As the owner of a classic Mini, any LEGO model of the world’s favourite small car (shush, VW Beetle fans!) is likely to pique my interest. So how do you top that? Well, as pixeljunkie demonstrates, you build the Mini’s revolutionary interior as well!
This exploded view actually reminds me of a cutaway Mini that currently resides in the London Science Museum, originally made for the Mini’s launch in 1959. Much of the promotional material for the Mini focussed on the tiny size that its innovative packaging allowed, and that pixeljunkie shows off so well here. The construction is faithful to the real car: front and rear subframes, seating with floor pan, and the bodyshell. And of course, a superbly detailed A-series engine in the front!
Much like the real thing, it’s amazing how much you can squeeze into such a small space!
Ryan McNaught has recreated this memorable scene from the Mr Bean TV series. The charming character can be seen here taking an optimal vantage point by steering his car from a chair strapped to the roof, while he uses a broom to access the pedals. The Mini Cooper has a great build, which must have taken some planning to portray the rounded angles of the vehicle. The face of the character is instantly recognizable, as Ryan included Mr. Bean’s prominent eyebrows and even the mole on his cheek. But perhaps it is actually Mr. Bean’s Teddy who is pulling the strings as the stuffed animal sits in the driver’s seat…
Some images need no further introduction. This goes for Calin’s latest LEGO creation. The scene of Mr. Bean in his armchair on top of his little mini is just iconic and it would truly surprise me if there was a soul on the internet who had never seen it or wouldn’t recognize it. Or maybe this will just be a not so gentle reminder to me, that I am getting old. And that there is an entire younger generation who does not have the same frame of reference.
Rowan Atkinson reveals that he actually did the stunt himself. There however was a second person in the car doing the actual driving. As Calin mentions in the description they are currently out shopping for parts for the armchair to complete this model. I can not wait to see this one topped off with an armchair and a mop/broom contraption to put the pedal to the metal.
Everyone likes to watch a racecar speed around a corner at a break-neck pace, caroming nearly out of control, tires barely maintaining friction with the pavement. Add in a bit of ice and snow to reduce that friction to almost nothing, and the excitement increases. Builder Simon Pickard brings us a rally car in just that situation, seemingly mere seconds from sliding into a drift. I love the composition of the shot, with the beautiful movement implied by the curved road.
While the car is the MINI Cooper from Speed Champions set 75894 (be sure to check out our review), the setting for the vehicle is what sets this apart from the pack. The curvature of the road is the detail that catches the eye above all else, with the excellent tire tracks. Formed from tiles and plates arranged carefully, the path and the posing of the car give it all a profound sense of movement, especially with the 1×1 round plates kicked up by the skidding tires. My only quibble is that the front tires are still straight, when all of my highly technical race knowledge gleaned from watching Cars with my kids tells me that he should be turning left to go right…
In the era of tiny city apartments only the tiniest of ghosts can afford haunting residents of large cities. And since there are no creatures capable of destroying a whole block, why bother rolling out the mighty Ecto-1? Mini-Ecto-1 is on its way to take down a ghost in your tiny kitchen! Koala Yummies plays around with the 1967 Mini Cooper S from LEGO Speed Champions 75894 set and skilfully turns it into an adorable addition to the Ghostbustrs’ garage. I particularly love the use of curved slope with Ghostbusters logo pattern on the side of the Mini; it looks like the piece was designed solely for this lovely build!
Where there’s a meme, a LEGO version by our own dear Iain is not far behind! Here’s a micro-LEGO Mr. Oliver Twist the Pug with a micro-LEGO LEGO Exo Suit! So meta…
Cooper‘s adorable pug Quatchi takes a taste of the Exo Suit’s Communication Link.
Keep those pug + Exo Suit photos coming, dear readers! For those with a LEGO Exo Suit set, all you need is a pug. Frustratingly, pugs may be back ordered.
As a child, I was a big fan of LEGO’s Model Team sets of highly detailed and realistic-looking vehicles. It will be no surprise then that I also liked the Classic Beetle LEGO released more than six years ago and that I also bought the Volkswagen Camper van. To my delight, LEGO has now introduced another classic car: the MINI Cooper.
The Mini started life as a humble economy car, but with a lasting legacy. To maximise passenger space within its short body, its engine was transversally mounted and drove the front wheels, which is a configuration copied in pretty much every small family hatchback built since. Sporty versions, called the Cooper and Cooper S, became successful rally racers and celebrities such as Steve McQueen, Paul McCartney, Prince Charles and even Enzo Ferrari owned Minis. From its humble origins, the Mini grew into a cult car, with a particularly British kind of cool.
The vehicle
The set represents a late-model Mini Cooper (produced in late 1997/ early 1998, judging from the license plate) in dark green, with white stripes on the bonnet (hood), white wing mirrors and a white roof. The dark green colour is a close match for traditional British racing green and the colour scheme just screams Mini. The front of the car is spot-on, with the shape of the radiator grille, front-mounted fog lights and the silver bumper pieces. The curved elements used below the windows have neatly-printed thin white lines on them, that run the length of the car. Small details such as the fuel filler cap and indicator lights are nicely represented. Remarkably, for a LEGO set, the finished model is almost completely studless, which suggests that LEGO also hopes to cater to fans of the Mini who may not necessarily be into LEGO.
The model is not without faults, however. Especially when seen from behind, it does not look quite round enough. Having built my own models of Minis, I know that both the front and rear windows ought to be curved, but on the model they are built using large flat window panels. I also don’t particularly like the way the pillars supporting the corners of the roof are built, using 75-degree slopes covered with stickers marked with a black triangle. The stickers are intended to make the pillars look narrower, but I don’t think it really works. In fairness, though, alternative solutions would either require completely new part shapes or would add greatly to the complexity, parts count and cost of the set. Despite the compromises, it definitely looks like a Mini. Continue reading →
It’s been barely a week since LEGO’s announcement about the new Mini Cooper creator set. Inspired by the pictures of that set, Miro Dudas built a mini-fig scaled version:
I haven’t decided yet whether this super little build is going to temporarily satisfy my craving for the real set, or just make waiting until August even that more hard to do!
A follow up to their fantastic 10220 Volkswagen T1 Camper Van, LEGO has unveiled the newest “little” brother (sister?) in their car family. Meet 10242 MINI Cooper. This little green beauty enjoys long drives on winding country roads and romantic picnics by sunset.
I absolutely loved the Camper Van, so I’m super stoked for this beauty. Gorgeous color aside, the model looks simply amazing!
10242 MINI Cooper
Ages 16+. 1,077pieces.
Take this MINI Cooper for a nostalgic drive down memory lane!
US $99.99 – CA $119.99 – AU $149.99 – DE 89.99€ – UK £74.99 – DK 799.00 DKK
*Euro pricing varies by country. Please visit shop.LEGO.com for regional pricing.
Experience the iconic MINI Cooper first hand, with its classic lines, detailed interior and fun picnic theme.
Take the iconic MINI Cooper for a drive! This beautifully crafted LEGO® brick replica of the classic MINI Cooper Mk VII is full of authentic details, from the classic green and white color scheme with white wing mirrors and racing stripes, to the opening doors, hood and trunk, sporty fog lights, detailed engine and separate spare tire compartment. You can even remove the roof to access a tan colored interior with patterned seats, veneer-style dashboard, turning steering wheel, and moving gearshift and handbrake. And of course, no MINI Cooper would be complete without a picnic basket and blanket, the perfect accessories for a cozy day in the countryside!
• Features opening doors, hood and trunk, spare wheel in separate compartment, detailed engine and 2 fog lights.
• Accessories include a picnic basket, bottle and blanket for nostalgic picnic theme.
• Authentic replica of the MINI Cooper Mk VII.
• Classic green and white color theme with white wing mirrors and racing stripes.
• Lift the hood to reveal the detailed engine.
• Remove the roof and access the detailed interior.
• Go on a countryside picnic with this iconic classic!
• MINI Cooper measures over 4” (11cm) high, 9” (25cm) long and 5” (14cm) wide.
Watch one of the LEGO designers show off some of this set’s unique features and construction:
Alex D (Flak-Magnet) has just posted an absolutely adorable little Mini Cooper rally car. He has based the model design on Richard J Brown’soriginal. I have had a 5-wide Mini on my “to-build” list for ages now…this makes me want to build one.
The shapes and curves are acheived perfectly at this small scale. And just look how cool that roof rack is. Props to both Richard & Alex!!!
Any new LEGO creation from Steven Marshall is a treat, and his lovely new rally Mini Cooper doesn’t disappoint, from the custom stickers on the outside to the stripped-down interior (complete with webbing).
(I am, in fact, watching Top Gear right this moment, both on the TV and here on my computer. Ah, technology…)
This exploded view actually reminds me of a cutaway Mini that currently resides in the London Science Museum, originally made for the Mini’s launch in 1959. Much of the promotional material for the Mini focussed on the tiny size that its innovative packaging allowed, and that pixeljunkie shows off so well here. The construction is faithful to the real car: front and rear subframes, seating with floor pan, and the bodyshell. And of course, a superbly detailed A-series engine in the front! 
