Building Legos and loving cars seem to fit like a couple of 2x4 bricks. Legos were what we loved to tinker with as kids, and we still enjoy them today. Part of the allure is the seemingly bottomless bucket where they live, and the endless fun it represents. But then we also remember extreme pain that comes from stepping on them by accident. Maybe, then, it's that they remind us of life's ups and downs, its joys and its sorrows.
Anyhow, ice that foot and check out the wonderful world where cars and Legos intersect. Into Bugattis, McLarens, and Porsches? Lego has you covered. We've built a few of the scale models ourselves. With choices like the small Speed Champions series, the Creator Expert line, and the complex Technic kits, you can find a Lego car kit for every budget. A few may be out of stock, but they're still cool.
The Land Rover Defender is back on American shores and we're happy for its return. We're also excited that it can be built with Lego bricks—2573 of the Technic ones, to be precise. The Lego Defender is just like the real thing, with a moving inline-six engine, a working winch, and steering system. It also has a four-speed transmission and functioning all-wheel drive with three working differentials.
It should be no surprise that Porsche, a brand with fanatical followers, has numerous Lego models in circulation. What better accessory is there for the Porsche enthusiast in your life than a scale Lego version of their car? This 911 GT3 RS is the most complex, with a shiftable transmission, working steering, and a functional suspension.
Dominic Toretto's Dodge Charger is arguably one of the most iconic cars from the Fast & Furious series. You can build it yourself with this 1077-piece kit. The coolest feature of the car has to be the V-8 engine, which has working pistons and an air blower. Once everything is snapped together properly, the finished product measures about 15 inches in length.
Lego's Technic Porsche 911 RSR race car is half as expensive as the 911 GT3 RS kit, but then it is made of a little over half the number of pieces. Even though it is less complex than the GT3 RS kit, the RSR comes with an open, visible rear differential; a six-cylinder flat-six engine; and working suspension components.
The coolest thing about the Lego Speed Champions 1974 911 Turbo 3.0 has to be the iconic whale tail spoiler that takes up the entirety of the rear of the car—not that we're complaining. It's extremely cool that the folks at Lego are doing more retro sets like this classic Porsche and we hope they do more just like it.
The Volkswagen T1 Camper van kit is one of Lego's oldest modern Creator car kits, so if you're interested in it, you should snap one up (plastic brick pun intended) before it's retired from Lego's catalog. This VW features a pop-top sleeping berth, a fully detailed interior, and openable doors.
This ultrasweet Aston Martin DB5 based on James Bond 007's car is one of the newest in the Lego Creator series. It features a number of secret-agent touches such as an ejector seat, guns that deploy from the headlights, and revolving license plates.
The real-life Bugatti Chiron is a poster car, a sophisticated land missile capable of 261 mph that also is luxurious and ultra-exclusive. It's also seriously expensive, and all of those traits—well, except for that ludicrous top speed—carry over to Lego's Technic kit. The Lego Bug has a working suspension, gearbox, and detailed engine. Its list price is already high but its rarity can be expected to drive the price up even higher.
In terms of sheer scale, none of the other Lego kits in this roundup is as massive as the Mack Trucks Anthem semi-truck Technic set. Built as shown (it can also be assembled into a garbage truck), the Mack rig and trailer measure 32 inches long! There is an inline-six engine with functioning pistons fronted by an all-important cooling fan, a bunk bed in its sleeper cab, and deployable outriggers for stabilizing the trailer's crane attachment.
If you're looking for a relatively affordable Technic model, this Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is it. The Vette kit has the nifty distinction of wearing bodywork just like the real thing: plastic!
You cannot build the Lego 1989 Batmobile in two hours—we tried and failed spectacularly. With that being said, the Batmobile that was driven by Michael Keaton in the Tim Burton-directed movie has an incredible amount of detail in Lego form. It's not only worth the asking price, but the effort and time required to complete.
Who knew Lego, with a brand built on square bricks, could pull off a kit for a car that, in real life, is relentlessly curvy? The classic Beetle Creator kit manages the feat, even if the effect isn't immediately apparent in photos. We've assembled this kit ourselves, and we can confirm that in person it is strikingly accurate.
With 1077 pieces, Lego's Mini Cooper kit from its Creator line isn't that mini. Lego puts the Cooper's size to good use, stuffing in a scale engine, checkered seats, and even a little picnic basket that fits in the trunk.
Okay, so Lego's Technic BMW R 1200 motorcycle isn't a car kit, but it's too cool for us to ignore (hence why we've included it here as a bonus item). It comes with a fully working suspension, nifty saddle storage compartments, a two-cylinder engine, and an oh, so useful kickstand.
603 pieces
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Lego Speed Champions Porsche 911 RSR, 911 Turbo 3.0
Lego Speed Champions Porsche 911 RSR, 911 Turbo 3.0
As with some of the other Technic kits on this list, the Porsche 911 RSR is also available in affordable (and smaller) Speed Champions form. In this case, the Speed Champions Porsche 911 RSR set also includes a sweet 911 Turbo 3.0 (shown here in lime green).
You can buy the Porsche race car that thrice won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for about $15. So long as you're okay with your 919 hybrid fitting in the palm of your hand, of course.
The Speed Champions Ford Fiesta M-Sport WRC is one of the few rally-inspired kits Lego offers (the other has approximations of the original Mini Cooper rally car, as well as the brand's current Countryman), and it does a pretty good job of capturing the hatchback's aggressive look. It also is very, very cheap.
A favorite among automotive enthusiasts for over 40 years, the Toyota Supra is one of the most thrilling rides sold today. Like the roadgoing Supra, the Lego version is super low to the ground and uses a two-seat cockpit. The set also comes with optional wheel covers, should you lose any or curb it up against an ottoman in the living room. This Lego set is appropriate for ages seven and up.
Playing with toys is fun, and driving the 450-hp Ford F-150 Raptor over trails and through mud offers evidence the real pickup is just a really big toy. This 1379-piece set is all about high ground clearance and suspension travel. The doors, hood, and tailgate all function, and if you look on Amazon, you can add light bars and other accessory lighting to this rig, like you would with the truck. The finished product measures 17 inches long, with a little knob on the roof to let you control steering without opening the doors.
The real Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is a 760-hp rocket ship. Its 5.2-liter supercharged V-8 is pure American muscle, and like this 544-piece Lego set, it is built by hand. The set includes a plastic trigger that lets you pull the GT500 back and launch it (sort of) like you would at the drag strip.
Yes, he's still working on the 1986 Nissan 300ZX Turbo project car he started in high school, and no, it’s not for sale yet. Austin Irwin was born and raised in Michigan, and, despite getting shelled by hockey pucks during a not-so-successful goaltending career through high school and college, still has all of his teeth. He loves cars from the 1980s and Bleu, his Great Pyrenees, and is an active member of the Buffalo Wild Wings community. When Austin isn’t working on his own cars, he’s likely on the side of the highway helping someone else fix theirs.