Carry on Camping

May 12, 2016, 4:00 pm

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LEGO might have launched their own (and thoroughly good) Volkswagen camper, but that doesn’t stop you guys from having a go too. Senator Chinchilla has done just that, and although his VW Transporter camper takes many cues from the licensed 10220 set, he’s able ramp the detail up far beyond that of an official LEGO product. The biggest change is at the front – which is gloriously intricate when compared to the simplicity of LEGO’s – and it looks superb. There’s lots more to see at Senator’s photostream – click the link above to smell the bong-water.

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Put a Tiger in Your Tank

May 24, 2016, 4:01 pm

≫ Next: MEDIC!!

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This gorgeous replica of Volkswagen’s classic T1 Transporter comes from TLCB favourite and previous bloggee Andrea Lattanzio aka Norton74. The latest version in his line of classic Volkwagens, Andrea’s newest build depicts the iconic van in an unusual 1950s canvas pick-up specification, and it looks absolutely wonderful. Complete with an Esso oil barrel load and some superb exterior decals it’s one of the most realistic models that we’ve found this year. We highly recommend further viewing via Andrea’s Flickr photostream – put a tiger in your tank at the link above.

MEDIC!!

May 31, 2016, 4:01 pm

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“Medic!!”, is a cry that can often be heard screamed in Elvish across the TLCB executive editorial penthouse. Our research team enjoy every possible opportunity to smush each other into the deep shag carpet. Well, we assume that’s what they’re shouting. To be honest we’re a monoglot lot and haven’t a clue what they’re saying. We tend to conduct negotiations with our crew in terms of the carrot and stick (Mr. Airhorn and Smarties).

If Elvish paramedics were to respond to the call, they’d do well to turn up something like this vintage VW Splitscreen Barndoor Ambulance from redfern1950s on Flickr. Included in its description are details of how these vehicles differed from the minibuses from which they were converted. Redfern’s photostream is well worth a visit. It also contains fire engine, pick-up and hearse versions of this classic vehicle, plus his interpretation of Colin Furze’s hoverbike.

Volksrods

June 10, 2016, 4:00 pm

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Everyone here at The Lego Car Blog enjoys a good hotrod*, so we were charmed by this pair from Tim Henderson on Flickr. Both cars use the ready-made LEGO car nose, angled to get the look of Volkswagen’s classic Beetle. The thing that really grabbed our attention are the nicely greebled engines, which are different for each car. Click this link to see more details in their Flickr album.

*Yes, and so does your Mom.

Creator Volkswagen Beetle 10252 – Set Preview

June 14, 2016, 4:00 pm

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We find it a bit odd that Adolf Hitler’s car for the people became such a hit with peace loving hippy surfer types, but nevertheless if there’s one brand synonymous with surf culture, it’s Volkswagen. LEGO’s partnership with Volkswagen has been a fruitful one too, with the excellent T1 Camper and their previous 10187 Beetle being highlights of their licensing programme.

LEGO had decided to continue this affinity with Volkswagen with their newest Creator release, this superb surf-ready 1960s Beetle. Aimed at ages 16+ 10252 contains 1,167 pieces, including a printed VW logo brick, new fender parts and a new windshield, and features a detailed flat-4 engine, interior, surfboard and cool-box.

We expect the 10252 Volkswagen Beetle set to cost around $100/£70 when it reaches stores in August, and it looks like a sure fire hit!

Dubs in Space

July 20, 2016, 4:21 pm

≫ Next: Honey, I shrunk the Volkswagen!

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Dude, we could like, totally go to outta space! This far-out space Beetle and Camper pairing arrive courtesy of Flickr’s Priovit70. Drink the bong water via the links above to go on the trip of a lifetime!*

*Don’t do drugs kids. But do click.

Honey, I shrunk the Volkswagen!

August 29, 2016, 11:48 am

≫ Next: A Bunny Rabbit… With Spiky Teeth

≪ Previous: Dubs in Space

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LEGO’s 10220 Volkswagen T1 Camper set is a firm favourite with builders and TLCB staff alike. Suggested by a reader, xin zhao‘s 10-wide version looks like the official set was put on too hot a wash, yet it’s much more than simply a small-scale version of LEGO’s own VW. Underneath the famous microbus bodywork is a full remote control drivetrain, with an L Motor for drive, Servo steering, an infrared receiver and a battery box – all cunningly concealed inside where you’d usually expect to find a collection of tie-die garments and some medicinal herbs. There’s more to see on MOCpages – click the link above to make the trip.

A Bunny Rabbit… With Spiky Teeth

September 11, 2016, 3:21 am

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Volkswagen’s Golf GTI (or ‘Rabbit’ in the ‘States) was not the first hot hatchback. For that you need to go back a few years to the Chrysler/Talbot/Simca/Lotus Sunbeam (car manufacturer takeovers in ’70s were very complicated!). However it was the first to popularise the formula, and in doing so it nearly killed off the traditional sports car – at least until Mazda reinvigorated it a decade and a half later.

Launched in 1975 and powered by a fuel injected 1.6 litre engine with 110bhp, and later a 1.8 with a little more, the GTI was more than a match for the traditional sports cars of the day. And you could get five people on board. And they wouldn’t get wet if it rained.

This brilliant little Lego version of the iconic classic hot hatch is the work of serial bloggee Ralph Savelsberg aka Mad Physicist, and there’s more to see at his photostream on Flickr via the link above.

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Big Beetle

December 2, 2016, 8:43 am

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Certified LEGO Professional Ryan McNaught is a veteran of these pages with his incredible (and massive) commissioned creations. This is his latest, designed and built by a team of three builders and containing almost 24,000 LEGO pieces, Ryan’s Volkswagen Beetle (complete with a brick-built oil leak!) took nearly 100 hours to construct.

The build pays homage not only to Volkswagen’s iconic People’s Car (the most produced car in automotive history with over 21 million made) but also to the official LEGO Volkswagen Beetle set of 2008, a product which paved the way for the hugely successful authorised manufacturer partnerships that LEGO fans are benefitting from today.

There’s more of this spectacularly impressive build to see at Ryan’s Flickr photostream, where you can also find a link to his website and previous works.

Blue Bug

January 8, 2017, 3:52 am

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We’re not really fans of VW’s ‘new’ Beetles. Volkswagen are on their second ‘new’ Beetle, yet despite beating both the new Mini and the new Fiat 500 to the market for retro compact cars, the bug seems to lack the charm and fun of either of them.

No matter, because car-building legend Firas Abu-Jaber has brought the fun back with this brilliant GRC-bodykitted 2017 Beetle, made almost entirely from the pieces found within the official 10252 VW Beetle Creator set.

There’s more to see of the 2017 GRC Beetle on both Flickr and MOCpages, and you can read Firas’ interview with us here at TLCB by clicking here.

Space Surf

February 12, 2017, 2:41 pm

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If we were a smiling Classic Spaceman, heading for the space beach to catch some space waves, this is the space buggy we’d like to go in. Billyburg is the builder, and there’s more to see of his lovely VW-esque lunar buggy here.

Insert Peugeot Here

February 22, 2017, 8:29 am

≫ Next: Volkswagen Golf GTI | Picture Special

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This neat Town-scale Volkswagen Crafter flatbed recovery truck comes courtesy of Сергей Антохин of Flickr, and it’s only missing a broken Peugeot for maximum realism. Click the link above to see all the images.

Volkswagen Golf GTI | Picture Special

May 17, 2017, 2:21 am

≫ Next: Go West

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The Volkswagen Golf GTI is one of the all-time great hot hatchbacks. Now in it’s seventh generation there have been roughly five good Golf GTIs, and three really good ones. This is one of the really good ones…

Launched in 1976, two years after the Golf first went on sale, the GTI was the product of a few VW engineers having some fun. In a very German way of course, as having some fun meant staying on late at work.

Still, the product of their inventiveness helped to re-write the rules of quick cars. Powered by a fuel-injected 1.6, and then 1.8 litre engine, the Mark 1 Golf GTI was quicker than the contemporary sports cars of the time, it could fit four people in it, and it didn’t leak when it rained.

Now a seriously sought after car, there sadly aren’t many Mark 1 Golf GTIs left, but if you’d like one Damian Plesniak may have the answer.

Featuring a transversely-mounted 4-cylinder engine, accurate McPherson front and twist-beam rear suspension, opening doors, hood, and hatchback with parcel shelf, a detailed interior with a working steering wheel, adjustable seats, and opening glovebox, plus full remote control drive and LED lights, Damian’s Technic Golf GTI is very nearly as well engineered as the real thing.

There are loads more images to see at Damian’s Flickr and Brickshelf albums, and you can read more about the build, as well as watch a video of the Golf GTI in action, at the Eurobricks discussion forum.

Go West

July 24, 2017, 5:36 am

≫ Next: Make Like A Volkswagen…

≪ Previous: Volkswagen Golf GTI | Picture Special

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Come on, come on, come on, come on
(Together) we will go our way
(Together) we will leave someday
(Together) your hand in my hands
(Together) we will make our plans
(Together) we will fly so high
(Together) tell all our friends goodbye
(Together) we will start life new
(Together) this is what we’ll do

life is peaceful there
(Go west) in the open air
(Go west) where the skies are blue
(Go west) this is what we’re gonna do
(Go west, this is what we’re gonna do, go west)

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Songs for Blog Titles continues here at TLCB, and today we have a song covered by this writer’s least favourite band. The Pet Shop Boys’ hateful do-over of Village People’s ‘Go West’ fills this writer with such inner rage that the only outlet he has is to slate the musical travesty in blog that isn’t even topically related. You can suffer too if you like, by watching quite possibly the Worst Music Video Ever Made. Ever.

Right, enough of that despicable ’80s synth-pop, this Volkswagen T3 Westfalia camper comes from TLCB regular Ralph Savelsberg aka Mad Physicist, and it’s absolutely packed with wonderful details. A working high-top roof, sliding rear door and a realistic interior are all included, as are a neat deckchair and cool-box for enjoying in the open air when the skies are blue. Go west in the Westfalia at Ralph’s photostream by clicking here.

Make Like A Volkswagen…

July 25, 2017, 4:01 pm

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…and split. This deeply cool Volkswagen split-screen barn-door camper van complete with canvas extending high-top comes from TLCB regular Redfern. Chrome detailing is in abundance and you can see more at Red’s photostream by clicking here.

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Bug Rod

July 30, 2017, 6:37 am

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≪ Previous: Make Like A Volkswagen…

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There are not many things cooler than a Volkswagen Beetle hot rod. This one comes from Serge S of Flickr, and he’s made instructions available too. Click the link above to see more.

Like a Wheel Within a Wheel

August 31, 2017, 1:00 am

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Round
Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning
On an ever-spinning reel
Like a snowball down a mountain
Or a carnival balloon
Like a carousel that’s turning
Running rings around the moon
Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
Past the minutes of its face
And the world is like an apple
Whirling silently in space
Like the circles that you find
In the windmills of your mind

A couple of Elves got into a supply closet today and knocked over some ultra-strong floor cleaner, so things have got a bit trippy. We’ll open a few windows so that normal service can resume, but in the meantime you can check out Robert Heim‘s ‘VW Kübelkäfer’ on Flickr via the link above. Oh, and here’s today’s title track…

Anti-Hippy

November 3, 2017, 5:28 am

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Dour grey, hard working, utilitarian… not words you’d usually use to describe a 1960s Volkswagen Transporter. Bought as the default vehicle by trendy hippy types looking to be individual (which is gloriously ironic), the VW Type 2 is typically a vibrant and colourful affair used to ferry people to posh festivals.

However this Volkswagen T2 ‘Doka’ by Jonathan Elliott is the very antithesis of the classic Transporter’s normal role in modern Western society, and for that we absolutely love it.

There’s more to see of Jonathan’s 6-wide Volkswagen T2 pick-up at his photostream – click the link above to check it out.

Monster Bug

December 15, 2017, 1:50 pm

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We’re going to need a bigger slipper…

Sariel’s latest creation sure looks tough to squash. Not so our Elves, who are famously easy to smush into the office carpet. It’s been a while since the last Elven flattening, but fear not readers – today Elf-on-Elf violence returned in a big way.

With all-wheel-drive powered by two XL Motors geared for rock-crawling Sariel’s latest build wouldn’t normally be fast enough to claim any victims. Add in a third-party BuWizz battery and bluetooth receiver combo though, and up to eight times more power than LEGO’s own system can be delivered to the motors.

The aggressively low gearing still caps the top speed at a lowly figure mind, but if an Elf were to quietly sneak out of the cage room while its colleagues were seated around the old TV watching Transformers cartoons, and return at the controls of this, there really wouldn’t be much chance of escape.

Sigh. We now have some clearing up to do and a jubilant Elf needs a meal token reward (not for the smushing, just the find), so we’ll hand you over to Sariel’s photostream for all the photos. Click the link to take a look at his monster bug.

Meyers Manx

February 2, 2018, 4:57 am

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Flickr’s Pixel Fox has appeared here several times with his ever-growing assortment of off-road vehicles. His latest are these, a pair of wonderful Meyers Manx beach buggies.

Designed by a Californian boat-builder named Bruce F. Meyers in the 1960s the Manx took a shortened Volkswagen Beetle chassis and running-gear and added a custom glass-fibre body. Around 6,000 Manxes were built between 1965 and ’71 and the design dominated dune racing, despite the lowly Beetle engine power.

The B. F. Meyers & Co. company disbanded in 1971, by which point a wave of imitators had arisen. However the Meyers original is still held as the definition of the beach buggy and after several decades out of production a new Manx company formed in 1999, meaning you can still buy Meyers’ 1965 design today.

Pixel Fox’s lovely mini-figure scale Meyers Manxes capture the real car brilliantly and there’s more to see of the Manx and his other excellent off-road vehicles at his photostream via the link above.