Tag Archives: alternate

The Alternative

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Here at The Lego Car Blog we’re big fans of up-cycling. Repurposing one thing into another thing is both advantageous to the wallet, and means that one fewer new thing has had to be made, usually by digging something out of the ground/cutting down a tree, melting/refining it in a factory, and shipping it in a giant box full of other new things half-way round the world.

Of course LEGO by design is an up-cycler’s dream. Endlessly reusable, reconfigurable, and hand-down-able, it is the antidote to crappy single-use plastic toys that will last a thousand times longer in landfill or our oceans than they will in the hands of a child.

Cue previous bloggee M_Longer, who today demonstrates LEGO’s greatest attribute brilliantly by up-cycling two 2025 entry-level Technic sets into entirely new models.

M_Longer’s JCB Fastrac (above) uses every one of the parts from the 42199 Monster Jam DIGatron set, whilst his helicopter (below) swaps the ocean depths of the 42201 Deep-Sea Research Submarine for the skies, and includes a pitching main rotor and a hand crank that turns it and the tail rotor simultaneously.

There’s more to see of M_Longer’s 42199 JCB Fastrac, or alternatively his 42201 helicopter, at both Eurobricks (where links to building instructions can also be found) and Bricksafe, and you can take a look at each up-cycled alternate via the links below;

Helicopter: Eurobricks / Bricksafe, JCB Fastac: Eurobricks / Bricksafe

My Other Car’s a Ford GT

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The most common basis for hot rods are Fords. Due to their abundance in America in the 1920s-’40s, all manner of blue ovals have been hot rodded; Model-Ts, Model-As, ‘Tudors‘, ‘5-Windows‘ and everything in-between. But not, we suspect, the Ford GT. Until today. Kinda.

Because this excellent Technic hot rod is built only out of the parts from the official LEGO Technic 42154 Ford GT.

Working steering, opening and locking doors, a V6 engine, all-wheel suspension, and the most ingenious use of Technic wheel arches we’ve ever seen all feature, and there’s more to see courtesy of Equilibrium at the Eurobricks discussion forum.

Italian American

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Most Chevrolet Corvette owners would, we suspect, happily swap their American sports car for one wearing the prancing horse. But perhaps not this Corvette for this Ferrari.

The early-’60s ‘C1’ Chevrolet Corvette is one of America’s greatest cars. The Ferrari 308 is not one of Italy’s. Still, it looks good in Lego form, at least at the hands of Firas Abu-Jaber, who has used only the parts from the LEGO Icons 10321 Chevrolet Corvette set to create this superb 308 B-Model.

Less pretty, less powerful, and less reliable than the two-decade-older ‘Vette, the 308 still wears that famous prancing horse, and thus if you’d like to swap your American classic for an Italian one you can take a look at Firas’ photostream, where all of the excellent images of his 10321 alternate can be found.

Build Your Own Supercar

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If we could write to Santa to ask for anything, a supercar would be near the top of the list. It’s probably a good thing he only gives toys though, as if we all got our wishes the world would likely be much worse for it.

Cue today’s creations, which – whilst they are toys – do help us into the world of supercar ownership, as each as been published with building instructions so you can build them at home too!

Above is Nathanael Kuipers‘ Ferrari La Ferrari, which he has built entirely from the parts from the official LEGO Speed Champions 76914 Ferrari 812 Competizione set, whilst below is Fabrice Larcheveque‘s fantastic Lamborghini Diablo, which recreates the ’90s supercar icon beautifully in 8-wide brick.

There’s more to see of each via the links above, where building instructions can also be found, so you too can own a supercar this Christmas.

Off-Road Alternative

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The excellent LEGO Technic 42177 Mercedes-Benz G 500 set has successfully brought one of the market’s best known 4x4s to bedroom floors (or more likely Dads’ shelves) everywhere.

But what if you like retro-looking off-roaders but you’re not a wealthy Russian laundering money in the South of England? (Who seem to make up 100% of the G Wagen owners around TLCB Towers). Previous bloggee gyenesvi has the answer!

Using only the parts from the official 42177 Mercedes-Benz G 500 set, gyenesvi has created this superb Land Rover 90, complete with all-wheel-drive, all-wheel-suspension, working steering, an inline-4 engine, an operational gearbox, opening and locking doors, a detailed interior, and a whole heap of accessories.

The result is so good you’d be hard pressed to know it’s an alternate, and with building instructions available you can rebuild your own Mercedes-Benz G 500 into a Land Rover 90 too.

There’s much more of gyenesvi’s phenomenal 42177 B-Model to see at the Eurobricks forum, where a detailed description and further links can be found, plus the complete image gallery is available to view at Bricksafe.

The Name’s McMissile…

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Disney Pixar’s ‘Cars 2’ featured a rather familiar looking character. Merging James Bond, Q-branch’s Aston Martin DB5, and a Michael Caine voice-over, Finn McMissile was as British a spy car as it was possible to conceive.

Cue newcomer Danny_Boy4, who has taken LEGO’s officially-licensed 10262 Aston Martin DB5 ‘Goldfinger’ set and redeployed its pieces to create the ‘Cars 2’ character inspired by the real Aston Martin the set replicated.

A thorough redesign moves the bodywork away from the DB5 source to match Pixar’s interpretation of it, and adds ‘Cars’ trademark windshield-eyes and (ingeniously) the hidden side-mounted guns that for this TLCB Writer ruined the whole ‘Cars’ premise. Boo Pixar.

There’s more to see of Danny’s top-tier 10262 B-Model recreation of Finn McMissile at the Eurobricks forum, and you can click the link above join the mission.

Porsche to Pagani

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We suspect there aren’t many cars that Porsche 911 owners would swap their cars for. Certainly none of the heaps in TLCB staff car park. A Pagani Zonda on the other hand…

Cue Flickr’s Gerald Cacas, who has switched his Porsche 911 (in LEGO 10295 Creator Expert form) for the legendary Italian hypercar, using only the pieces of his Porsche to create it.

Opening clamshells and doors, a detailed interior, working steering, and a removable engine all feature, and there’s more of Gerald’s 10295 B-Model to see at his ‘Pagani Zonda – 10295 Porsche Alternate Build’ album. Click the link to take a look.

My Other Car’s a Porsche

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The first generation Audi TT is – in the writer’s opinion – one of the greatest automotive designs of the last quarter-century. With curved surfaces, minimalist detailing, and brushed aluminium everywhere, it was a zeitgeist for the new millennium aesthetic.

That it didn’t drive anywhere near as good as it looked was irrelevant to the tens of thousands of buyers in TLCB’s home nation, where the TT was an enormous success. They bought it on design alone, a niche today filled by the Range Rover Evoque.

Cue Nathanael Kuipers’ recreation of the TT, constructed solely from the LEGO 10295 Creator Expert Porsche 911 set. An opening hood (with a detailed engine underneath), doors and rear hatch feature, and you can jump back to peak late-’90s automotive design at Nathanel’s photostream.

Deere Wrangling

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The LEGO Technic 42157 John Deere 948L-II set hasn’t borne many B-Models here at The Lego Car Blog to date. Just one in fact. Which is odd, as it does look like a rather good source of parts, and it comes with four mega yellow wheels.

Cue newcomer legoRookie2021, who has repurposed the pieces from 42157 to create this gloriously cartoony Jeep Wrangler. Reminiscent of those insane Icelandic cliff-climbing racers, Rookie’s Wrangler includes working steering, a six-cylinder engine, opening doors and hood, plus an intriguing pneumatic suspension system.

Instructions are available and you can see more of Rookie’s Wrangler alternate at the Eurobricks forum – click the link above to swap your John for a Jeep.

Alternate Godzilla

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Neither Ford nor Nissan are renowned as exotic car brands, yet each has made a vehicle that has shot straight to the top of enthusiasts’ wish lists, in the form of the Ford GT and Nissan Skyline GT-R.

Cue Alex Ilea, who has constructed this fantastic R34-generation Nissan Skyline GT-R solely using the parts from the official LEGO Technic 42154 Ford GT set. He’s used nearly every single one too, with just 33 (2%) of the original parts list left unused.

Working steering, an inline 6-cylinder engine, all-wheel independent suspension, plus opening doors and hood all feature, and you can take a closer a look (as well as find a link to building instructions) at the Eurobricks forum, you can view the complete gallery of images at Bricksafe, and you can find Alex’s other legendary ’90s Japanese sports car built from the 42154 Ford GT set by clicking here.

Double-Bs

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Today’s we have not one but two alternate builds. And they’re the same.

This brilliant John Deere High-Speed Dozer is the work of previous bloggee M_longer, and has been constructed from two of LEGO’s excellent 42163 Heavy-Duty Bulldozer Technic starter sets.

Using every single one of the combined 390 pieces available, M-longer’s 42163 (x2) B-Model features articulated steering, working blade elevation, and looks remarkably like the unusual real-world vehicle it emulates.

The full gallery is available via Bricksafe, and full details, a video, and link to building instructions can all be found on Eurobricks. Click the links above to take a look.

Brickin’ Bronco B-Model

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LEGO’s brand new Technic 42177 Mercedes-Benz G 500 Professional Line set is proving to be a veritable goldmine of parts. Despite only launching a few weeks ago, several superb 42177 B-Models have appeared here at The Lego Car Blog already, and today we have another; this fantastic Ford Bronco by Eurobricks’ Alex Ilea.

Featuring four-wheel-drive with three locking differentials, working steering via the wheel or HOG, independent front and live-axle rear suspension, a high/low range gearbox, a V6 engine, opening doors, hood, and tailgate, a folding bench, plus removable body panels and roof, Alex’s Bronco is as packed with functionality as the official G-Wagen set on which it’s based.

91% (2,625) of the donor set’s pieces are used in the Bronco’s creation, and if you prefer your 4x4s with American fun rather than German assertiveness you too can turn your 42177 Mercedes-Benz G 500 into a Ford Bronco, as Alex has also produced building instructions for his alternate design. See more at both the Eurobricks forum and Bricksafe, plus you can also click here to watch a video of Alex’s Bronco B-Model in action.

Half-a-B

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What’s half a B? A D? Whatever it is, that’s what we have here today, in the shape of the excellent Technic bulldozer by Flickr’s Dyens Creations, who has constructed it only from the parts found within LEGO Technic 42175 Volvo FMX Truck & EC230 Electric Excavator set, specifically the pieces used to build the EC230 excavator.

An array of working functions feature, and the bulldozer can still fit onto the Volvo FMX’s trailer, for which the pieces – and those of the truck pulling it – remain unused. There’s lots more of Dyen’s half-a-B-Model to see at his ‘LEGO 42175 – Heavy Duty Excavator’ album, and you can swap your digging for dozing via the link in the text above.

My Other Car’s a G-Wagen

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In the vehicular arms-race raging around TLCB Towers, a normal SUV is no longer enough. Range Rovers, new Defenders, and G-Wagens (all in black of course) appear to be the minimum entry requirements, and thus we’re convinced it won’t be long before little Isabella is picked up from her private school in an actual tank. Painted black.

Or one of these…

The Hummer H1 was the ‘civilian’ version of the military HMMWV ‘Humvee’, designed to appeal to those convinced that civil war will start any day now, and they must protect themselves, and their family.

Constructed solely from the parts from the official LEGO Technic 42177 Mercedes-Benz G 500 set, Eric Trax’s brilliant Hummer H1 B-Model captures the outrageousness of the real deal wonderfully in brick form.

Using around 2,500 pieces (86%) of the original set, Eric’s H1 features four-wheel-drive with a centre locking differential, a V8 piston engine under an opening hood, HOG steering, a high/low gearbox, independent suspension, plus opening and locking doors and a dropping tailgate.

Presented as beautifully as it’s been made, there’s more to see of Eric’s fantastic 42177 alternate at his ‘Hummer H1 – Lego 42177 Model B’ album on Flickr and via the video below, where you can also find a link to building instructions.

Convert your Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen into a Hummer H1 via the link above, and win the SUV arms race once and for all! Unless Isabella’s Mom gets that tank…

YouTube Video

My Other Car’s a Ford

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We suspect that most Ford owners, given the option, would swap their car for a Lamborghini. Unless the Ford was a GT maybe. However if you own LEGO’s Technic 42154 Ford GT, you can make the probable trade-down to a Lamborghini in the form of this excellent Huracan RWD B-Model.

Built only from the parts from the 42154 Ford GT set, newcomer Marvelous Bricks has equipped his Huracan alternate with a working V10 engine and steering, plus opening doors and engine cover.

Building instructions are available and there’s more to see on Eurobricks; take a look via the link above and turn your Ford into a Lamborghini. Now if only someone could do the same thing with a 1998 Fiesta…