Times Five

Lego is an all-time classic toy, but it is also a great time-waster for the classic car enthusiast. Damien O’Carroll looks at some of the best Lego classic car kits.

Ford Mustang

This brilliant brick version of a 1967 Mustang GT is fantastic for two reasons: firstly, not having much in the way of rounded curves means it translates awesomely well into Lego form and, secondly, you can build it in either stock standard form or modify it into mad muscle car form with side pipes, a jacked rear end, a spoiler kit and a big blower poking through the bonnet.

The detail is superb, with a fittingly beige interior, a big 390 hi-performance V8 under the bonnet and, if you go the modded route, a nitrous tank in the boot!

Fiat 500

Rounded off classics rarely translate well into the squarer lines afforded by plastic bricks, but Lego has done a masterful job of recreating the adorable 500’s curvy charm here. Lego has gone the full top-spec Euro touring mode with its 500, which comes with a folding canvas roof and suitcase mounted on the rear engine cover, complete with painting supplies and a tiny painting of the 500 in front of the Colosseum on an easel.

Of course, there is also a spare wheel in the frunk and a tiny twocylinder engine in the rear.

Mini Cooper

Another small classic that translates brilliantly well into Lego form, this particular Mini is a later model MkVII, the last of the original Minis that was built between 1996 and 2000 under BMW ownership.

As such, the Lego Mini features that fatter wheel arches and plusher interior of the later Minis, as well as a tiny version of the 1275cc engine under the bonnet. The interior looks about as cramped as a full-size Mini, but there is a complete picnic set in the boot, including a hamper, blanket and what we assume is a bottle of gin.

Porsche 911 Turbo/Targa

The latest classic offering from the Danish company, the 911 is a curvy car that works well in Lego form.

As far as features go it has the standard lego stuff of a moveable steering wheel, gear shifter and hand brake, as well as adjustable seats and a nicely detailed flat-six boxer engine tucked in the rear.

But the best feature of the Lego 911 is the fact that you can build it in either 930 Turbo form (with a huge whale tail and fat rear guards) or Targa form (with the big glass rear window, flat guards and removable roof panel). You’ll need to buy two.

Cadillac Miller Meteor

This is easily the biggest and most detailed kit on this list, but it is also the only one that is a movie car – the kit is of Ecto-1, the Ghostbusters’ car from the forthcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife movie.

As such, it is a rusted up version of the original, but if you leave the rust decals off and don’t put all the ghost busting gear inside or on the roof, you will have a thoroughly wonderful Lego version of the classic 1959 Cadillac fitted with the custom Miller Meteor ambulance/ hearse body. Again, this just demands you buy two of them. . .