Gift ideas for the guy who taught you to drive

Dads and cars - the two just seem to go together. So many of our dad-related memories are also car-related: All the times he drove us to practice. The wild ride as he supervised our first attempts behind the wheel. Those family vacations when he patiently responded to "Are we there yet?" Celebrate those memories by choosing something automotive for Father's Day.

If your dad lives far away, a book is easy to wrap, easy to mail and just about impossible to break. Locally based Motorbooks has hundreds of titles ranging from coffee table books to how-to manuals. My personal favorite would be "McQueen's Machines," a "close-up look at the cars and motorcycles [Steve] McQueen drove in movies, those he owned and others he raced." Perfect for a Boomer dad who grew up on "Bullitt" and the original "Thomas Crown Affair"(although Mom might call first dibs). The Motorbooks website has DVDs, prints and posters as well as books. Look for its titles at bookstores, or order online: www.Motorbooks.com.

A hands-on car guy might love the CarMD, which Fortune.com named "One of the Best Car Gadgets" last year. The hand-held device plugs into a car's computer and downloads the diagnostic codes. It gives a red/yellow/green diagnosis for the car's problems. The information can then be uploaded to the CarMD Website to print out a description of the problem and a repair estimate. Dad can figure out what he'll save by doing the repair himself, or use the information to keep his mechanic honest. All this for just $89 from www.CarMD.com.

For dads whose favorite part of the car is the sound system, check out the new Harman Kardon Drive + Play 2. It's the "world's best iPod integration kit," according to iLounge.com. It also works with Bluetooth cell phones, satellite radio and other devices. The interface can be customized to match the car interior. The unit's software can be updated to keep pace with changing technology. It's pricey at $400 - but hey, isn't Dad worth it?

Okay, maybe Dad is worth his weight in gold, but you don't have more than fifty bucks to spend. In that case, it's the thought that counts - and you can program that thought into an LED license plate billboard. It stores four separate messages-start with "World's Best Dad" - or one message up to 120 characters. You can order through www.gadgetuniverse.com.

Another way to tell Dad what a classy guy you think he is: A keychain complete with a Mercedes Benz gear-shift knob in rosewood or teak. Go to www.accessories.mba.com for key chains, card cases, travel clocks and apparel bearing the luxury logo. Mercedes Benz also has gift cards in denominations from $25 to $250. Tell him it's a down payment, or the first contribution to a hundred-year installment plan.

An All-American dad might prefer something from The Ford Collection. You can get your Blue Oval on a polo shirt, baseball cap or straw hat. Green Dad can even have a Ford Hybrid Save the Earth t-shirt. Find them at www.fordcollection.com

If Dad is a practical type, he might prefer the AutoVent II, a solar powered automobile ventilator, for $39.95. It's designed to be inserted into the top of the car window, where it sucks out hot air and re-circulates cooler air inside the car. For dads who retired to Arizona, or who tote around temperature-sensitive laptops and other electronics, this could come in handy. It's also available at www.gadgetuniverse.com

Last but certainly not least, the 20th-anniversary edition of "National Lampoon's Vacation" is just $14.99 at Amazon.com. Give it with a card that says, "Thanks for the memories!"