Review: 76934 Ferrari F40
Posted by CapnRex101,
75890 Ferrari F40 Competizione was produced among the last six-wide Speed Champions cars, before the range swapped to a larger scale. The original design was quite impressive for its size, although the bigger 76934 Ferrari F40 appears even better.
The proportions of the vehicle are undoubtedly much-improved and the level of detail is remarkable, without relying too heavily on stickers. However, there are a couple of issues to be noted, focused primarily around the windscreen and the cockpit.
Summary
76934 Ferrari F40, 318 pieces.
£20.99 / $26.99 / €26.99 | 6.6p / 8.5c / 8.5c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
The Ferrari F40 has arguably never looked better in LEGO, despite some small flaws
- Instantly reconisable as the iconic Ferrari F40
- Realistic bodywork shape
- Plenty of accurate details
- Avoids relying on stickers
- Side windows look awkward
- Tricky to pose minifigures inside
Minifigure
This version of the Ferrari F40 is definitely a road car, so its driver is casually dressed, rather than sporting racing overalls. I like the Ferrari branding on her jumper, although olive green is not a colour I would associate with Ferrari! Also, this smiling head is very common and already appeared in a Speed Champions set this year, so maybe another could have been chosen.
Regardless, it is nice to have another Ferrari-branded torso and the minifigure is equipped with a wrench to remove the wheel inserts, as always.
Reference
Source - Ferrari.com
The Completed Model
The Ferrari F40 is an iconic design and one brilliantly suited to LEGO, which is probably why 10248 Ferrari F40 was among the early Creator Expert vehicles. The car looks fantastic as a Speed Champions model too, featuring accurate proportions and distinctive angled bodywork, which avoids the need for major compromises, unlike cars with more curves.
The vehicle's silhouette looks excellent from the sides, although this angle also reveals some issues. While the hollow intakes on the doors are not ideal, these gaps only become obvious when viewed directly side-on. I am more concerned about the side windows, which should be taller. Removing the red stripes from the edges of the windscreen is probably the best solution, but that would affect the transition to the rear windows.
Eight-wide Speed Champions cars serve a different purpose to their six-wide precursors and that is clearly apparent with this comparison. 75890 Ferrari F40 Competizione is very much a toy, capturing the essential features of the original car, but lacking detail. Even though the new model is not perfect, the attention to detail is truly extraordinary and the proportions are much better, of course.
As normal for modern Speed Champions sets, quite a few printed elements are included. For instance, the Ferrari emblem on the nose and the 2x2 wedge plates on either side are printed. 18 stickers are also supplied, although the vast majority add small bodywork features, so many could be omitted without detracting from the overall design.
Moreover, this model includes plenty of brick-built details. The curvature of the bonnet looks superb and curved tiles form its inset vents, while the headlights are constructed using trans-clear and trans-orange tiles, closely resembling the real car. Ideally, clear panels would cover the headlights, but adding those covers would probably mean changing the headlight shape.
Personally, I think an accurate shape is more important, even featuring decoration on the sides of 1x2 curved slopes to maximise realism. The black stripes along the sides of the car are also printed, other than those beneath the Ferrari logos, which use stickers, unfortunately. Even so, the continuous stripes look great and the door mirrors are quite effective, formed using spoons!
The decoration on the windscreen could be better, but at least the printing colour matches the surrounding red parts. Also, the interior is quite detailed and there is space for two minifigures, as always. However, the car doors are angled inwards, so the driver must be seated with their left arm raised, which is carefully disguised on the box.
I like the curvature of the seats though, as well as the handbrake and gearstick located in the middle. The gearstick is represented by a microphone piece and includes a splash of metallic silver on top, so this stands out. The three stickered dials also correspond with the real Ferrari F40 and I like the shape of the dashboard around the steering wheel.
The rear windscreen is another of the F40's most recognisable features, with louvres over the engine. 1x1 tiles form the louvres here and their distinctive texture looks realistic, even though they should extend further into the middle. Instead, the designer has placed a trans-clear panel in the centre, providing a good view of the simple, but welcome, engine detailing inside.
Other than the wing being relatively bulky, the back of this model looks outstanding. The black frame around the radiator and rear lights is very neat and I love the printed spots on each light, reflecting the source material. In addition, the Ferrari marque is printed on the edge of a 1x4 tile and three pearl silver clips with bar holders form an accurate trio of exhausts.
A red flag element completes the exhaust housing underneath, but has been removed in this photo to reveal a hidden Italian flag. A white 1x2 plate with bar forms the central stripe, with a green plate on one side and a red grille tile on the other. Similar flags have appeared in earlier Speed Champions sets and these are always a fun addition.
Overall
Speed Champions sets are held to an increasingly high standard, as they generally seem to improve every year. With that in mind, 76934 Ferrari F40 does have some issues, especially concerning its side windows and having to raise the minifigure's arm for driving. Even so, this model is incredibly detailed and faithful to the original car, on the whole.
The shape and proportions are instantly identifiable with the Ferrari F40 and I am impressed with the variety of brick-built details, such as the headlights, several vents and the louvres on the rear window. I think the F40 is a must-have for fans of Speed Champions' classic cars and the price of £20.99, $26.99 or €26.99 feels fair to me, considering the intricate construction.
135 likes
55 comments on this article
I always hated the look of the F40. It looks like someone was running late to leave work, and slapped the cheapest spoiler they could come up with on the back end to hide the fact that it’s just a box.
Those holes in the front, where the headlight covers should be, look truly awful! Unfortunately, this is a hard pass for me :-(
Looks decent. I'll buy it in 2 months when I'm at walmart and they finally stock it
@MarKodama said:
"Those holes in the front, where the headlight covers should be, look truly awful! Unfortunately, this is a hard pass for me :-("
The gap is really unsightly. Shame, because it seems like the only other solution would be a clear print, and with the SNOT front, I have no idea how they'd be able to make it all work. They have set a very high bar for themselves, and sometimes it's not cleared.
The Other World (Coraline) version of F40 ... :D
I'm really torn about this one because I like the F40 and want to like this set. It has things that are great, but the things that are not so great are just such an eye-sore that I don't know if I want to pay to have to look at it. I will probably let this wait and only grab it if it turns up in a bin of clear-out items in a supermarket sometime. Unlikely for speed champions sets though. Bummer.
@papluh said:
"The Other World (Coraline) version of F40 ... :D
"
Not trying to derail conversation (much) but Coraline, Watership Down, and Monster house may have looked like kids films, but they were not for kids - not at all. (speaking from experience on Coraline and Monster House, and have heard horror stories about Watership Down)
There's some weak spots in the build for sure, but that photo of this set next to 75890 is really kind of amazing, seeing how far this theme has come over the last several years. Great review as always!
Hands up if you want to drive a Ferrari!
I like how the stock image for the F40 is the same one I had as a poster in the late 80s.
Even though I already modified my 6 wide to adjust the proportions, I will still buy this once Target eventually stocks it. Like the Sultan of Bruneii, you can't have to many F40s.
This is the best LEGO could do for an official set? The headlights with no cover are atrocious. The spoiler is too bulky. The rear window is too clear. Yes, the official vehicle has clear Lexan plastic but the engine bay underneath it is dark, making it appear darker and likely why they used trans black in the 75890 and 10248 sets. The windscreen printing making the side windows look tiny is atrocious as well. I think the windscreen from 76895 would look much better here. To cap it all off, if you view this from the side, you can see right through it. How did this get greenlit as an official set?!
Need a Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole (with a license tie in Magnum P.I. fig)
Looks like a F40 with stolen headlights
@turboron said:
"This is the best LEGO could do for an official set? The headlights with no cover are atrocious. The spoiler is too bulky. The rear window is too clear. Yes, the official vehicle has clear Lexan plastic but the engine bay underneath it is dark, making it appear darker and likely why they used trans black in the 75890 and 10248 sets. The windscreen printing making the side windows look tiny is atrocious as well. I think the windscreen from 76895 would look much better here. To cap it all off, if you view this from the side, you can see right through it. How did this get greenlit as an official set?!"
Blablablablabla
If someone comes up with a good modification for the headlights I might buy it.
The way they did the headlights is disappointing, but yeah, I don't see a way to improve it without either spoiling the lines or creating a new mold. So I'll still be picking this one up.
@Jotahesse1 said:
"Like the Sultan of Bruneii, you can't have to many F40s."
So I'm assuming you have 10248?
@ikke said:
"If someone comes up with a good modification for the headlights I might buy it."
Check out a video on YouTube by MadDad Bricks called "How to LEGO - Adding headlights to 2024 Speed Champions 76934 Ferrari F40". I think it's a decent solution.
I dunno...I love f40s, but the view of the bonnet from the top looks super elongated to me. When i look from the side, it is better, but the angle still looks off.
@MrBedhead said:
" @turboron said:
"This is the best LEGO could do for an official set? The headlights with no cover are atrocious. The spoiler is too bulky. The rear window is too clear. Yes, the official vehicle has clear Lexan plastic but the engine bay underneath it is dark, making it appear darker and likely why they used trans black in the 75890 and 10248 sets. The windscreen printing making the side windows look tiny is atrocious as well. I think the windscreen from 76895 would look much better here. To cap it all off, if you view this from the side, you can see right through it. How did this get greenlit as an official set?!"
Blablablablabla"
You have made a compelling counter-point there, @MrBedhead . How could anyone come up with an argument against what you said? ;-)
This might be the most realistic LEGO car set ever with the wealthy owner flicking off other drivers.
I've gotten quite a lot of Speed Champions sets this year. And I think i'll get this one too.
It looks so nice!
And at least I can say to people, I own two Ferrari's!
@Murdoch17 said:
" @MrBedhead said:
" @turboron said:
"This is the best LEGO could do for an official set? The headlights with no cover are atrocious. The spoiler is too bulky. The rear window is too clear. Yes, the official vehicle has clear Lexan plastic but the engine bay underneath it is dark, making it appear darker and likely why they used trans black in the 75890 and 10248 sets. The windscreen printing making the side windows look tiny is atrocious as well. I think the windscreen from 76895 would look much better here. To cap it all off, if you view this from the side, you can see right through it. How did this get greenlit as an official set?!"
Blablablablabla"
You have made a compelling counter-point there, @MrBedhead . How could anyone come up with an argument against what you said? ;-)"
Maybe another bla, lol
@turboron said:
"This is the best LEGO could do for an official set? The headlights with no cover are atrocious. The spoiler is too bulky. The rear window is too clear. Yes, the official vehicle has clear Lexan plastic but the engine bay underneath it is dark, making it appear darker and likely why they used trans black in the 75890 and 10248 sets. The windscreen printing making the side windows look tiny is atrocious as well. I think the windscreen from 76895 would look much better here. To cap it all off, if you view this from the side, you can see right through it. How did this get greenlit as an official set?!"
And have the exact same feelings and criticisms.
@Thieraboss said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
" @MrBedhead said:
" @turboron said:
"This is the best LEGO could do for an official set? The headlights with no cover are atrocious. The spoiler is too bulky. The rear window is too clear. Yes, the official vehicle has clear Lexan plastic but the engine bay underneath it is dark, making it appear darker and likely why they used trans black in the 75890 and 10248 sets. The windscreen printing making the side windows look tiny is atrocious as well. I think the windscreen from 76895 would look much better here. To cap it all off, if you view this from the side, you can see right through it. How did this get greenlit as an official set?!"
Blablablablabla"
You have made a compelling counter-point there, @MrBedhead . How could anyone come up with an argument against what you said? ;-)"
Maybe another bla, lol"
bla?
@turboron said:
"This is the best LEGO could do for an official set? The headlights with no cover are atrocious. The spoiler is too bulky. The rear window is too clear. Yes, the official vehicle has clear Lexan plastic but the engine bay underneath it is dark, making it appear darker and likely why they used trans black in the 75890 and 10248 sets. The windscreen printing making the side windows look tiny is atrocious as well. I think the windscreen from 76895 would look much better here. To cap it all off, if you view this from the side, you can see right through it. How did this get greenlit as an official set?!"
How did some of the ABSURD prices of the August sets get the green light?
@CCC said:
"Hands up if you want to drive a Ferrari!
"
I already do. See: 76914
They probably should at least designed those headlights to include a sheet of plastic (like what they use for ship sails/dragon wings) to cover them. I’m sure someone will come up with a solution to make them look better. At the end of the day though, it’s just a toy car for kids, not a high detailed model car.
Still have mixed feelings about this. Love the F40, one if the most iconic cars of its era. And they got a lot right. But also quite a bit is questionable at best. And here's the thing: While it sure looks more accurate than the old 6-wide version, exactly that makes those inaccuracies stand out even more.
@Maxbricks14 said:
" @Thieraboss said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
" @MrBedhead said:
" @turboron said:
"This is the best LEGO could do for an official set? The headlights with no cover are atrocious. The spoiler is too bulky. The rear window is too clear. Yes, the official vehicle has clear Lexan plastic but the engine bay underneath it is dark, making it appear darker and likely why they used trans black in the 75890 and 10248 sets. The windscreen printing making the side windows look tiny is atrocious as well. I think the windscreen from 76895 would look much better here. To cap it all off, if you view this from the side, you can see right through it. How did this get greenlit as an official set?!"
Blablablablabla"
You have made a compelling counter-point there, @MrBedhead . How could anyone come up with an argument against what you said? ;-)"
Maybe another bla, lol"
bla?"
Really love watching this from the sidelines. Even without me commenting some things just stay the same, don't they? :-)
@AustinPowers said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
" @Thieraboss said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
" @MrBedhead said:
" @turboron said:
"This is the best LEGO could do for an official set? The headlights with no cover are atrocious. The spoiler is too bulky. The rear window is too clear. Yes, the official vehicle has clear Lexan plastic but the engine bay underneath it is dark, making it appear darker and likely why they used trans black in the 75890 and 10248 sets. The windscreen printing making the side windows look tiny is atrocious as well. I think the windscreen from 76895 would look much better here. To cap it all off, if you view this from the side, you can see right through it. How did this get greenlit as an official set?!"
Blablablablabla"
You have made a compelling counter-point there, @MrBedhead . How could anyone come up with an argument against what you said? ;-)"
Maybe another bla, lol"
bla?"
Really love watching this from the sidelines. Even without me commenting some things just stay the same, don't they? :-) "
Cobi says what? :o)
@Maxbricks14 said:
" I've gotten quite a lot of Speed Champions sets this year. And I think i'll get this one too.
It looks so nice!
And at least I can say to people, I own two Ferrari's!"
I've got you beat; I own four! One of which is a vintage Seventies racer!
Despite it's many perceived faults, I will still get one. I'm sure the very talented Lego designers tried everything to make it work. It's Lego - it'll never be 'perfect'. Tough design choices - can't please everyone.
But... it's my teenage favorite supercar of all time. The 'faults' don't do enough to put me off. On balance they still got so many quintessential things right. It's still a fantastic Speed Champion Car. I want, no, I NEED this, I NEED this BAD!!!!
Side vent situation is embarassing. I'm fine with my "toy" 6 stud F40, thank you.
Exaclty my thoughts! Headlights, open door vents, spoiler, the whole window sectioning...
Sorry, but this F40 tried too hard to apply all playing standards from Lego while forgetting what it wanted to do initially.
Even tho it's flimsy in its bonnet construction, there are very good instructions available for a intensely more accurate F40. It's not even a close match to be fair...
"Avoids relying on stickers". Meanwhile, it has 18 stickers despite it being a tiny 8 stud wide set. The value for Speed champions is just not there, I was waiting to see what this set will look like, but upon reveal I got a cheaper used 1/18 diecast instead.
Thank you for the review! I have to say that it has brought to light some details that I wasn't so aware of at first, and left me less excited than before (and than I want to be). I recommend everyone to watch the video that turboron mentions; this offers a vast improvement on the front lighting situation. Even offering an option to display it with the headlights popped up! But then you're still left with the see-through doors and a suboptimal engine cover (which should have been 'stepped' from left to right)...
Will look good with the SC Countach. Just need a 959 to complete the ‘poster trilogy’
- Tricky to pose minifigures inside....Another option is to amputate your left arm. Having an F-40 is well worth it.
Brilliant building technique for the back satisfies me enough to get the set. People just go overboard with the headlight and side window problems and overlook what the designer did right.
@Maxbricks14 said:
" @Thieraboss said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
" @MrBedhead said:
" @turboron said:
"This is the best LEGO could do for an official set? The headlights with no cover are atrocious. The spoiler is too bulky. The rear window is too clear. Yes, the official vehicle has clear Lexan plastic but the engine bay underneath it is dark, making it appear darker and likely why they used trans black in the 75890 and 10248 sets. The windscreen printing making the side windows look tiny is atrocious as well. I think the windscreen from 76895 would look much better here. To cap it all off, if you view this from the side, you can see right through it. How did this get greenlit as an official set?!"
Blablablablabla"
You have made a compelling counter-point there, @MrBedhead . How could anyone come up with an argument against what you said? ;-)"
Maybe another bla, lol"
bla?"
Yadda yadda.
This is excellent. One of the best Speed Champions of this year's wave. I don't give two hoots about the side window size or (lack of) headlight covers. It's Lego, so it looks like a Lego F40. As a bonus it bears a reasonable resemblance to a Ferrari F40. If I wanted more accuracy, I'd get die-cast!
Looking forward to getting 76934 and 76935 as soon as they're released.
@MarKodama said:
"Those holes in the front, where the headlight covers should be, look truly awful! Unfortunately, this is a hard pass for me :-("
Yeah, I agree. That's such a crucial detail to the overall appearance that I think going with an opaque printed tile would have been the best option here.
I’ll stick with 10248
There is a lot to like with this set, but I can't get past the side windows. They're really odd looking.
F40 doesn't have a window on the roof.
The wing produces actual downforce like the E30M3 and other homologated race cars. Very few production wings do, most are just for looks.
@TheOtherMike said:
"The way they did the headlights is disappointing, but yeah, I don't see a way to improve it without either spoiling the lines or creating a new mold. So I'll still be picking this one up.
@Jotahesse1 said:
"Like the Sultan of Bruneii, you can't have to many F40s."
So I'm assuming you have 10248?"
Sure do :)
I'm a little disappointed by the headlights, but as someone who doesn't own another Lego F40 this is definitely going to be added to the collection! I also can't think of a decent way of doing the headlights short of very specialised new parts either.. Thanks for the review!
beside the front without the headlights it looks fairly good in my opinion. But the looks is not all, how about functions, just simple ones like opening doors or bonnet are not possible in a 8stud wide vehicle? the sc design team is a lazy one... i bet that all would be possible in any speed champion!
for me, definetly not worth 27€!
Red spoons!
@Lego_lord said:
"Side vent situation is embarassing. I'm fine with my "toy" 6 stud F40, thank you."
I really miss the 6-stud Speed Champions. I won't buy the 8-stud as they don't fit in my collection.
@Andrusi said:
" @Maxbricks14 said:
" @Thieraboss said:
" @Murdoch17 said:
" @MrBedhead said:
" @turboron said:
"This is the best LEGO could do for an official set? The headlights with no cover are atrocious. The spoiler is too bulky. The rear window is too clear. Yes, the official vehicle has clear Lexan plastic but the engine bay underneath it is dark, making it appear darker and likely why they used trans black in the 75890 and 10248 sets. The windscreen printing making the side windows look tiny is atrocious as well. I think the windscreen from 76895 would look much better here. To cap it all off, if you view this from the side, you can see right through it. How did this get greenlit as an official set?!"
Blablablablabla"
You have made a compelling counter-point there, @MrBedhead . How could anyone come up with an argument against what you said? ;-)"
Maybe another bla, lol"
bla?"
Yadda yadda."
A dingo ate your baby.
@Murdoch17 said:
" @papluh said:
"The Other World (Coraline) version of F40 ... :D
"
Not trying to derail conversation (much) but Coraline, Watership Down, and Monster house may have looked like kids films, but they were not for kids - not at all. (speaking from experience on Coraline and Monster House, and have heard horror stories about Watership Down)"
I can't speak to Coraline or Monster House, as I have not seen them, but I read the book for Watership Down, and eventually also watched the movie. I don't know if the movie was marketed for children but I know that the book wasn't, it's more of a political commentary in the vein of Animal Farm than anything else. I don't remember too much of the movie other than that it was rather violent for an old animated flick (the book is also very violent) and that the book was better.
@Smaug07 said:
"I can't speak to Coraline or Monster House, as I have not seen them,"
Coraline was directed by the same person who did Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas (which wasn’t Tim Burton) and James and the Giant Peach. It was the first film for Laika Studios, which has also produced ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Missing Link. I haven’t seen every one of those films, but of the ones I have seen, Coraline has probably bought more boats, sports cars, and vacation houses for shrinks than any of the rest. Maybe even more than all the others combined. Oh, and it’s based off a Neil Gaiman novella. It’s a good movie, but it leans more into horror than most people would expect from an animated film.
I just built this, and OMG does it have its flaws!
My main gripes are with things like the front headlights missing actual slopes, the sides having gaping holes showing the inside of the cabin, and the rear spoiler being far too big. The proportions and positioning of other core features is also all wrong. Also, the window/roof part barely fits properly with the minifig inside - it feels as if the minifig's hair piece is causing an obstruction - not for the first time this year in a Speed Champions set!
While a vast improvement on the 6-wide F40, it feels as if it shouldn't have made it past the quality control stage. It does have a few nice building techniques, but certain features like the missing headlights are unforgivable! I think more could have been done to iron out the obvious flaws.