The LEGO Technic building system has been around since 1977, and to celebrate its 40th anniversary, LEGO has been adding a special printed 40th anniversary piece to all the LEGO Technic sets released this year. In addition, LEGO came out with a really sweet video (watch below), highlighting some of the iconic LEGO Technic sets of the last four decades. While times may have changed, LEGO Technic sets continue to remain favorites with LEGO fans who are looking for advanced models and a challenging building experience.
The 40 years anniversary LEGO Technic video starts all the way back in 1977, with the #853 LEGO Technic Car Chassis. This set may look crude by today’s standards, but in its time, it was quite revolutionary. Three years later, an improved version of the set was released in the form of the #8860 LEGO Technic Car Chassis, with a 4-cylynder reciprocating engine, 3-speed transmission, working rear differential, working rear suspension, functioning steering, and sophisticated reclining seats.
The next set highlighted in the video is the #8851 LEGO Technic Excavator from 1984. Functioning work vehicles have been a staple in the LEGO Technic line from the early years. Notice the iconic yellow and black stripe at the edge of the instruction pages. Then, we are transported to 1996 to remember the very advanced #8480 LEGO Technic Space Shuttle with a 9v electric system and fiber optic cables. The year 2007 brings another motorized set in the form of the #8275 LEGO Technic Motorized Bulldozer. And finally we are in 2017 with both father and son building their own copy of the #42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS (which was actually released in 2016, and does not include the 40th anniversary LEGO Technic piece, but is still a great set). Nice video, isn’t it? I like how it also pays attention to the type of music, music player, home decor, clothing and hairstyles and all the other little details from the different eras.
While the #42056 LEGO Technic Porsche 911 GT3 RS may not be an actual LEGO Technic 40th anniversary set, there are some great sets released this year as well, including the special printed 40th anniversary LEGO Technic pieces. We already talked about most of these sets before (see links at the end of this post), including the #42063 LEGO Technic BMW R 1200 GS Adventure, the #42064 LEGO Technic Ocean Explorer, the #42066 LEGO Technic Air Race Jet, and the #42070 LEGO Technic 6×6 All Terrain Tow Truck – just to name a few. You can find them all under the LEGO Technic section of the Online LEGO Shop.
Also, as we discussed previously (see: LEGO Technic 40th Anniversary Model), LEGO released instructions for an updated version #8860 LEGO Technic Car Chassis from 1980. This is a combo-model, using parts from three recently released LEGO Technic sets; the #42057 LEGO Technic Ultralight Helicopter, the #42061 LEGO Technic Telehandler, and the #42063 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure motorcycle. If you would like to build the 40th anniversary LEGO Technic set, you can go the LEGO building instructions download page, and type in the set number of any of the three sets the combo-model is made of: #42057 LEGO Technic Ultralight Helicopter, #42061 LEGO Technic Telehandler, or #42063 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure. The instructions for the combo-model will be included as one of the downloadable PDF files for any of those sets. And if you don’t have the 2017 LEGO Technic sets yet, you can find them under the LEGO Technic section of the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? How do you like the LEGO Technic 40th anniversary video? Are there any other interesting details you noticed? Do you have any of the 40th anniversary LEGO Technic sets yet, or are you planning to get them? Which one is your favorite? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below!
And you might also like to check out the following related posts:
Great video! They could do something similar with several themes. I would like to see one for castle, space, creator, etc. I’m surprised they didn’t release something truly great for the 40th anniversary.
I have heard other Technic fans mention that the 40th anniversary could have gotten a more memorable set. I imagine the Excavator would have been a good one! 😀
Ha ha! This is really well done! I like the changes in the music too!
I would like Lego to revisit that Space Shuttle in Technic!
Ohhh! I would love that too!
Hmmm, clever trick to give your son there, something you really like yourself…
My big brother was born i 1973, so around the late 70’s-early 80’s he got a lot of different Old School Technic sets on various holidays . I should try them out sometimes, New School studless beam building could be hard to warp your head across…