1969 pony car is now part of the Lego Icons series. Customizable Chevrolet Camaro set has 1,458 parts and can be yours for $169 starting on August 1st
Young or old, all Lego fans have surely seen its latest car sets by now. From the Bugatti Chiron to the Mini Cooper, the Danish toymaker has ventured into the automotive world many times. Judging by how often they go out of stock, we can say that people are, indeed, appreciating those sets as they deserve. On the other hand, we must observe that Lego is entering a world where people are very hard to please.
These sets use plastic bricks and most of them are generic enough to go on totally different applications. As a result, it is impossible to achieve much in terms of realism; some cars actually look downright weird. The thing is, the toymaker is proving itself more persistent than we would think. While competing among model car manufacturers would be unfair, this article’s Camaro puts it in quite an interesting position.
What is the Camaro Z/28?
Chevrolet created the whole model to fight the Ford Mustang, which had become an immediate success. The Corvair already had a sporty variation, named Monza, but its rear-engine layout significantly limited part sharing with other GM cars. The company ultimately decided to build a whole new platform for both the Camaro and its Pontiac sibling, the Firebird. Both had highly positive feedback from the beginning.
The Z/28 equipment package appeared in late 1966. Its most significant difference was introducing a 302 cu in (4.9L) V8 engine which GM originally designed to compete in the Trans-Am racing series. While that did not make it a typical homologation special, it did increase the hype around the Camaro. The package also brought better brakes, suspension and transmission, and could use flashy racing stripes on the body.
Since the Camaro Z/28 had a connection with the Trans-Am racing car, Chevrolet gave it small upgrades over time. In 1968, it moved from a low-selling car focused on track use to something more accessible to everyone and had a unique event in the way. In 1969, it received an optional system of disc brakes on all wheels. It was so expensive that it only sold 206 units. Lego chose these ones as inspiration for its set.
Tell me about the Lego Icons set
While the Technic series focuses on engineering details, Icons aims to impress. The car’s cabin and engine are beautiful and accurate, and you can open and close the doors and operate the steering wheel. On the outside, you can customize the racing stripes, the license plate, the headlights, and even the roof. Yes, you can enjoy a classic coupé or your own convertible Z/28 – remember the story about the real-life model?
Now, we know that the main enjoyment in a Lego set comes from assembling it. However, have you seen how good the whole thing looks? It is easy to see the shapes of each plastic brick, but all the surfaces are smooth and detailed. There are trim parts above the windshield and behind the seats, so as to simulate a retracted fabric roof. The Z/28 does not expose many of the typical plugs to attach another Lego brick.
The best way to conclude this text is by quoting Lego designer Sven Franic. “With its classic lines and sleek design, the 1969 Camaro Z/28 is unrivalled in its elegance – which is why it was such a wonderful inspiration for this LEGO design. By building this set, you can envision yourself at the wheel, and all but feel the rumble of the engine taking you down an open road.” It will go on sale on August 1st.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are! You can use red, gray or white racing stripes. The headlights can be regular or hidden, just like in the real-life car. And you can remove the top to make it a convertible!
1,458 parts.
It is 3.5 in. (10 cm) high, 14 in. (36 cm) long and 5.5 in. (14 cm) wide.
You can open hood, doors and trunk lid, and you can operate the steering wheel.
The racing stripes (there are three color options), the headlights (regular or hidden), and the roof (coupé hardtop or convertible design with a retracted fabric top).
Danillo Almeida has explored his passion for cars in two distinct ways. The first one is his graduation course in Mechanical Engineering, which will hopefully lead to a job position in the field. The other one is expressing his knowledge and opinions on the matter through writing. Almeida has already contributed to blogs, stores, and websites in general writing automotive content in many formats.
