The latest LEGO Ideas set, a LEGO Caterham Seven 620R sports cars, will get its first public ‘drive out’ at BRICKLIVE, held at The NEC, Birmingham from 27th to 30th October. Designed by Carl Greatrix, the original model is to sit beside the full sized Caterham the set is based on, with an appearance by Carl over the weekend.
Originally submitted by AFOL Carl to the LEGO Ideas platform, in which fans can submit their ideas for new LEGO sets, the sports car gained the requisite 10,000 votes and the LEGO Ideas Review team selected the 620R to go into production.
Carl never envisaged his model becoming a set until he revealed his build at the first ever BRICKLIVE in 2014. “I’d built this model purely as a fan of LEGO,” explains Carl. “But when other fans saw it at the show, they wanted to know if they could buy one. I looked at the design and how it would need to be adapted to be a set, hoping one wouldn’t compromise the other – which it didn’t. Two days later, I entered it onto the LEGO Ideas site and now two years later, I have the set in my hand, ready to take home and build.”
LEGO has stayed true to Carl’s design, keeping most of the elements exactly how Carl created them because they were designed so well to start with. “It’s a real compliment and to see the final product is a dream come true.”
Resplendent in Caterham’s typically garish yellow, the set consists of over 770 pieces, including a replica 620R engine and gear stick. The LEGO Caterham stands 10cm tall and 28cm long. Other unique features which may cause fans to blow a gasket include a removable nose cone and engine cover, steering wheel, opening boot, and functioning axle stands which allow the wheels to be removed.
Caterham Chief Commercial Officer, David Ridley, said: “Caterham has always prided itself on producing bespoke, hand-built cars for its customers. Our army of fans who build their own Caterham Sevens are equally discerning when it comes to the detail and craftsmanship which is central to Caterham, and we worked closely with the LEGO team to ensure the LEGO model replicated that.
“The LEGO 620R has various unique features – the intricately-designed engine was certainly a surprise when we lifted the bonnet for the first time. It’s really satisfying to know that fans can recreate and build their own 620R with LEGO bricks.”
The Caterham LEGO 620R will be available to buy from October 1st, priced £69, and will be available from the Toys ‘R’ Us superstore at BRICKLIVE, with Carl available for signings on Saturday and Sunday.
BRICKLIVE will be held from Thursday 27th to Sunday 30th October. General admission tickets are £20 or upgrade to a Premium ticket for £35.
