• Christmas is only a few weeks away, and we always wonder what to get our petrolhead loved ones.
• Auto superfans can’t get enough of these three top brands. 
• The most expensive auto merchandise items include R62 000 Ferrari trench coats and R26 800 Porsche skis.  

The countdown to Christmas has begun, and if you’re battling with gift ideas for a car lover, forget the mandatory car cleaning kit – although it is always appreciated. You can never go wrong with merchandise. 

Like sports teams and music acts, merchandise is a hugely profitable way to help dedicated fans show off their allegiance to their favourite motoring companies – from hats and t-shirts to artwork and miniature car models. 

If you’re looking for the perfect present for the petrolhead in your life, there’s no better place than a car brand’s online merchandise store. Most dealerships also have in-house merch stores, albeit not always fully stocked. And we’re also not just talking t-shirts, golf tees, or coffee mugs. No, while clothing might be the most popular items, there are also timepieces, Lego sets and snow skis – of all things.

Volkswagen or Toyota?

But which automaker has the merchandise that car lovers want the most? Here in South Africa, my first thought would be Volkswagen or Toyota since they’re the most popular brands in the country, just based on monthly car sales. At the same time, BMW is one of the most-searched brands in the used car markets, along with Ford -…