As fledgling MotorPunks we all tinkered with a bit of Lego. Simon and I even admit to learning the basics of mechanical engineering playing in our bedrooms with the techie Technics version of Denmark’s greatest export well into our teenage years. Similarly, Rich claims that he wasted a lot of the 1980s hunched over some of Sweden’s most famous exports … but let’s not go into that!

But, to be honest, I’d forgotten all about my misspent youth building Lego Technics until it appeared on my young son’s Christmas list late last year; I then spent much of early January (initially, begrudgingly) building up the massive Grand Prix Racer he’d pestered ‘Santadad’ for … which was absolutely brilliant; far better than the vintage sets I had. With fully-independent suspension, a clever steering mechanism and a working V8 (yeah, non-turbo; that’s why it’s now been discontinued, probably) with moving pistons and DRS, it’s a great educational thing.

However, if it’s just a bit of retro-nostalgic desk art you’re after then you’ll want to check out these beauties:

 

It turns out that there’s a huge online-community of wannabe Adrian Neweys out there designing futuristic F1 concepts, as well as faithful reproductions of the Grand Prix cars of yesteryear. These aren’t official Lego kits; they are built by Technics fanatics who then sell their designs, known as MOC plans, on various web forums. One of the most famous in Lego circles is the Italian builder Luca Rusconi, known as RoscoPC, who has specialized in beautifully detailed F1 cars from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

The build sheets for these lovely F1 cars cost $15 each and there are even links to eShops that’ll then cherry-pick all the bricks you’ll need to make things easy – although it’s more than you think; the Eagle Weslake mk1 T1G shown here has over 1,500 individual parts which would probably come in at £150ish. Cost, time and everything else aside, I bloody love that Lego Lotus; the Type-49B ‘Gold Leaf’ liveried F1 car as driven by 1968 F1 World Champ’ Graham Hill … but that 6-wheeled Tyrell looks ruddy good too … oh, I can’t decide! You can check out the full range of Grand Prix classics in Scuderia Roscopc here. Can you pick a favourite?

Dr.O

About The Author

Darryl Sleath

Darryl can usually be found up to his elbows in some unloved piece of BL detritus when he isn’t snapping and scribbling for various print magazines or producing the occasional book on tally-ho adventurers, PE or road tripping. As an occasional presenter on XCAR’s YouTube channel, his other hobbies include vintage Scalextrics, ‘60s Bang & Olufsen and dabbling in grassroots motorsport.

5 Responses

  1. James Walker

    Wow! They are awesome. Did you build them up? Would love to make that Lauda Fezza. More Lego stuff please Doctor Octane!
    Jim

    Reply
  2. Mark

    I’ve started to build the Lotus 49B, half the fun is sourcing the parts. The wheels are particularly rare and expensive, haven’t sourced any yet.
    In the past I’ve built colour variations of the Lego 1:17 Ferrari and Gallardo sets.

    Reply
  3. Mark

    It’s on hold at the moment while I finish building a shed for my Lego…
    I got as far as building the engine looks good. There is a whole world of Lego car models out there do a search on Flickr.

    Here’s a link to one of my Ferrari variations with the the standard Lego model;
    https://flic.kr/p/4qvE3C

    Mark

    Reply

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