Lego
Technic Corvette Replica of the '98-'99 Chevrolet Corvette. Features
include V8 engine with fiber optic spark plug wires, rear-mounted 4-speed
transmission, 4 wheel independent suspension, flip-up headlights, and parking
brake.
Lego
Technic Mustang Replica of the '94-'95 Ford Mustang. Features include
V8 engine, 4-speed transmission, 4-wheel suspension, adjustable seats,
impact-absorbing bumpers, and parking brake.
By about '86 I was getting busy with high school and spent most of my hobby time with my other constructive car hobby, building 1:25 scale model cars (and keeping my 1:1 car running). I didn't touch the Legos for a long time until in '94 I had some free time and got a hankering to haul out the old Legos and build a helicopter. I was really happy with the way it turned out. It had blade pitch control with joysticks (like the old kit), variable speed tail propeller, clutch disengage, and two-way adjustable seats. I was impressed with some of the new Technic kits, but wasn't really motivated enough to invest in any. Then the Supercar came out. When I saw it, bells, whistles, light bulbs and fireworks went off in my head. Finally they had built a kit that came close to realizing the full potential of Legos. It's an incredibly brilliant design. However, I bought it half for the car itself and half for the pieces to use in my own designs. I'm the last one to want to bad-mouth the Supercar, but in the aspect of realistic automotive replica, it leaves some areas for improvement. The suspension doesn't ride at all like a real car's. It rides way too high for a mid-engine sports car. The chassis beneath the interior is too deep. The seats seem too small in proportion to the rest of the car, especially the wheels. It's got a lot of body for a Lego design, but it's still basically a chassis. And aesthetically, in my opinion, it's overall kind of a goofy looking car. After building both of the kit's designs and paying proper homage to their brilliance, I disassembled them and was finally armed with the proper pieces needed to fulfill my 12 year old mission: to build a realistic full-bodied Lego car with a front suspension.
I built the Mustang chassis over the space of a few weeks and had to wait a few months before building the body in January '97. I was happy with the Mustang, but knew I could build an even better car. I tore it down and built the Corvette over about a month in January '98. I've got some ideas for other cars. I'd love to build a 4X4 truck, a front-wheel-drive car using the Flex System to control the transmission, and any car using the Flex System to control a brake mechanism. However, I don't think I'll be ready to do anything for awhile. I haven't been inspired to take on any new Lego projects. (11-2000 udate: starting to get motivated! New Supercar!) It doesn't help that to do anything new, I'd have to lose the Corvette. Besides, I'm still building those model cars. By the way, if you have any Lego cars of this type on the net, please email me your address.
, last updated January, 2000
Use of the words Lego, Ford Mustang or Chevrolet Corvette or logos in no way implies any affiliation or sponsorship by those companies!