BrickList: The Technic Super Cars: A History & Comparison
The Technic Super Cars: A History & Comparison
The features of the Technic Super Cars from introduction to present (covering 1977 to 2011). This list is intended to hilight the features that made each set unique, and to illustrate how the line has evolved over the years. It's also geared more toward the technical features, so the Ferarri Racers and several other similar vehicles are excluded as they are more about form than function.
Created by ra226. Last updated on 18 Oct 2012.
1. 853: Car Chassis
Features:
- Inline 4 Cylinder Engine with Moving Pistons
- Rack & Pinion Steering
- 2 Speed Gear Box
- Movable Seats
The first of what was to become a great legacy, the classic Car Chassis was introduced in 1977 as part of Lego's brand new Technic line. This model pre-dates many parts we now take for granted including the steering linkage and engine cylinder blocks--in this set, these components are pure, old-school Technic plates, axles, and bushings.
While it lacks a differential, this model remains a favorite of many, known for its easy customization and innovative use of the very limited parts selection of that period.
| 853-1 |
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4.6
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500 members own this set | 235 members want this set |
2. 8860: Car Chassis
Features:
- Flat 4 Cylinder Engine with Moving Pistons and Belt-driven Fan
- Rack & Pinion Steering
- 3 Speed Gear Box
- Rear Differential
- Rear Suspension
- Movable Seats, with Ratcheting Tilt
Introduced in 1980, only three years after the original, the new Car Chassis introduced several improvements including suspension and a differential. Again, the engine and steering are entirely brick-built as the parts simply hadn't been invented yet.
| 8860-1 |
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4.7
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1232 members own this set | 257 members want this set |
3. 8865: Test Car
Features:
- V-4 Engine with Moving Pistons
- Rack & Pinion Steering
- 3 Speed + Neutral Gear Box
- Rear Differential
- Front & Rear Suspension
- Pop-up Headlights
- Movable Seats
- Body Styling
1988's offering was the first to include a rudimentary effort at body styling, but there were still plenty of great features under that shell, too. The 3 Speed + Neutral gear box was the most advanced yet, we got pop-up headlights, and we finally got full front and rear suspension. The introduction of the steering linkage, among other parts, helped make this possible.
| 8865-1 |
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4.1
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1114 members own this set | 307 members want this set |
4. 8880: Super Car
Features:
- V-8 Engine with Moving Pistons and Chain Drive
- 4-Wheel Drive
- Front, Rear, and Mid Differentials
- 4-Wheel Rack & Pinion Steering
- 4 Speed Gear Box
- Front & Rear Suspension
- Pop-up Headlights
- Body Styling
- Hinged Engine Hatch
The Super Car released in 1994 was what many consider the best Super Car of all time, even over the newer models. This model represents a definite leap in design from the 6 years prior. The brand new clutch parts enable a more compact and functional 4-speed gear box, and the piston/cylinder blocks allow for a V-8 engine small enough to fit in the same space the previous model's V-4 required. As if these weren't enough, for the first time, we got 4 Wheel Drive and 4 Wheel Steering. No Super Car had ever had this many features packed into a single frame (and arguably none have since).
8880-1
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4.7
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1720 members own this set | 770 members want this set |
5. 8448: Super Street Sensation
Features:
- V-8 Engine with Moving Pistons
- Rack & Pinion Steering
- Rear Differential
- 5 Speed + Reverse Gear Box
- Front & Rear Suspension
- Detailed Body Styling
- Optional Gull Wing doors with Hinged Trunk or Convertible
In 1999, Lego changed directions with the Super Car line. While the '94 Super Car was more feature-packed than ever, it still looked primitive and blocky. The major innovations this year were the introduction of studless technic beams, flexible axles, and paneling. The result is a much more streamlined model which looks distinctly modern compared to the Super Car from just 5 years before (though 4WD and 4WS are no longer present). Aside from the body work, most of the changes are evolutionary. The new gear box is based on the same technology in the previous model albeit expanded to add a 5th gear and Reverse.
Also introduced with this Super Car was a modular building system where you'd open numbered bags and build one section at a time from those parts. Towards the end of the build, you were given options for a convertible hard top or gull wing doors (both of which used the new damper piston to soften the movement).
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8448-1
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4.5
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1038 members own this set | 667 members want this set |
6. 8070: Super Car
Features:
- V-8 Engine with Moving Pistons
- Integrated "Power Functions" Electric Motor
- Electric Doors, Hood, & Spoiler (controlled via Gear Box)
- Rear Differential
- Front & Rear Suspension
- Detailed Body Styling
The latest super car, from 2011, continues on the same course as the previous one, trading technical functionality for styling and other interesting features. Notably missing are a gear box transmission and a connection between the steering and the wheel on the dash (on this model, the dash is decorative and steering is via a knob at the back of the car). While it does have a gear box similar to the previous model, it puts it to completely different use, directing the electric motor power to the doors, hood, and spoiler. The body styling has evolved to look even more realistic with even more curves.
This Super Car also represents the first time the electric system was included in the package (the previous Super Cars had instructions to integrate a motor accessory purchased separately).
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8070-1
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4.5
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2325 members own this set | 892 members want this set |
