia trip. That said, car enthusiasts of all ages will love to get this as a gift.
Tap into German Radwood: HPI RS4 Sport3 BMW e30 M3 Wartsteiner 1/10 RTR 4WD Touring Car, Radio, 7.2V Battery, Charger
This isn’t a kit and everything you need to drive it is in the box. HPI Racing is known for making high-quality, fun-to-drive RC cars. If you’re shopping for someone who is going to want to open the present and go drive, this is for them. Especially if they’re fans of Radwood-era German Touring Car racing. The RS4 is an all-wheel drive, shaft-driven, mid-motor touring car that will put up with a lot of abuse. It’s a 1/10th scale model, so it measures 17 inches long.
The M3 body on these looks great, and the gold BBS wheels and treaded rubber tires are nice scale touches. The car has metal gear differentials, oil-filled shocks, and even includes ball bearings. The kit includes a Nimh battery pack, but the electronics are compatible with LiPo packs so you can upgrade later. While you might not get the pleasure of building it yourself, it still supplies all the foot and a half long physics lab fun of other RC cars.
A Legendary RC Truck: LAEGENDARY 1:10 Scale Brushless RC 4×4 Off Road Monster Truck
Having been into RC cars with varying degrees of seriousness for most of my life, I’ve always been on of those people who will tell you the only way to go is to buy something “hobby quality.” What that means in recent years has become pretty blurry. I tested this Laegendary Thunder a few months back, and I can’t believe how good it is for the money. This is a ready-to-run kit. It includes everything you need out of the box. The 2S 5200mah LiPo battery, a brushless motor, a full metal drivetrain, oil-filled shocks, 2 bodies, a radio, a charger, and some spare parts are ll part of the deal.
The biggest complaint most people have about RC cars from DTC brands is a lack of replacement and hop-up parts, but those are plentiful online. This isn’t going to satisfy the hardcore racer. But if you just want to buy someone a fun, fast RC truck, this is hard to beat for the money.
Peak Nostalgia: Carrera Evolution Speedway Champions Analog Electric 1:32 Scale Slot Car Racing Track Set
Who else is like me, and the second they read slot car or even see a picture of one, they immediately smell ozone? This Speedway Champions set from Carrera provides all the thrills you remember while being a little more modern. The cars in this set, a Ford Torino and a Dodge Charger, are 1/32nd scale. They’re twice the size of the Hot Wheels-sized slot cars you remember. The banked tri-oval includes two lane changes and requires roughly 9×9 feet of space to race. This is probably more expensive than you remember a slot car being in the Sear’s Christmas Catalog. But everything here is serviceable and even upgradable, so it will last you for years rather than months.
Best LEGO Builder: LEGO Technic Fast & Furious Dom’s Dodge Charger, Car Toy Building Set
As I’m typing this, at least 30% of all the horizontal surfaces in my house have Lego on them. Lego is recognized as a hallmark of learning toys around the world. While it is probably more educational to build from your own imagination, you have to get those bricks somehow. So you may as well buy a set this cool. This is Dom’s Charger, and I shouldn’t have to add that it’s from The Fast & Furious, but I will. This set contains 1,077 pieces, almost all of them black. Your builder will get to assemble a V8 with a supercharger, a rollbar, and even tiny little NOS (pronounced nawz) bottles in the trunk. Yes, Lego has become expensive, but can you put a price on, Family?
Best LEGO Mechanical: LEGO Technic Formula E Porsche 99X
This kit is currently sitting on my entertainment center, between Senna’s McLaren and Hamilton’s Mercedes. It has a pull-back motor. So there are some mechanical pieces inside you get to build. That’s including a pretty ingenious locking mechanism for the drive motor. It’s about a foot long when built. While it is entertaining for adults to build, it’s straightforward enough for younger builders, too. The kit is only 422 pieces. So even taking time to marvel at how it was designed and taking your time on stickers, this build is at most a couple of hours of your time. This isn’t as fragile as most Technic kits, so it will put up some rougher racing action.
Hot Wheels, The Standard: Hot Wheels Premium Car Culture Set of 5 Toy Cars in Collectible Container, Che Figata
Everyone in my family gets at least one Hot Wheels car every Christmas; it’s tradition. This collectible set features Italian legends from Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, and Lancia. Five cars are included and come in a box resembling a cargo shipping container. If there’s one gift that transcends age, it’s Hot Wheels. If in doubt as to what to buy a car enthusiast, here’s your new go-to, never-fail gift.
