Advice
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If your dad loves cars, but can be a little tough to buy presents for, why not get him the Lego version of his dream whip? Whether the assembly process is a family affair or a time of solo enjoyment, you're sure to be in the old man's good books for a while!
And there are plenty of rad rides to choose from Lego has been releasing car kits in roughly 1:32 to 1:12 scale for a few years now as part of the Creator, Technic and Speed Champions series, and in that time it has come up with some particularly cool brick-built renditions.
Here are our current faves.
Optimus Prime
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"Now, all we need is a little energon, and a lot of luck."
Every dad identifies with Optimus Prime, so you can't really go past this new model – and it actually transforms, without having disasessmble and reassemble. That is next-level stuff, and your dad is sure to lose his mind. (It even has an opening chest chamber with the Autobot Matrix of Leadership inside. Come on!)
1508 pieces, 18+ build rating. Can't go wrong.
- In truck mode, the model measures over 5.5 in. (15 cm) high, 10.5 in. (27 cm) long and 4.5 in. (12 cm) wide. In robot mode, the model stands over 13.5 in. (35 cm) tall
- 1508 pieces
Back to the Future Delorean – with three modes!
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"Wait a minute, Doc, are you telling me..."
Dads love them some nostalgia, so what better way to send them back to the past with a bit of Back to the Future?
This 'Back to the Future Time Machine', which we guess they weren't allowed to namecheck as a DeLorean, comes with all the parts needed to spec it out in films I, II and III modes. That is properly rad.
1872 pieces, 18+ build rating. Get in. (Don't worry, the doors open.)
- The model measures over 4.5 in. (12 cm) high, 14 in. (35 cm) long and 7.5 in. (19 cm) wide
- 1350 pieces
Dom's Dodger Charger
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"I live my life a quarter-mile at a time."
The Fast & The Furious hit cinema screens (remember those?) in 2001, so it's actually possible your dad was just the type of young fella Universal Pictures was targeting with what would blow up into an insanely popular (and polarising) franchise.
Of course, along with Brian's orange Supra, Dom's Charger was without question one of the big stars of the film. So why not get one into Dad's hands?
- Measuring 15” (39cm) long, 6” (16cm) wide and 4” (11cm) high
- 1077 pieces
Lego Creator Ferrari F40 (10248)
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One of the kits to appear in Lego’s Creator series, the Lego Ferrari F40 comprises 1158 individual pieces and is roughly 25 centimetres long.
It features an opening clamshell engine cover that reveals the 90-degree turbocharged V8 like the real thing ... almost. And you can even take the engine out to examine it.
- The F40 is over 3” high, 10” long and 5” wide
- 1158 pieces
New-gen Land Rover Defender
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The Defender has always been an icon, and this Lego Technics piece is sure to be popular with dads and kids alike. Be warned, it's a massive unit (just like dad), so you might need to clear a space in the garage...
- Land Rover Defender measures over 8” (22cm) high, 16” (42cm) long and 7” (20cm) wide
- 2573 pieces
McLaren F1 race car
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Did dad dream of being a racing driver? Come on, who didn't? Well, if he didn't get there, he can at least live his dreams at a smaller scale – although he'll be more of an engineer than a driver by the time he's done!
- Measures over 5 in. (13 cm) high, 25.5 in. (65 cm) long and 10.5 in. (27 cm) wide
- 1432 pieces
Lego Creator Fiat 500 (10271)
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Continuing the Italian theme is the Fiat 500 Lego kit which includes an incredibly detailed interior, a sunroof and it even gets a suitcase mounted to a luggage rack above the engine cover on the back. La dolce vita!
- Measuring over 11 cm (4.5 inches) high, 24 cm (9.5 inches) long and 11 cm (4.5 inches) wide.
- 960 pieces
Lego Technic Porsche GT3 RS (42056)
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Stepping it up somewhat is the much larger, much more technical, and way more expensive Lego Technic Porsche GT3 RS. It gets a realistic working gearbox, an adjustable rear wing, red suspension springs and even an opening glovebox that hides a unique build number.
Lego also released a successor 911 GT3 RSR race car in similar form.
- Measuring over 6” (17cm) high, 22” (57cm) long and 9” (25cm) wide.
- 2704 pieces
Lego Speed Champions Audi Sport Quattro S1 (76897)
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Unique Lego cars don’t get much cooler than this. The rally-dominating Audi Sport Quattro S1 of the 1980s looks genuinely epic in Lego form, complete with period correct stickers and colour scheme.
- The 1985 Audi Sport quattro S1 rally car measures over 2” (6cm) high, 6” (16cm) long and 2” (7cm) wide.
- 250 pieces
Lego Creator Volkswagen Kombi Camper Van (10220)
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Authentic, faithful and iconic, the Lego Creator Volkswagen Camper Van invokes the spirit of the original bus from 1962, while tugging at the heartstrings and remaining incredibly cool in Lego form.
- Measures 11.8 inches (30cm) long and 5.5 inches (14cm) high.
- 1334 pieces
Or...
UPGRADE! Volkswagen T2 Camper Van
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With more pieces (2207 instead of 1334) and a sleeker look, this new T2 version of the iconic VW bus might be more to dad's tastes.
This one gets a refreshing new cyan blue shade, proper sliding doors, and a higher extending roof for your minifigs.
Either way... surf's up.
- Measures over 6 in. (15 cm) high, 13.5 in. (35 cm) long and 5.5 in. (14 cm) wide
- 2207 pieces
Lego Technic Bugatti Chiron (42083)
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One of the biggest, baddest models in the Lego fleet to date, the Technic Chiron comes in at one-eighth the size of the real thing and is one of the most expensive models available too.
Lego says the Technic Chiron is built in much the same order as the life-size machine so you can follow the construction process just like a Bugatti engineer.
- Bugatti Chiron measures over 5” (14cm) high, 22” (56cm) long and 12.5”(32cm) wide
- 3599 pieces
Lego Creator James Bond Aston Martin DB5 (10262)
"Now, pay attention please. Windscreen, bulletproof. As are the side and the rear windows. Revolving number plates, naturally. Valid in all countries."
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Arguably the most famous of all James Bond cars, the Aston DB5 looks remarkably faithful to the real car while sporting some of the neat spy car gadgets such as pop-out machine guns, functioning ejector seat and rotating registration plates to thwart prying speed cameras ... of which there weren't any in 1964.
- Measures over 3” (10cm) high, 13” (34cm) long and 4” (12cm) wide
- 1295 pieces
Lego Ideas Ghostbusters Ecto-1 (21108)
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"WE GOT ONE!"
Lego minifigures and accurate Lego representations of real-life cars normally don’t go hand-in-hand. Luckily for Lego, its fans are all too willing to pitch their own ideas through the Lego Ideas platform.
Created by a Ghostbusters fan, the Lego recreation of the iconic Ghostbusters Ecto-1 car for the movie’s 30th anniversary is elegantly simple, yet faithful and well-detailed. A definite must for fans of the movie and the converted Cadillac.
- Ecto-1 vehicle measures over 3” (9cm) high, 7” (20cm) long and 2” (6cm) wide
- 508 pieces
Or...
UPGRADE! Lego Creator Expert Ghostbusters Ecto-1
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Now, that Lego IDEAS Ecto-1 is excellent, no question. But if your dad loves a more challenging build, and if you've got the budget for the project, this bigger Lego Creator Expert version of the Ecto-1 is where you wanna point your wallet.
With 2352 pieces and an 18+ build rating, this Ecto-1 measures 47cm long and 23cm tall – so make some room on that trophy shelf!
https://www.lego.com/en-au/product/ghostbusters-ecto-1-10274
- Measuring over 8” (22.5cm) high, 18” (47cm) long and 6” (16.5cm) wide
- 2532 pieces
Lego Technic Mercedes-Benz Arocs 3245 (42043)
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One of many officially-licensed Mercedes-Benz kits, the Arocs 3245 was also one of the coolest. For starters, at just over half a metre long it's big in personality so the build process soaks up plenty of time and results in a physically substantial toy to play with. When it came out around five years ago, it was the largest Lego Technic model to date.
Secondly, its mechanical complexity was extraordinary. Not only did it have proper rack-and-pinion 'twin-steer' on the front two axles (with a different ratio for the second axle, just like the real truck), it also flaunted a 4x4 drivetrain, fully articulated independent suspension, a six-cylinder engine under the cab and an actual electric motor that drove a pneumatic pump for the powered crane, outriggers and tipping bed!
- The Arcos 3245 is over 12” high, 21” long and 5” wide
- 2793 pieces
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