More Porschery

March 28, 2012, 12:20 pm

≫ Next: McQueen’s Motor

$

0

0

The coolest racing sponsorship ever? Discuss.

Malte Dorowski is possibly the best vehicle builder in the Lego Community today. His work offers a level of detail that we’d just not seen in bricks before, and his latest racing car is no exception. One of several Malte-MOCs we’ve featured here at The Lego Car Blog, and belonging to the Classic Race Teams Group on MOCpages we featured earlier in the year, his Porsche 935/76 Turbo is one of the most beautiful creations the Elves have found thus far. Models like this are why The Lego Car Blog exists in fact. You can view all the details of this creation on MOCpages – it’s worth a click.

---

McQueen’s Motor

September 15, 2012, 2:04 pm

≫ Next: Porsche Beater

≪ Previous: More Porschery

$

0

0

Malte Dorowski (or Mr. Porsche as we know him) returns with another incredible build. This 1970 Porsche 908/02 was raced by Steve McQueen at the 12 hours of Sebring, where it finished second. McQueen also used it as a camera car in his film ‘Le Mans’, based on the real event. The full gallery of pictures are available on both Flickr and MOCpages.

Porsche Beater

February 3, 2013, 2:07 am

≫ Next: Gulf-Porsche Racing

≪ Previous: McQueen’s Motor

$

0

0

Nissan GTP ZX Turbo

We’ve featured a lot of Porsches here at The Lego Car Blog. They’re a popular choice for Lego builders, and why not? After all, they are the most successful sports car racing brand of all time. Occasionally though, another company comes along and displaces them from the top. Currently Audi are said manufacturer, but back in the late eighties it was Nissan, with their incredible ZX Turbo. bobalexander! has recreated the iconic race car with a bucketload of blue Lego. See the whole gallery on Flickr.

Gulf-Porsche Racing

May 14, 2013, 8:14 am

≫ Next: Bolt of Blue

≪ Previous: Porsche Beater

$

0

0

One of our favourite racing car builders- bobalexander!- is back, with this simply magnificent 1970 Gulf-Porsche 917. Powered by a monstrous flat-12 engine the 917 was capable of over 240mph, but with limited aerodynamic knowledge (this was the early ’70s) it was also notoriously difficult to drive. Despite the handling issues the 917 has become one of the most legendary racing cars ever built, and in the most famous Gulf Racing livery it might be the best looking one too. See more of Bob’s incredible Model Team version on Flickr.

Bolt of Blue

May 17, 2013, 10:17 am

≫ Next: Rising Sun Racers

≪ Previous: Gulf-Porsche Racing

$

0

0

Small car master Angka Utama returns with a tiny Nissan GTP Le Mans racer. See more at Angka’s photostream in the link.

Rising Sun Racers

June 27, 2013, 7:54 am

≫ Next: Prius at the Gym

≪ Previous: Bolt of Blue

$

0

0

Our two most recent ‘Featured TFOLs’ – Harry Gravett and Alexander Paschoaletto – recently challenged one another to a classic Le Mans face-off on MOCpages. The Lego Car Blog Elves pay attention to stuff like this, as it’s an easy meal token, so without further ado, we bring you their face-off entries.

On the left is Harry’s Toyota GT-One, whilst on the right we see Alexander’s Mazda 787B. Find out who wins on MOCpages, as we still haven’t decided our favourite!

Prius at the Gym

August 17, 2013, 4:35 pm

≫ Next: Ferrari Genesis

≪ Previous: Rising Sun Racers

$

0

0

Hybrids, so long a favourite of tree hugging hippy types, are starting to get cool. Porsche’s 918, Ferrari’s LaFerrari, McLaren’s P1 and modern Formula 1 cars are changing the perception of what a hybrid can do. Toyota, one of the first to make hybrid technology work in the real world, took their TS030 hybrid racer to Le Mans this year, finishing second to a hybrid Audi.

Brought to our attention via the Submission Suggestions page, Lego Builder Jr. has recreated the podium scoring Toyota on MOCpages and Flickr in its early red and white livery. See more via the links above, and if you’re still in doubt that hybrid can be cool, take a listen to this.

Ferrari Genesis

January 25, 2014, 12:22 pm

≫ Next: Le Mans Special

≪ Previous: Prius at the Gym

$

0

0

This is the latest work of racing car genius Bob Alexander and it is, put simply, the most utterly beautiful Lego car we’ve ever seen.

First built in 1931, the Alfa Romeo 8C spearheaded the Italians’ assault on all of the major motor races of the 1930s. Bob’s incredible Lego recreation shown here is the 2600 Scuderia Ferrari version from 1933, driven by Italy’s Tazio Nuvolari and France’s Raymond Sommer. In their hands the 8C won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in ’33, adding a third consecutive Le Mans win to Alfa’s trophy cabinet.

The 8C continued to star in Europe’s motor races until 1938, when the outbreak of war halted everything, and pitched previously collaborative nations, including the winning pair of drivers from 1933, against each another in combat.

You may be wondering why there’s a Ferrari shield on the side of the 8C. Well Enzo Ferrari started out by running racing cars for existing manufacturers like Alfa Romeo before deciding to build his own cars after the Second World War. If you want to see where it all started for Ferrari, this car is that moment.

The Alfa Romeo 8C is therefore one of the most special racing cars ever made, and Bob’s astonishing Lego recreation is a wonderfully fitting tribute to one of the world’s greats. See all the photos on Flickr via the link above.

---

Le Mans Special

December 1, 2014, 4:55 pm

≫ Next: Winning Wankel

≪ Previous: Ferrari Genesis

$

0

0

It’s that time of year again! Yes Christmassy snow might be falling here at TLCB* but the big news is that the amazing Henrik Hoexbroe has released his annual ‘Mega MOC’ for 2014!

Henrik’s past works have included a brilliant 1950s Town scene and an astonishing Citroen 2CV factory. This time though, he’s gone racing! (Making 2014 our favourite Mega MOC so far.)

Featuring 15 liveried racing cars, another 10 assorted racetrack vehicles and 100 mini-figures, Henrik has recreated the world famous Le Mans 24 Hour race in beautiful detail. He’s timed it well too, as Toyota have just wrapped up the 2014 World Endurance Championship (of which Le Mans is the star event).

Henrik’s pit-straight scene leaves out the championship winning Toyota TS040 and its mighty fellow LMP1 prototype racers in lieu of the more recognisable stuff that makes up the bulk of the Le Mans field; the GT Pro and GT Am classes, including cars from Porsche, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Chevrolet.

What we like best is that – whilst we do admire creations of incredible intricacy and fragile realism – Henrik’s scene is constructed in a robust mini-figure friendly way, and looks like it could happily survive a child’s hands without too much damage. And that, surely, is what LEGO is all about.

You can see more of Henrik’s fantastic Le Mans scene, including close ups of all the racing cars and other vehicles, on both MOCpages and Flickr. It’s well worth your click.

*Unless you’re reading this via the Archives or from Google, in which case why weren’t here sooner?! Sign up to TLCB using the subscribe button at the foot of the page and you’ll receive timely updates for free.

Winning Wankel

January 20, 2015, 10:57 am

≫ Next: R10

≪ Previous: Le Mans Special

$

0

0

In the Le Mans 24 Hours of 1991 something rather remarkable happened. A car without a reciprocating engine not only finished the endurance feat, but won it. The car was of course Mazda’s incredible 787B, powered by a brilliant 900bhp 4-rotor Wankel rotary engine, and driven by Johnny Herbert, Betrand Gachot and Volker Weildler.

No other car without a reciprocating engine has since repeated this feat, and nor has any other Japanese car claimed outright victory at Le Mans.

This beautiful recreation of one endurance racing’s greatest legends is the work of Bob Alexander, and you can see more of his Model Team Mazda 787B at his photostream by clicking the link above.

R10

January 26, 2015, 4:19 pm

≫ Next: A Quick Drink

≪ Previous: Winning Wankel

$

0

0

Audi have been the dominant force in endurance racing since forever, and long before diesel and hybrid power became their propulsion of choice they used this, the mighty open-cockpit R10 LMS. Malte Dorowski built this Lego version years ago too, but it’s just appeared on Flickr and thus it can appear here too. See more after the jump.

A Quick Drink

February 23, 2015, 2:52 pm

≫ Next: 24 Heures du Mans

≪ Previous: R10

$

0

0

Le Mans, probably the greatest motor race in the world, is better than ever this year. Alongside the ubiquitous Audis in LMP1 there’ll be Toyota, Nissan and Porsche, all running hybrids in a huge variety of configurations. Formula 1 take note; giving manufacturers the freedom to innovate in line with their own skills is what creates great racing. Whereas forcing everyone to make exactly the same car with a different paint scheme blows goats.

Anyway, Porsche’s current challenger features a tiny flat-4 turbo in conjunction with some very tricksy electrical witchcraft. It’s a very different beast to the car that Porsche are probably most famous for; the monstrous 1970s flat-12 powered 917.

The brilliant 917 above is the work of Flickr’s Manuel Cara, who has recreated the car that took the 1971 Le Mans overall victory in stunning detail, including the iconic Martini livery. The full gallery is well worth a look – you can see all the images of Manuel’s beautiful Martini-Racing 917 on Flickr via the link above.

24 Heures du Mans

April 27, 2015, 3:08 pm

≫ Next: 24 Heures du Mans (Partie Deux)

≪ Previous: A Quick Drink

$

0

0

This mighty-looking Technic LMP1 endurance racer was discovered on Eurobricks by one of our happy little helpers. It the work of bj51 and it’s packed full of Technic functions. These include all-wheel independent suspension, a working V8 engine, steering and transmission. There’s lots more to see at the Eurobricks discussion forum or at bj51’s website, and you can read our review of the offical Technic endurance racer set by clicking here.

24 Heures du Mans (Partie Deux)

May 2, 2015, 2:57 am

≫ Next: A Quick Drink

≪ Previous: 24 Heures du Mans

$

0

0

French made, French raced, Technic LMP1 cars are like buses…

The second LMP1 car to appear here this week arrived courtesy of a reader via the Feedback and Submission Suggestions page. It comes from previous bloggee Nico71, and it is – as you can see – gorgeous. Underneath the swoopy prototype-class bodywork sits a fully functioning chassis complete with authentic double-wishbone push-rod suspension, a working V8 engine, steering, and opening doors and engine cover.

At the time of writing Nico’s Technic LMP1 racer isn’t present at any of our Elves’ usual haunts, but fortunately it is available at Nico’s own (and excellent) website, where there is also a huge gallery of detailed photos with instructions to come. For all the details click on these blue words to visit Nico’s website.

A Quick Drink

August 8, 2015, 2:42 am

≫ Next: Flunder

≪ Previous: 24 Heures du Mans (Partie Deux)

$

0

0

The 24 Heures de Mans has finally been won by someone other than Audi. Porsche, in their second Le Mans since returning last year, claimed an amazing outright victory in 2015. Of course, Audi still kind of won as the two brands are effectively the same company – following VW’s recent take-over to continue their plans for world domination – but it was nice nevertheless.

Back when Porsche were an independent auto-maker though, they were even more successful, largely thanks to this – the awesome 917. This particular car, raced by Martini Racing and driven by Helmut Marko and Gijs Van Lennep, won Le Mans outright in 1971.

The Lego recreation shown here is the work of prolific race-car builder Greg 998, and it includes a wonderfully detailed chassis, cockpit and engine, as well as the brilliant custom-decalled exterior pictured above. You can see more of the 917 and Greg’s other racing cars on MOCpages at the link above.

---

Flunder

September 21, 2015, 10:55 am

≫ Next: Streaky Bacon

≪ Previous: A Quick Drink

$

0

0

With the news today that the Volkswagen Group has made a spectacular blunder the Elves were duly sent out to find a MOC that we could relate to the story. Unfortunately the Elves are idiots, so this 1970 Porsche 908/02 ‘Flunder’ is as close as they got. Still, it’s only one letter away and to be fair to them here at TLCB Towers they do hear a lot of words beginning with ‘F’…

Anyway, back to Volkswagen. Today’s news that the company have rigged the NOX emissions of their diesel vehicles in order to bypass air quality laws is one heck of a blunder. Actually, it’s not even a blunder. It’s a thoroughly despicable, bordering on evil, business decision to put profit ahead of peoples’ well-being. The NOX levels emitted by the affected Volkswagen Group vehicles are up to 40 times the legal limit, directly damaging the lung tissue of those that breathe it, and causing a variety of respiratory diseases and even biological mutations. Yup, we’re going to stick with ‘evil’.*

So far Porsche, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, are unaffected by the scandal – although only because they don’t yet use the group’s 4-cylinder diesel engines.

The glorious 1970 Porsche 908/02 ‘Flunder’ pictured above comes from a time when emissions could legally be quietly ignored, being powered by a three-litre flat-8 engine making just under 400bhp (and it still emitted less NOX than a modern VW diesel). The 908 raced alongside the bigger 917, being favoured on twisty tracks where the 917 was too cumbersome, and the example above raced at Le Mans in 1970 in the hands of Rudi Lins and Helmut Marko.

Previous bloggee Greg 998 is the builder and you can see more of his beautiful 908 on both MOCpages and Flickr.

*TLCB – somewhat unbelievably – predicted this back in March(!). We’re still awaiting a call requesting our services from the investigators at the Environmental Protection Agency. We’re sure it’ll be any day now…

Streaky Bacon

December 5, 2015, 10:26 am

≫ Next: Nismo Is No More

≪ Previous: Flunder

$

0

0

This stripy porker comes from TLCB favourite Greg998, who has added another gorgeous classic racing car to his already impressive stable.

His latest model is a recreation of one of the most successful (and dangerous) endurance racers of the 1970s; the incredible Porsche 917. This example was driven by Herrmann and Atwood for Porsche Salzburg in 1970, giving Porsche their first ever overall Le Mans victory.

Beautifully built and decaled, you can see more of Greg’s stunning Porsche on Flickr – click here to make the jump to his epic photostream.

Nismo Is No More

February 4, 2016, 4:33 pm

≫ Next: Perfect Porsche

≪ Previous: Streaky Bacon

$

0

0

Nissan’s recent Le Mans adventure has been rather short-lived. First the brilliant looking Deltawing ran the ’00’ designation for experimental vehicles, but was sadly involved in a crash forcing it into retirement, then Nissan’s Nismo team returned with this; the hybrid GT-R LM.

Built to take on Audi, Toyota and Porsche in the LMP1 prototype category, the GT-R LM Nismo competed in just one race before the whole project was canned.

MOCpages’ Alexander Pachoaletto remembers one of motorsport’s most recent high-profile failures with his tidy Model Team recreation. complete with some of the most ingenious headlights of any model to appear here. There’s more to see of Alex’s Nissan GT-R LM Nismo at the link above.

Perfect Porsche

March 4, 2016, 4:20 pm

≫ Next: GT-One

≪ Previous: Nismo Is No More

$

0

0

No, not that LEGO Porsche, but it’s just as good. This is the latest classic racing car to come from Greg998. and it’s a special one. Porsche’s late ’80s 962C won pretty much everything in sports and endurance racing, including Le Mans in 1986 and 1987.

Greg’s version is one of the three 962Cs entered in the 1988 event, and it features with working steering, suspension, a detailed turbo-charged flat-6 engine, and the 962C’s incredible aero-bodywork – complete with authentic period decals.

There’s lots more to see, including some spectacular chassis imagery, on both MOCpages and Flickr – click the links to see the full gallery.

GT-One

March 27, 2016, 4:02 pm

≫ Next: e-Tron

≪ Previous: Perfect Porsche

$

0

0

Toyota have a long history in motorsport, and have won both the World Rally Championship and World Endurance Championship. Their current Le Mans contender, the TS050, looks as beautiful as ever, following the TS030 and TS040 racing cars of the last few years. Unfortunately for Toyota, so far none of these cars has managed to claim outright victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race, with each coming second to the dominance of the Volkswagen Group.

Back in the late 90s it was a similar story, as Toyota’s glorious TS020, better known as the GT-One, fought it out against the Germans of Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Ultimately the GT-One came second to BMW due to its hunger for tyres (and a series of huge crashes), but the car has lived on as something of a legend in the virtual world, becoming one of the stars of the Gran Turismo and Forza franchises.

The GT-One pictured here comes from Heiko Ruutel of MOCpages, who has recreated the road-going version of the car from the aforementioned games, and he’s done it brilliantly. His Lego version of the bonkers late ’90s racer looks every inch as good as the real car and it’s just as detailed underneath too, with a superb chassis and engine bay. You can see all of the photos of Heiko’s build – including those chassis shots – via MOCpages here.