Review: 60485 Hot Rod
Posted by CapnRex101,
The new City range includes numerous smaller sets and the colourful 60485 Hot Rod is an eye-catching example. For a model comprising only 81 pieces, the car seems relatively realistic and fairly unusual among City sets, which is always welcome.
In addition, all the decorations are printed and there are several new recolours too, so there seems to be much to like for a set costing £8.99, $9.99 or €9.99.
Summary
60485 Hot Rod, 81 pieces.
£8.99 / $9.99 / €9.99 | 11.1p / 12.3c / 12.3c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
60485 Hot Rod accomplishes a lot for its affordable price
- Realistic and distinctive shape
- Striking colour scheme
- Nice engine details
- Dull lime green printing
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigure
The driver uses an exclusive torso, sporting a leather jacket and a shirt underneath with a dog motif on the front. This design resembles the bulldog available in 60417 Police Speedboat and Crooks' Hideout from a couple of years ago, though with a spikier collar. I think this attire works for the hot rod driver.
The Completed Model
Purple and lime green is probably a colour combination that only works on a car like this, with flames on either side and exposed engine details. Its proportions seem pretty realistic and the different wheel sizes look great, although I wish the front tyres were chunkier to match the rear tyres more closely.
A decorated 2x2 half rounded tile forms the radiator grille and matches nicely with the bumper underneath. The angled engine exhausts look splendid and a couple of flames are included to show just how powerful the vehicle really is! The small door mirrors are a welcome addition too, represented by click hinges.
The roof is connected via clips, so it opens to place a minifigure inside. You could reasonably expect a sparse interior in such a tiny set, but I love the use of lime green 2x2 coupling plates along the sides and the reddish brown seat looks perfect. A steering wheel is also included, as ever.
Though it looks tight with the angled roof, there is ample space for the driver. This roof element, the 2x2 plates with bars underneath and the 1x2 inverted curved slopes are each new in purple and they combine well. The printed flames are a little disappointing though, since the lime green designs are noticeably duller than the nearby lime green pieces.
The bonnet element used towards the back looks excellent, with another pair of fiery exhausts beside a trans-red light underneath. Maybe the dark bluish grey clips supporting the roof could have been hidden, although visible mechanical details are a standard feature of real hot rods.
Overall
£8.99, $9.99 or €9.99 is a challenging price, without the flexibility to include complex models or fantastic selections of minifigures. 60485 Hot Rod shows what can be achieved though, as this vehicle looks great for its size. The colour scheme is stunning and I love the overall shape, with large rear tyres giving the car a forward rake.
The only issue that stands out to me is the shade of the printed lime green flames, which look rather washed out on the purple plastic. Otherwise, this is a lovely set and a pleasant surprise given its modest price.
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31 comments on this article
This is pure gold
Now this is podracing!
Those gray clips aren't color locked, so kinda weird they went for grey here. Even if they didn't want to introduce these in another color, I'd say black would have been less noticeable.
As for the flames from the engine.....that looks dangerous! Better let someone check that engine before the whole thing goes up in flames!
But cool little set. I don't buy City sets that often, but this might just be an exception. Though you know what would have been even cooler? If they had managed to combine this and 30735 into one set!
Is the clip connection towards the front of the car an opening hood feature hiding engine detail underneath, or is it just there for structural purposes?
The thing I like best about this is how it close in design language it is with the rods from 6538 Rebel Roadster and 6561 Hot Rod Club, with the angled roof, the hinge bricks for the engine block and the 1x4 panel as a windscreen filling in for the two 1x2s in the older sets.
The lack of headlights is about the only thing holding this one back, the printed grille is great but this is calling out for that radiator and headlights piece from the Adventurers sets or at least a brick-built facsimile.
Nice car, but the colours are so far off they could be for a Hot Rod if I should have it!
This set is really cute, and was one of the first City sets I purchased this year.
Love the 'Joker' vibe with this colour scheme
@Autoboty said:
"Is the clip connection towards the front of the car an opening hood feature hiding engine detail underneath, or is it just there for structural purposes?"
Only the middle part of two rocker bearings: https://brickset.com/parts/design-3937 This could be considered a deliberate play feature, though I think the designer would have made it easier to open if so.
@WizardOfOss said:
"Those gray clips aren't color locked, so kinda weird they went for grey here. Even if they didn't want to introduce these in another color, I'd say black would have been less noticeable.
As for the flames from the engine.....that looks dangerous! Better let someone check that engine before the whole thing goes up in flames!
But cool little set. I don't buy City sets that often, but this might just be an exception. Though you know what would have been even cooler? If they had managed to combine this and 30735 into one set!"
Thankfully, nobody should have a lack of spare black clip/bars =)
I don't like cars. I don't like Mutt Williams.
But this vehicle is an experience, and that minifigure isn't Shia LaBeouf. Okay. Okay, I can deal with this. I like this set.
Excellent for the price. Not one I'd make a special effort to get but will definitely hold in reserve in case I need a threshold meeting!
@jkb said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
"Those gray clips aren't color locked, so kinda weird they went for grey here. Even if they didn't want to introduce these in another color, I'd say black would have been less noticeable.
As for the flames from the engine.....that looks dangerous! Better let someone check that engine before the whole thing goes up in flames!
But cool little set. I don't buy City sets that often, but this might just be an exception. Though you know what would have been even cooler? If they had managed to combine this and 30735 into one set!"
Thankfully, nobody should have a lack of spare black clip/bars =)"
To my surprise, I apparently only have 9 of those in black (excluding spares) from 4 sets, 3 of which I have yet to build. I can't help but feel this isn't right.....
@WizardOfOss said:
" @jkb said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
"Those gray clips aren't color locked, so kinda weird they went for grey here. Even if they didn't want to introduce these in another color, I'd say black would have been less noticeable.
As for the flames from the engine.....that looks dangerous! Better let someone check that engine before the whole thing goes up in flames!
But cool little set. I don't buy City sets that often, but this might just be an exception. Though you know what would have been even cooler? If they had managed to combine this and 30735 into one set!"
Thankfully, nobody should have a lack of spare black clip/bars =)"
To my surprise, I apparently only have 9 of those in black (excluding spares) from 4 sets, 3 of which I have yet to build. I can't help but feel this isn't right....."
I'm not sure how you're checking, but those elements got a mould update around 2023, so you may have more from previous versions of the mould (if you're checking online)
Front lights are missing. Front alloys are bigger than last, that looks bad and, as you mentioned, front tires should have more "meat". Front alloys should be same size as back. And it's only "V6", if used 4x https://brickset.com/parts/design-3937 and 4x https://brickset.com/parts/design-3938 and 8x https://brickset.com/parts/design-85861 you have V8! And if they use https://brickset.com/parts/6273354/waggon-cabin-w-seats it would have driver and co-driver space!
@Heriol said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
" @jkb said:
" @WizardOfOss said:
"Those gray clips aren't color locked, so kinda weird they went for grey here. Even if they didn't want to introduce these in another color, I'd say black would have been less noticeable.
As for the flames from the engine.....that looks dangerous! Better let someone check that engine before the whole thing goes up in flames!
But cool little set. I don't buy City sets that often, but this might just be an exception. Though you know what would have been even cooler? If they had managed to combine this and 30735 into one set!"
Thankfully, nobody should have a lack of spare black clip/bars =)"
To my surprise, I apparently only have 9 of those in black (excluding spares) from 4 sets, 3 of which I have yet to build. I can't help but feel this isn't right....."
I'm not sure how you're checking, but those elements got a mould update around 2023, so you may have more from previous versions of the mould (if you're checking online)"
Ah yes, that would explain.....
I couldn't imagine having so few, but good luck locating any in the sets I have on display....
I just checked the parts list, I think I can build one in Mad Max sort of styling.
Great set! Reminds me of the hotrods from 1995, and of the larger supernatural race car. It's the slanted roof that does it for me. Seeing one at this scale again as its own set is just marvelous!
@Kenmore said:
"Love the 'Joker' vibe with this colour scheme"
That was my first impression too. A hot-rod looks so much better with red flames (and preferably a black car).
Still, nice little set. I like that the roof hinges open rather than being lift-off.
Do you know why hot rods frequently have that forward rake? Everyone knows that you go faster if you're rolling downhill. Jokes aside, I'm definitely going to be picking this up, if for no other reason than that it brings back fond memories (as @SideSalad said) of 6538 and 6561. Oh, and you linked to the wrong part with "2x2 plates with bars underneath."
It really needs headlights, as it looks odd without them.
Beautiful set and thanks for the review.
I may be the exception, but I prefer stickers than most printed parts..,because I don’t put the stickers and I can use parts for other constructions.
Sweet rod of hotness!
Printed parts in a great looking, cheaper set. Yet, cant produce S Champ sets without a gazzilion stickers and still increase the price each season
@CCC said:
" @Kenmore said:
"Love the 'Joker' vibe with this colour scheme"
That was my first impression too. A hot-rod looks so much better with red flames (and preferably a black car).
Still, nice little set. I like that the roof hinges open rather than being lift-off."
Personally, I think a hot rod should be somewhere in the red-to-magenta range, with an orange hood, yellow flames, and a big yellow spoiler. And if you put a special doohickey under the hood it should turn into an RV.
@colay said:
"Printed parts in a great looking, cheaper set. Yet, cant produce S Champ sets without a gazzilion stickers and still increase the price each season"
This has three decorated parts, not counting those in the minifig. 77256 has sixteen types of printed piece, although one of those is a preexisting design. Speed Champs are much more detailed. And 77237 doesn't have a single sticker.
the flames on the purple look fine to me, they match the engine colors close enough
At 81 pieces, this feels more like a priced up polybag to me.
My hot rods begin and end with 10200 Custom Car Garage.
Looks like this would go well with 60258, right down to the bulldog known only as Dog, No. 25.
This set looks incredible. I have a growing collection of small cars from the $10-$20 set range that all look fantastic to me.
Funny enough, I've actually purchased this set today, and it's absolutely worth it. lol