Despite most of us driving a car on a daily basis, everyday carry aficionados seldom factor their vehicle and mode of transportation into their daily carry loadout. This is particularly strange considering how many individuals fall into the category of both gearhead and EDC enthusiast. Recognizing this discrepancy, we’ve set out to deliver the ultimate driver’s-focused collection of everyday carry gear, scouring a variety of different spaces to deliver this curated and handpicked spread of auto-themed EDC items that we’ve dubbed “Clutch.”
Gerber Strap Cutter
Made in America and backed by a lifetime warranty, the Gerber Strap Cutter is an emergency survival tool comprised of a black oxide-coated stainless steel chassis equipped with a grip-bolstering finger loop, a textured, injection-molded rubber grip, and a single bevel knife edge with a blunt hook. Designed to effortlessly cut through nylon straps and seatbelts, this item also sports a glass breaker for car windows, and is sold with an included MOLLE-compatible rigid sheath. Like smoke alarms or fire extinguishers, this is one of those products that you’ll hopefully never have to use but can be a literal life-saver in an emergency situation.
Persol 649 Original Sunglasses
First released in 1957, Persol’s 649 glasses were designed specifically for public transit drivers in Persol’s native city of Turin, Italy, and as such featured oversized lenses to shield their wearer from sunlight, dust, and debris. Popularized via a number of film appearances in the decades since, the 649 also sports Persol’s Meflecto and Victor Flex features. This modern 649 variant comes cloaked in a blacked-out colorway that’s contrasted by the pair’s prominent silver arrow logos. And, while he’s more famously associated with the Italian eyewear outfit’s 714 model — essentially a foldable version of the 649 — American actor, gearhead, and style icon Steve McQueen also owned and routinely wore a pair of 649s.
Formawerx Legends 911 Key
Taking inspiration from the flat-six engines that power the Porsche 911, Formawerx’s Legends key is an elegant and functional piece of EDC gear. Compatible with all 911 models (911, 959, 912, and 914) produced from 1970 through 1998, this bespoke car key is machined in America from Perpetua Stainless Steel to within Swiss watch standards, before being hit with both PVD and DLC coatings. In addition to being offered in silver, black, or gold color options, the Legends 911 key also comes in the buyer’s choice of a matte, machined, or polished finish. What’s more, Formawerx also offers bespoke engraving services, key-cutting services, and the option for personalized gift capsules.
Rolex Cosmograph Daytona 16520
First debuting in 1963, the Daytona Chronograph is now regarded as one of Rolex’s most iconic and desirable watches, but the watch has had a number of distinct lifetimes of varying popularity. In the late ’80s, the Crown looked to switch the movement of its flagship motorsports chronograph from a manual-winding caliber to an automatic. But at the time, Rolex did not produce any automatic chronograph movements. Enter fellow Swiss watchmaker Zenith, which provided its legendary El Primero automatic chronograph movement to Rolex for use in the Daytona. The result was the reference 16520 — the first-ever automatic Daytona, running an El Primero movement that was heavily modified by Rolex. The watch stuck around for roughly a decade before Rolex discontinued it in 2000 in favor of a new Daytona powered by the brand’s first in-house automatic chronograph caliber. As such, 16520s have become quite the collector’s item, as they are the last Rolex watches to feature a movement made by someone other than Rolex.
