Awesome Automotive Gifts

by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

Everyone knows what to get a golfer or a cigar smoker. But what you you get for a car lover?

From Mustang pool tables, children’s T-shirts and remote-controlled Raptor pickups, Ford is cueing up a sleigh full of gift items that are just in time for the last-minute holiday shopper.

“People are sharing their passion for Mustang, F-150 and other Ford vehicles with our great line of toys and other gifts,” said John Nens, Ford global brand licensing manager. “We’ve already sold thousands of the Raptor remote-controlled trucks – a great example of how a niche truck can create a big halo.”

Ford’s new line of licensed items will fit every budget – from $15 to $15,000. There’s a high-end Mustang pool table, a children’s line of JCPenney T-shirts, a 2010 Mustang calendar and even a dog collar with a seat belt buckle latch and matching leash.

The Mustang pool table is molded from a 1965 Mustang and can be ordered in any paint color. Complete with working lights, alloy rims and wheels and chrome decals, bumpers and hardware, this high-end Mustang replica looks like the real thing. The pool table can be ordered online at www.mustangpooltable.com or over the phone by calling 727.827.8268; it costs $14,995.

Two new styles of children’s T-shirts are available for $15.99 at JCPenney stores nationwide. One T-shirt, a Super Duty design, features a dump truck; the other has a Ford tractor with the phrase “Playin’ Dirty!” on it.

For those last-minute stocking stuffers, a 2010 Mustang wall calendar will help you keep track of your days, while showcasing the ever-popular pony car. With 13 pictures, covering the 1964-1/2 model to the 2010 Mustang, nothing was forgotten. The calendar can be ordered online from www.thetimefactory.com for $6.99.

And of course, we can’t forget our furry friends. Dog collars and leashes round out the selection of last-minute gifts for the holiday season. Logos available include Ford Trucks, Mustang, the Blue Oval™ and Built Ford Tough®. The collar retails for $25 and even comes with a miniature seat belt buckle that releases with the push of a button. The leash costs $22, and can be purchased online from www.beltsdirect.com.

For more last-minute holiday gift needs, check out www.fordmarket.com for other Ford-licensed merchandise.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 200,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com

Inside the Minds of Car Dealers

Ray Lopez, former sleazy salesmen and 30 year veteran of selling cars 'TELLS ALL' about the underhanded tactics some dealers use to convince you to buy a car you don't want and probably can't afford. His book, Inside the Minds of Car Dealers: How to Buy Your Next Car without Fear.

The book explains every last psychological ploy and manipulative scheme typical car dealerships use against you to squeeze every last dime out of your pocket and then some all while you're being sold a car you may not even want!

Ray's book describes in detail the 12 crucial do's and dont's to car buying, like why you will always lose if you shop one dealer against another and why you should never mention your research on the Internet, or why you should except that your trade-in is not worth what you think it is and why you should accept the fact that the dealership is a business entitled to make money.
www.BuyYourNextCarWithoutFear.com

Chocolate as well designed as a Ferrari

Even if a Ferrari is not in your budget, you may be able to get chocolates made in mold created by the designer of Ferrari Motors. 

Choclatique offers the new Napa Valley California Wine Chocolates. Each hand-made confection from Ferrari designed molds has been paired with namesake wines of the most popular California varietals. 

The Choclatique Napa Valley Wine Chocolates are available in eight varieties, including  

Late Harvest Cabernet, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Choclatique’s 64 percent Private Reserve bitter-sweet chocolate Fall Vineyard Merlot, a Merlot ganache encased in 64percent Private Reserve dark chocolate Estate Chardonnay, an oaky Chardonnay flavor with faint aromas of apple, lemon, peach and tropical fruits with Sparkling Blanc de Chocolate Old Oak Barrel-Aged Port Chocolate fortified aged Port wine First-Crush Fume Blanc, a light, crisp Fume Blanc ganache surrounded by Choclatique’s Prestige Milk Chocolate Zinfandel Cuvee, a young, fruity Zinfandel ganache with white chocolate,  Pretty in Pink “Blush,” a pink chocolate ganache with flavors of ripe strawberries, juicy peaches, tart nectarines and pink grapefruit www.choclatique.com

Madelyn Miller is a travel and automotive writer. Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com