how to buy a gift for a car guy: 6 rules (and the tee we'd pick)
from NERTIA™ · gift guide
car guys are hard to shop for. the tools are already in the garage, the parts are specific to his build, and last year's gadget is still in the box. the gifts that land are the ones that prove you know his car. here are six rules for getting it right, and the tee we'd hand him first.
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the 6 rulesour pickmatch his carsizingorder-by date
1. find the car he can't stop talking about
not the car he drives to work. the one he points out in traffic, the one on his phone wallpaper, the build he keeps sending to the group chat. that car is your gift. if you're not sure, look at who he follows: drift accounts, JDM pages and old Z car pages all give the answer away.
2. learn his chassis code
car people talk in codes. a chassis code names one specific generation of a car, and saying the right one is the difference between a gift that's close and a gift that's right. a quick decoder:
- S13: the late-'80s and early-'90s Nissan 240SX, sold as the Silvia in Japan. the car a generation of drifters learned on.
- S30: the original Z car from the '70s, the Datsun 240Z.
- AE86: the mid-'80s Toyota Corolla that Initial D made famous.
- A80: the '90s Toyota Supra.
if he says one of these out loud, write it down. it's the most useful thing you'll learn before you buy.
3. skip the gadget. give him something he'll wear.
tire inflators and garage gizmos get used once. a tee with his car on it gets worn to the meet, the track day and the coffee run, and it tells everyone what he's into before he says a word.
4. don't settle for a thin tee with a car printed on it
plenty of car shirts are lightweight blanks with a stock image on the front. three things separate one he'll keep reaching for:
- weight. heavier cotton feels substantial. the racing tees in this guide are heavyweight 235 GSM.
- pre-shrunk cotton. less shrinking in the wash. the S13 Purpose Tee and S30 Racing Tee are 100% pre-shrunk cotton.
- original artwork, front and back. real designs instead of clip art. every tee in this guide is designed in Los Angeles, and the S13 and S30 carry artwork on the front and back.
5. get the size right
NERTIA tees are cut oversized on purpose. buy the size he usually wears for a roomy, boxy fit. if he likes things closer to the body, go one size down. every product page has a Size Guide button with exact measurements.
6. mind the calendar
order by Monday, December 14 for Christmas delivery in the US. exchanges are accepted within 7 days of delivery on unworn, unwashed items with tags attached, so check the Size Guide before you wrap it.
our pick: the S13 Purpose Tee
if you only buy one thing from this guide, make it this. the S13 Purpose Tee is inspired by the S13 and Japanese car culture, and it's built around choosing your own direction instead of following the path laid out for you. the S13 is a drift icon, and washed green stands apart from the black car tees already in his drawer.
- washed green with a vintage garment-washed finish
- heavyweight 235 GSM, 100% pre-shrunk cotton
- oversized streetwear fit
- front and back artwork, designed in Los Angeles
not an S13 guy? match the tee to his car
for the guy who points out old Z cars in traffic.
vintage black · 235 GSM · front and back artwork
see the S30 Racing Tee
for the guy who basically lives in the garage.
hickory stripe cotton twill · boxy, waist-length fit
see the Pit Crew Button-Downmake it a kit
the S13 Purpose Tee, a second tee for his other dream car, and an LA Script Snapback cover him for the whole season. bundle pricing shows on each product page.
questions people ask
what do you get a car guy who has everything?
something tied to the car he loves that he'll actually use. a tee with his car on it gets worn every week, and the S13 Purpose Tee is our pick.
is a t-shirt a good gift for a car guy?
yes, if it's the right car and a heavy, well-made tee. a thin shirt with a stock image ends up in a drawer. a heavyweight tee with original artwork of the car he loves gets worn.
what's a good gift for a JDM fan?
find out his chassis code first. the decoder in rule 2 shows what each one means, and the S13 Purpose Tee is our pick for the drift fan.
what size should I buy as a gift?
his usual tee size. NERTIA tees are cut oversized, so that gives a roomy fit. go one size down for a closer fit.
when should I order for Christmas?
by Monday, December 14 for delivery in the US.
NERTIA is an independent car-culture brand from Los Angeles. the racing tees in this guide are heavyweight 235 GSM with a garment-washed finish, and everything ships from Los Angeles. join 10,000+ Nertians who move with purpose.
move with purpose,
- Krish, founder
NERTIA™ is an independent apparel brand and isn't affiliated with Nissan, Toyota or any anime studio. model names only describe the cars that inspired the artwork.