These customised cupcake cars would make for an exciting novelty race on Christmas afternoon. Photo / Supplied Expand

These customised cupcake cars would make for an exciting novelty race on Christmas afternoon. Photo / Supplied

US retailer Neiman Marcus is famous for its annual list of extravagant Christmas gift suggestions - and this year is no exception.

First published in 1926 as a 16-page Christmas card to the retailer's best customers, the company's Christmas Book this year runs to 160 pages and features hundreds of holiday gift ideas - from Prada handbags to novelty salt and pepper shakers.

However it's the catalogue's selection of fantasy gifts - a handful of extravagant and expensive present ideas - for which the Christmas Book has become especially famous.

From preserved and mounted African Flower Beetles to customised cupcake cars that look like they've driven straight out of the pages of Alice in Wonderland, this year's fantasy gift ideas are an inspiration - as long as money's no object.

For US$250,000 (NZ$341,000), you could purchase a sports aircraft plus flight training for two, while a 1.5m-long sustainably-designed chandelier made from recycled plastic drink bottles will set you back US$12,000.

"Our annual tradition of fantasy gifts allows our devoted customers to give a gift or gift experience that will create wonderful memories to last both the giver and recipients a lifetime," said Gerald Barnes, President and CEO of Neiman Marcus Direct.

"This year's array of gifts has raised the bar to new heights, featuring items at the highest levels of quality and technology."

Neiman Marcus' Fantasy Gifts for 2009:

Creepy crawly yuletide: If you have a budding entomologist in the family, why not treat them to one of Maine artist Mike Libby's carefully preserved, non-endangered insect specimens from around the world. After preparing and posing the insect, Libby adorns it with a unique mix of mechanical bits and pieces. This year's limited-edition artworks feature the African Flower Beetle - Cetonidae: Goliathus Goliathus, mounted on a walnut display case under a glass dome. A bargain at US$8,500 each, but there are only nine available, so you'd better get in quick.

A dram for the Master Distiller: For the true whisky aficionado, what could be better than spending a day as a VIP at the Maker's Mark distillery in Kentucky? The gift package includes participation for two people in the whisky-making process, hosted by Master Distiller Kevin Smith. Two golden bottles will be etched with the recipient's likeness and dipped in gold wax with 24 carat gold flecks and they also get to hand-dip six of their own 375ml Maker's Mark bottles in signature red wax and take them home. Luxury accommodation and a gourmet dinner hosted by Bill Samuels, Jr - the top dog at Maker's Mark - is also included. The entire package can be yours for US$7,500.