Build your own 1960 Beetle - with Legos
There's likely to be no shortage of VW Beetle owners who can relate to this new kit from Lego. It's a box with 1,626 parts in it that one day, after hours of work, will resemble a classic Bug. Three differences: This box of bits will only cost you $120 and a successful build is probably not above your skill level. Oh, and your spouse probably won't mind you building this one on the kitchen table.
When completed, the VW measures 16 inches long by 6.5 inches tall. Its tiny stick shift moves, the glove compartment opens and the seats fold forward. The engine is in back where Beetle engines belong and up front is the spare tire. When you're done, finish off the car with the included VW logo decal.
It's too bad the Beetle's curvaceous roofline and nose are made jagged by the blocky Logos, but on the other hand, it's kinda cool, too. Thanks for the tip, Andy!
Gallery: Lego 1960 VW Beetle
[Source: Auto Trader Blog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kumail 1:22PM (10/11/2008)
no thanks, i actually do stuff with my time
Reply
fixitfixitstop 2:19PM (10/11/2008)
like make comments which contribute nothing to the discussion?
Flashpoint 2:20PM (10/11/2008)
Well I for one perfer to build a Chrysler 300.
I wonder how many TECHNIC motor sets You'd need to make it actually able to drive.
Jrejre 5:58PM (10/11/2008)
Like sit on the internet and complain about other peoples' hobbies?
PiCASSO 1:42PM (10/11/2008)
They should have made custom fenders, hood, trunk, and rear quarter panels, to give the round look of the bug. It's looks like a Body-in-White, rather than a complete car.
Reply
Stumpy 1:49PM (10/11/2008)
Yeah! What he said!
P B 2:24PM (10/11/2008)
Oh no way. LEGO is not about using fancy, custom pieces to make something-there's no fun in that. I'm glad that this is old school brick-on-brick construction.
geo.stewart 3:36PM (10/11/2008)
oh please PB,
Look at all the custom pieces built for Star Wars kits.
besides, Lego makes a variety of sloped smooth top pieces that would have given a better resemblance to the hood than the bare nubs shown in this kit.
aside from the parts inside, this is like an amateur kit someone built and submitted and Lego decided to make a go of it.
The Luigiian 7:33PM (10/11/2008)
geo.stewart, I can say as a serious LEGO designer and an AFOL that LEGO should neither have made custom bricks for Star Wars nor made custom bricks for this Vee-Dub.
Except for the new lightsaber elements, Darth Vader's mask, and the minifig suits there was no reason to add new parts to the LEGOverse.
The Luigiian 7:34PM (10/11/2008)
Although I will argue that sloped bricks would do better. They probably didn't use them because such slopes would just make the $120 or so MSRP even higher.
fixitfixitstop 9:40PM (10/11/2008)
I'm pretty sue this is a customer-designed set that Lego elected to put into production. Lego has only been doing that in the last couple of years.
Kitko 1:43PM (10/11/2008)
Honey, I broke the world record. It took me 3 years to build the Lego Beetle and the box says 16+....
Reply
Yaroukh 1:47PM (10/11/2008)
Why?
Reply
fixitfixitstop 1:58PM (10/11/2008)
Why not?
The thing is....I'm sure a lot of us know that Lego has been offering car sets with functional transmissions, steering, and suspensions for years. I had one when I was 12, and I am 38 now.
Pips 1:48PM (10/11/2008)
after my car got repo due to bad economy, finally $120 i can afford and i am driving again........
Reply
Eddie 2:33PM (10/11/2008)
I have one, it's pretty badass. I built it sitting home after a surgery.
Lego does a great job with their bigger models. I also have the Ferrari F1 car and the Enzo. Both cool as well.
Reply
Jorge 3:23PM (10/11/2008)
Its a good idea, but the ones I saw at the VW Automuseum in Wolfsburg, Germany were more detailed as they were bigger (more than two feet) and one even had the hood open for the engine to viewed.
Take a look:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30065838@N08/2932454630/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30065838@N08/2931594779/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30065838@N08/2931594779/
Reply
Jordan 3:51PM (10/11/2008)
I WANT ONE!
Reply
notYou 3:59PM (10/11/2008)
Can't someone increase the resolution on the pics?
Reply
Jrejre 6:00PM (10/11/2008)
I'm glad they put the 16+ on the box. There is NO way a 15 year old could handle that.
Reply